Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Budgerigars with liver and spleen swelling from reovirus
By Perpiñán, David et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2010·Center for Conservation and Research, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Mixed infection with reovirus and Chlamydophila in a flock of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A group of eleven budgerigars became very thin and had swollen organs, leading to their examination after they died. Tests showed that two of the birds had a bacterial infection called chlamydiosis, while others had signs of a reovirus infection. The aviary was closed to the public, and the remaining birds were treated with doxycycline mixed into their food for 45 days. After starting treatment, no more birds showed severe symptoms or died from the infections. It appears that new birds added to the aviary may have brought these infections into the flock.
People also search for: budgerigar emaciation treatment · chlamydiosis in birds · reovirus in budgies
Abstract
Eleven budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) from a zoological collection presented at necropsy with emaciation and splenomegaly or hepatomegaly or both. Polymerase chain reaction assays performed on liver and spleen samples were positive for Chlamydophila psittaci in 2 of 3 birds tested, and histologic findings in 2 additional birds were compatible with chlamydiosis. The aviary was subsequently closed to the public, and a 45-day treatment regimen with doxycycline in the seeds was initiated. No further deaths of birds with hepatomegaly or splenomegaly were observed after the first day of treatment. Further investigation of birds that died during the outbreak with emaciation and with hepatic and splenic enlargement revealed severe necrosis of the spleen and liver suggestive of reovirus infection, which was supported with polymerase chain reaction analysis from paraffin-embedded tissue. This reovirus was sequenced and had 100% homology with a reovirus previously identified in an African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus). The outbreak did not affect cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) and blue quail (Coturnix chinensis) kept in the same aviary. A group of budgerigars added to the collection soon before the opening of the aviary may have introduced reovirus and Chlamydophila into the collection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21302762/