Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐ is a viral disease that affects the beak and feathers, hence the name! Scientists are not very creative ๐
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
This disease affects parrots, primarily young parrots!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Beak and feather disease is caused by a ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ. The virus is shed in the dander, feces an oral secretions of infected birds, contaminating the environment. Parrots will inhale or ingest the virus, causing infection.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Beak and feather virus primarily interrupts normal growth of the feathers. These feathers are poorly formed, grow very slowly, and are prone to falling out. The virus can also affect the normal growth of the beak, causing the beak to grow rapidly and be extremely brittle. These long, brittle beaks easily break off, leaving the bird disfigured and with difficulty eating. Finally, this virus can also affect the immune system, decreasing its function and making the bird susceptible to other infections.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Diagnosis of the disease involves identifying the virusโ DNA in the dander or feces of the affected animal.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐? ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐?
Unfortunately there is no specific treatment for this condition. Generally, severely affected birds are euthanized, due to poor quality of life. Prevention is aimed at good hygiene and quarantine practices, to prevent the disease from being introduced to a flock.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-4) Birds showing feather loss and beak deformities.
5) Virus infected cells lining a feather shaft.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Hoppes SM. Viral diseases of pet birds. Merck Veterinary Manual 2021.
Photos 1-5 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors Latimer, Ramos, Read licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
