Fatal Proventricular Dilatation Disease in Captive Native Psittacines in Brazil

Abstract

An outbreak of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), a fatal inflammatory disease of psittacines (Aves: Psittaciformes), is described in native Brazilian psittacines. Twenty captive psittacines that died of suspected PDD were necropsied and 10 were submitted to histopathology, reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for avian bornavirus (ABV). Examined species were one pileated parrot (Pionopsitta pileata), three vinaceous-breasted parrots (Amazona vinacea), two blue-winged macaws (Primolius maracana), one scarlet macaw (Ara macao), one chestnut-fronted macaw (Ara severa), one scaly-headed parrot (Pionus maximiliani), and one red-browed Amazon parrot (Amazona rhodocorytha). Gross examination and histopathology revealed typical PDD lesions in all birds. The presence of ABV was confirmed in four psittacines including one red-browed Amazon parrot, one blue-winged macaw, one scarlet macaw, and one chestnut-fronted macaw. In the red-browed Amazon parrot and in one blue-winged macaw, IHC demonstrated ABV antigens in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells in various organs. This is the first description of PDD by ABV in Brazilian psittacines and indicates the necessity for adopting a strategic control plan for reducing its impact in native birds.

Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) outbreak in blue-and-gold macaws (Ara ararauna) in the State of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil

“…Fewer exotic species such as Australian ringnecks (Barnadius zonarius), cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus), and umbrella cockatoos (Cacatua alba) have been reported as positive. These birds were originated from breeding facilities, clinics, or rehabilitation centers from the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso do Sul and Minas Gerais (Donatti et al 2014, Encinas-Nagel et al 2014, Philadelpho et al 2014. Although one of these studies reported PaBV infection or PDD signs in free-ranging psittacines (Encinas-Nagel et al 2014), these birds were kept in captivity after rescue or confiscation by environmental authorities, and information about how long these animals were kept in these facilities and their status prior captivity are unclear.…”

“…Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) is a lethal and important disease of captive psittacine birds, affects a wide Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) outbreak in blue-and-gold macaws (Ara ararauna) in the State of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil 1 range of species, including several endangered species,and lacks an effective treatment (Staeheli et al 2010, Wyss et al 2009. PDD has been identified worldwide, in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa (Hoppes et al 2010), and South America, including Brazil (Donatti et al 2014, Encinas-Nagel et al 2014, Philadelpho et al 2014. PDD is caused by Psittaciform 1 bornavirus (PaBV), a non-segment single stranded, negative sense virus of the order Mononegavirales (Honkavuori et al 2008, Kistler et al 2008).…”

Parrot bornavirus in naturally infected Brazilian captive parrots: Challenges in viral spread control

“…Although some of these ABV have been able to induce clinical disease and characteristic lesions, several aspects of PDD pathogenesis are still not elucidated. Even though the epidemiological studies of parrot bornavirus have increased substantially in different parts of the world in recent years, few studies have been conducted in captive psittacine in Brazil [16][17][18]. Nevertheless, PDD has already been described in Brazilian threatened species, such as Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), extinct in the wild [19].…”

<b>Caracterização molecular de bornavírus, poliomavírus e circovírus em aves de cativeiro, vida livre e criação comercial</b>

“…Com a recente observação da diferença na apresentação da doença em relação ao genótipo PIEPENBRING et al, 2016) -GONÇALVES et al, 2009;WEISSEMBOCK et al, 2009a;RUBBENSTROTH et al, 2012;DONATTI et al, 2013). A primeira amostra de genótipo 4 pertencia a uma Cacatua alba, importada da América do Norte que havia viajado entre Brasil e Estados Unidos pelo menos duas vezes, indicando uma possibilidade de ter sido infectada fora do país.…”

“…No Brasil, o bornavírus foi descrito apenas em psitacídeos de cativeiro (MARIETTO-GONÇALVES et al, 2009;DONATTI et al, 2013), entretanto, não há estudos descritos em aves de vida livre nem a pesquisa viral em outros gêneros.…”