POLYOMAVIRUS
On a Saturday afternoon in April 2003, I was inspecting my nest boxes in my breeding room. I observed in one nesting box four dead chicks that were approaching three weeks of age. The second box that I inspected, I observed chicks that had lost their flight feathers and their tail feathers were also missing. One chick had blood on the tip of its wing. I had read about Polyomavirus or Budgerigar Fledgling Disease which is a member of the papovavirus family. I knew on inspecting my birds that this was not French Molt. The very next day I contacted my local Veterinarian, who advised me to forward one of the deceased chicks for DNA testing.
The results were as expected, so I had to overcome this outbreak of Polyomavirus. I was now confronted with this very contagious disease and I must now learn about Polyomavirus to minimise its impact on my birds.
WHAT IS POLYOMAVIRUS
Polyomavirus is a virus. It is considered one of the most significant threats to cage birds around the world. The virus attracts young chicks between the age of 5 days-56 days. Many young chicks will die from the disease as there is no known treatment
TRANSMISSION
I understand that the virus can spread from one bird to another via faeces, feather dust, aerosols and parental feeding of chicks. I was advised not to sell or show any birds from my aviary for a period of up to six months. The risk factor associated with Polyomarvisus is very real.
SYMPTOMS
The virus attacks the young chicks in many ways. Feather abnormalities, haemorrhages under the skin, diarrhoea, swollen abdomen, loss of appetite. I did lose a number of birds without any clinical symptoms at all.
PREVENTION
I received Veterinarian advice that it was of little value using off the shelf disinfectants, as Polyomavirus is resistant to most disinfectants. What I needed was an industrial disinfectant to kill the virus. I was able to obtain an industrial disinfectant which is used in the cleaning of public toilets. All nesting boxes were sprayed along with wall and floor area of the breeding room.
Secondly, I did not stop breeding as my theory on this was that the birds were infected by the virus so why not let nature run its course. By allowing this to take place, I understand the chicks and adult birds would built up immunity to this virus. Yes, I did lose a number of birds but many have grown into beautiful young birds showing no signs of the virus.
During the outbreak of Polyomavirus, I had the support of a very good friend, Ken Seagrott, from Inverell, N.S.W. Ken also advised me to use a level teaspoon of table salt in the nesting boxes and to replace the saw dust with kitty litter to keep the boxes dry. This is added only after the chicks are about 8 days old. Salt (sodium chloride) has many preservative qualities and kitty litter will absorbed the wet droppings.
HISTROY OF THE DISEASE – by Professor David PHALEN, D.V.M.,Ph.D – Texas, A&M University, U.S.A
Avian Polyomavirus was first recognised in the early 1980’s in the south eastern and south central United States, and in Ontario, Canada in budgerigars. It was called the Budgerigar Fledgling Disease Virus. It was found to be a nonenveloped, DNA virus and based on its size, shape, and DNA contents it was classified as a papovavirus. Professor Phalen further states that not all budgerigars appear to be equally susceptible to infection and disease. It was also found the English budgerigars were rarely found to be infected with Polyomavirus although they were housed with other birds shedding the virus. – End of section from Professor David Phalen –
MY THOUGHTS
Avian Polyomarvirus is a disease that has been in our budgerigars and parrots for many years. I have reached the conclusion that Polyomavirus has been diagnosed in many aviaries and breeding rooms as French Molt, which appears to be in the same feather disease group or formation as Polyomavirus. The virus can be carrier by adult birds showing no outward signs of the virus. As a result Club Meetings, Shows and the buying and selling of birds is becoming a real lottery. I do hope this article on Polyomavirus will help those in the hobby to understand this very real threat to our birds.