Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Parakeets with feather loss treated for circovirus with mushroom
By Tomasek, Oldrich & Tukac, Viktor·Published in Avian diseases·2007·Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Psittacine circovirus infection in parakeets of the genus Eunymphicus and treatment with beta-(1,3/1,6)-D-glucan.
Plain-English summary
A group of horned parakeets developed feather problems and tested positive for psittacine circovirus (PsCV), which can cause chronic illness in birds. The treatment involved giving them a supplement made from oyster mushrooms called beta-(1,3/1,6)-D-glucan. After several months, most of the parakeets and all Major Mitchell cockatoos in the same aviary showed no signs of the virus in their blood, suggesting that the treatment may have been effective. However, it's important to note that just because the virus wasn't found in the blood doesn't mean the birds are completely free of it.
People also search for: parakeet feather loss treatment · psittacine circovirus in birds · beta-glucan for birds
Abstract
Eight captive-bred horned parakeets (Eunymphicus cornutus) and four captive-bred Major Mitchell cockatoos (Cacatua leadbeateri) from the same aviary tested positive for psittacine circovirus (PsCV) DNA in whole blood by nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The chronic form of disease with feather fragility and loss was observed in three horned parakeets. Infection in other individuals was subclinical. Immunosuppression, either hematologically or as susceptibility to secondary infections, was not observed. Treatment consisted of the administration of beta-(1,3/1,6)-D-glucan from oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Excluding two accidentally dead parakeets, four out of the original six horned parakeets, and all Major Mitchell cockatoos were negative for PsCV DNA in whole blood in 7-9 mo after the treatment was started. Even though the absence of PsCV DNA in blood does not signify elimination of the virus from the whole organism, these preliminary results indicate a possible effect of beta-glucan in the treatment of PsCV infection. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of PsCV in horned parakeets.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18251415/