Page 37 -

LIFESTYLE

PSITTACINE BIRD &

FEATHER DISEASE

e received an email from a 7KH VDGGHVW WKLQJ DERXW WKLV GLVHDVH LV WKDW fed by their parents (who may be carriers).
concerned estate resident recently WKHUH LV QR FXUH DQG WKH ELUGV GLH D YHU\ VORZ These babies do not always show feather
Wregarding a disease affecting birds terrible death.” signs.
that appears to have no known cure. If you’re
a bird lover, do take some time to read this Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) The typical signs associated with PBFD in
article. is caused by a circovirus and is highly adult birds include feather dystrophy and
FRQWDJLRXV 7KLQN KRZ HDVLO\ WKH ÁX LV VSUHDG progressive baldness. Birds exposed for the
“A while back, we found a green ring neck between people, that is how easily this ÀUVW WLPH DV DGXOWV DUH OHVV OLNHO\ WR EHFRPH
SDUDNHHW WKDW FRXOGQ W Á\ VR ZH FDXJKW LW DQG disease spreads between birds. ill. They may become carriers, in other words,
WULHG WR ÀQG RXW LI LW ZDV VRPHRQH V SHW healthy, but still able to transmit the disease
The virus is shed in the faeces and feather to other birds.
After a week of no one claiming him we dust of infected birds. It is extremely resistant
WRRN KLP WR WKH %U\DQVWRQ %LUG ([RWLF and able to survive in the environment for The virus affects the cells of the feather
$QLPDOV &OLQLF 7KH\ WKHQ LQIRUPHG XV WKDW months. follicles, beak and immune system. It
SDUDNHHWV JHW D GLVHDVH FDOOHG 3%)' ZKHUH has no effect on grown out feathers but
WKHLU IHDWKHUV IDOO RXW DQG WKHLU EHDNV IDOO PBFD affects birds differently depending on damages those forming at the time, leading
RII 7KH GLVHDVH LV KLJKO\ FRQWDJLRXV WR RWKHU WKH DJH RI WKH ELUG ZKHQ ÀUVW H[SRVHG 9HU\ to progressive baldness which worsens with
SDUURW W\SH ELUGV HJ SHW SDUURWV 7KH ÀQH GXVW young birds (hatchlings) may develop the each moult.
IURP WKHLU IHDWKHUV FDQ VSUHDG WKH GLVHDVH VR acute disease. This mostly presents as poor
TXLFNO\ appetite, crop stasis, diarrhoea and death The pattern of feather loss seen in a
within a few weeks. chronically affected bird depends on which
:H KDG WKH SDUDNHHW WHVWHG DQG KH WHVWHG feathers are moulting at the time. Early signs
SRVLWLYH VR WKH %U\DQVWRQ YHW ZDV YHU\ FRQFHUQHG The hatchlings are often infected while being include loss of the delicate powder down
WKDW ZLOG ÁRFNV Á\LQJ DURXQG FRXOG EHFRPH
LQIHFWHG $V D SUHFDXWLRQ KH UHFRPPHQGHG
WKDW DQ\RQH ZLWK D SHW SDUURW VKRXOG QRW KDYH
WK
LW KDQJLQJ RXWVLGH EHFDXVH LI D ZLOG ÁRFN ÁLHV
LW
RYHUKH
RYHUKHDG RU FRPHV WR YLVLW WKH JDUGHQ LQIHFWHG A highly contageous threat
ELUGV
ELUGV FRXOG SDVV WKH GLVHDVH RQ
WR RXU ELUG SRSXODWLRQ
.\DODPL (VWDWHV ‡ &211(&7 ‡ ,VVXH ‡
Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 3 • 2019 35
35