All about Birds

Question 1

What is the first general symptom of disease in a bird?

Answer 1

Fluffed feathers–may indicate the bird is trying to retain body heat and is chilled.

Question 2

What is the second general symptom of disease in a bird?

Answer 2

Lack of activity–failure to fly may indicate a problem & continually partially or fully closed eyes.

Question 3

What is the 3rd general symptom of disease in a bird?

Answer 3

Lack of appetite or failure to eat.

Question 4

What is the 4th general symptom of disease in a bird?

Answer 4

Irregular or difficulty breathing, dyspnea, coughing, & sneezing.

Question 5

What is the 5th general symptom of disease in a bird?

Answer 5

Runny or unusual droppings may indicate a digestive problem.

Question 6

What is the 6th general symptom of disease in a bird?

Answer 6

Discharge from the eyes, nostrils, or mouth may indicate respiratory or other problems.

Question 7

When are disease transmitted in pet birds?

Answer 7

1. When birds are first taken home–pet birds do not come into contact with other birds once at a home, so transmission is uncommon.
2. Bird owner is likely to bring a disease home to the bird.
3. Introduction of new pet bird that has not undergone quarantine and observation (not less than 2 weeks).
4. Outdoor housing and interaction with wild or feral birds.

Question 8

What are the 8 causes of disease in birds?

Answer 8

1. Viral diseases
2. Bacterial diseases
3. Fungal diseases
4. Protozoal diseases
5. Parasitic diseases
6. Nutritional diseases
7. Metabolic diseases
8. Toxic agents

Question 9

What are the 4 viral diseases?

Answer 9

1. Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease virus (PBFD)
2. Pacheco’s Parrot Disease
3. Newcastle disease (avian distemper)
4. Poxvirus

Question 10

What is the cause of PBFD? What kind of parrots is it most commonly found in? What is it?

Answer 10

It is caused by the psittacine circovirus. It is a contagious and fatal viral disease that affects the beak, feathers, & immune system of over 40 different species. It is most common in young birds, usually less than 2 years old.

Question 11

What are the clinical signs of PBFD?

Answer 11

Acute form: depressed, no appetite, fluffed feathers, etc… (general signs of illness). Depressed immunity, secondary infections: enteritis, diarrhea, regurgitation of food, pneumonia or dyspnea, & death within few days without any display of feather or beak problems.

Chronic form: signs usually appear at the first mold (usually 3-5 months old). New feathers may not emerge, may be deformed & break off easily or bloody (permanent destruction of feather follicles). Beak & nails may be soft or brittle, easily break & overgrown. Death in months to years.

Question 12

What is the treatment for PBFD?

Answer 12

No effective treatment, just treating secondary infections. Recovery is rare, & if able, the bird’s feather, beak, or nails are permanently affected & therefore, euthanasia is recommended.

Question 13

What is the prevention measures taken for PBFD?

Answer 13

Isolating the infected birds & Euthanizing any infected birds.
- Trial vaccine
- PCR testing of both birds and the environment.

Question 14

What is Pacheco’s Parrot disease? Which birds do they primarily infect?

Answer 14

A Herpes virus–All birds are susceptible, but primarily infects Parrots, Cockatoos, Conures, & Macaws.

Question 15

What are the clinical signs for Pacheco’s disease?

Answer 15

Most common symptom is sudden death, with diagnosis confirmation with necropsy. Infection can last from 2-7 days & symptoms can include: Green diarrhea (indicative of liver damage)
- regurgitation
- respiratory signs
- swelling and redness of eyes
- nervous signs such as tremor, imbalance, or seizures with a rapid progression to death within 48 hours.

Question 16

What does the necropsy reveal in Pacheco’s disease?

Answer 16

• enlarged kidneys, liver, & spleen
• circumscribed areas of necrosis & hemorrhage on the liver
• skin, spleen, intestines, pancreas, & body cavity may also show signs of hemorrhage

Question 17

What are methods of treatment for Pacheco’s disease?

Answer 17

• It is considered untreatable. Keep the bird warm, plenty of fluids, and antibiotics necessary for secondary infections.

Question 18

Which birds are the most common carriers for Pacheco’s disease?

Answer 18

Any bird that recovers from Pacheco’s disease can become a carrier & may serve as a source of infection for other species of psittacine. Conures are the most common Carriers.

Question 19

What is Newcastle disease (avian distemper)? What are the strains?

Answer 19

Highly contagious, with worldwide distribution, it is caused by the virus Paramyxovirus, and it affects the respiratory, digestive, & nervous systems.

The strains are:
1. Avirulent
2. Lentogenic
3. Mesogenic
4. Velogenic Neurotropic
5. Velogenic Viscerotropic

Question 20

What are the clinical signs according to each virus strain?

Answer 20

Avirulent strains: totally asymptomatic.
Lentogenic: mild digestive & respiratory signs.
Mesogenic: severe digestive, respiratory signs.
Velogenic Neurotropic: neurological signs.
Velogenic Viscerotropic: sudden death, highly pathogenic, called “Exotic Newcastle”

Question 21

What are the respiratory, digestive, and nervous signs of Newcastle disease? What are the clinical signs of Velogenic Viscerotropic?

Answer 21

Respiratory signs: nasal secretions, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing.

Digestive signs: watery diarrhea, sometimes bloody, regurgitation.

Nervous signs: twisting of the neck, wing droop, leg paralysis, usually ends by death (Velogenic Neurotropic)

Velogenic Viscerotropic: sudden death, highly pathogenic, “Exotic Newcastle”
- affects all species of birds & some mammals
- attacks the internal organs (viscerotropic) causing extensive hemorrhage, especially of the digestive tract, prostration and death.

Question 22

What is the mortality of Newcastle disease? What are the treatment and prevention measures?

Answer 22

Mortality: 70-100%
No treatment or cure, but there is a vaccine.

Question 23

What is poxvirus?

Answer 23

Caused by Poxviruses (large DNA viruses). Transmission is primarily via insect vectors (mosquito bites).

Question 24

What are the 3 clinical forms of poxvirus infection?

Answer 24

Cutaneous form “dry pox:” wart-like lesions typically on the face, beak, legs & cere

Diphtheritic form or “wet pox:” lesions on the mucosa of the oral cavity & respiratory tract

Septicemic “generalized pox:” internal lesions affecting the respiratory & GI tracts, causing systemic disease.

Question 25

What are the clinical signs of the dry form, wet form, and septicemic form of poxvirus?

Answer 25

The dry form is characterized by wart-like nodules on the skin (head, neck, legs, feet), are not usually fatal, but can develop to abscesses and ulcers.

The wet form is characterized by nodular lesions in mucous membranes of the mouth, throat and esophagus, trachea, and can spread to the GIT, which might lead to death.

The septicemic form is characterized by a ruffled appearance, depression, cyanosis, anorexia, & wartlike tumors of the skin.

Question 26

What are the treatments and preventions made against Pox virus?

Answer 26

Surgical excision or lesions in mild cases, vaccination against Pox virus.

Question 27

What are the three bacterial diseases in birds?

Answer 27

1. Chlamydia Psittaci (parrot fever, chlamydiosis, ornithosis)
2. Colibacillosis, E. coli infection
3. Bumble foot

Question 28

What is the mode of infection for Chlamydia Psittaci?

Answer 28

It’s opportunistic, & is usually not a problem until the bird is stressed.

Question 29

What are the clinical signs of Chlamydia Psittaci?

Answer 29

Pneumonia, nasal discharge, labored breathing, sneezing, eye redness & closing & face swelling, loss of appetite, loss of weight, listlessness, greenish diarrhea

Question 30

Why does the bird die from Chlamydia Psittaci?

Answer 30

Bird usually dies of dehydration or malnutrition.

Question 31

Is Chlamydia Psittaci contagious, and what is the treatment?

Answer 31

It can be transmitted to humans, with humans having to exhibit flu like or pneumonia like symptoms, or even have severe headaches for months, coughing.

Treatment: birds can be treated with chlortetracycline. Treatment can take a long time: impregnated seeds for 21-45 days.

Question 32

What is an e.coli infection in birds?

Answer 32

It is a normal part of intestinal microflora, infection usually occurs due to environmental stress or after primary infection, fatality is up to 70%

Question 33

What is the prevention measures for E.coli?

Answer 33

Prevention is more effective. Most isolates are resistant to tetracyclines, streptomycin, & sulfa drugs, & more antibiotics. Fluoroquinolone is sometimes effective however, it is now banned in many countries, incuding the USA.

Question 34

What are the clinical signs of e.coli?

Answer 34

Air saculitis (air sacs infection)–cheese like inflammation in air sacs, heart (pericardium), liver (perihepatic membrane).

Chronic infection of oviduct: whitish yellow cheese like substance, inflammation of the oviduct with foul smelling discharge.

Omphalitis (navel infection)–swelling, mushiness, or wetness and reddening of the abdomen around the naval of young birds.

Infections of the leg & wing joints, eyes, & mouth.

Question 35

What is bumble foot, what are the causes?

Answer 35

A painful infection of the foot, usually caused by Staphylococcus.

Question 36

What are the clinical signs to bumble foot?

Answer 36

Foot and joints become hot & swollen, usually thick grayish substance, bird has trouble walking or perching or bending toes.

It may eventually eat into the bone & travel to other parts of the body, becoming life threatening.

Question 37

What is the treatment for bumble foot?

Answer 37

Surgery (opening, evacuation, & antibiotic).

Question 38

What are the two external parasites that effect birds?

Answer 38

Scaly face mites

Scaly leg mites

Question 39

What are scaly face mites, and what do they do?

Answer 39

Scaly face mites burrow into the soft tissue around the beak, cere, & face. It causes severe irritation, damage and severe deformity if not treated.

Question 40

What are scaly leg mites, and what do they cause?

Answer 40

They burrow under the scales of the leg, and they cause severe irritation and damage. It might eat the bone if not treated.

Question 41

What is the treatment for scaly face mites and leg mites?

Answer 41

Vaseline or mineral oil will loosen deposits & suffocate the mites. Ivermectin can be used as drops on the back of neck, oral or injected as prescribed. Cleaning & disinfecting all cages, perches, & equipment is important!

Question 42

What do red mites do, and how can they affect the birds? How can they be identified?

Answer 42

They feed on the blood of infected birds, usually feeding at night, hiding in nest boxes or cracks in cage during the day.

Heavy infestations can cause anemia and death. Infected birds scratch & pick at their feathers. They can be seen with the naked eye as tiny red specks.

Question 43

Do red mites affect other species? What are the treatment methods?

Answer 43

It can also bite dogs, cats, & humans. Treatment: pyrethrum powder. Disinfect cages & equipment, destroy nest boxes & replace them.