Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Budgerigar chick died from avian polyomavirus infection with feather
By Herder, Vanessa et al.·Published in Berliner und Munchener tierarztliche Wochenschrift·2011·Department of Pathology, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Avian polyomavirus infection of a fledgling budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) and differential diagnoses of viral inclusions in psittacine birds--case report and mini-review.
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A two-week-old budgerigar suddenly died, and a vet examined the bird to find out what happened. The bird was poorly feathered and in bad shape, and tests showed signs of a viral infection affecting its feathers and skin. Although a test for Avian Polyomavirus on fresh skin samples came back negative, a test on kidney samples confirmed the presence of the virus. Unfortunately, the young budgerigar did not survive, highlighting the serious nature of viral infections in birds.
People also search for: budgerigar sudden death · avian polyomavirus symptoms · bird feather disease treatment
Abstract
A two-week-old budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) of an outdoor aviary died suddenly and was submitted for determination the cause of illness and death. Macroscopically, the sparsely feathered animal was in a poor body condition. Histopathological examination revealed in various mesenchymal and epithelial tissues, numerous up to 15 microm in diameter large intranuclear, amphophilic to basophilic inclusion bodies with a clearing of the centre. Additionally, a feather dysplasia and retention hyperkeratosis of feather follicles was found. Ultrastructurally, viral particles of approximately 35 nm in diameter were detected in the feather follicle epithelium. A PCR for Avian Polyomavirus on fresh skin samples was negative whereas on formalin-fixed kidney samples with a high amount of viral inclusion bodies yielded a positive result. In addition, viral inclusion body diseases, like Avian Poxvirus, Psittacine Beak and Feather disease virus, Avian Adenovirus, Psittacine Herpesvirus and papillomavirus of psittacines are summarized and compared in the present article.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22059291/