Siadenovirus infection in two psittacine bird species

Abstract

Consensus polymerase chain reaction was used to identify a novel adenovirus from two psittacine birds: a plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) with lethargy, weight loss, and marked leukocytosis; and an umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua alba) with lethargy, weight loss, and feather abnormalities. Phylogenetic and comparative sequence analysis suggested that this virus is a member of the genus Siadenovirus, and is here termed psittacine adenovirus 2. This extends the characterized adenoviruses of psittacine birds beyond Aviadenovirus to include the genus Siadenovirus. Identification and further study of adenoviral types and species will provide useful diagnostic, prognostic, and epidemiologic information for the clinician. Like other known members of the genus Siadenovirus, Psittacine adenovirus 2 is AT-rich over the region sequenced, and it is hypothesized that this may be associated with shorter hostÁvirus evolutionary association.

Psittacid Adenovirus-2 infection in the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogastor): A key threatening process or an example of a host-adapted virus?

“…While most PsAdv-2 infections appear to be subclinical, they may not be completely innocuous. The first report of this infection, in a plum-headed parrot [21], described a mild chronic hepatitis associated with inclusions and we saw a similar lesion in one of the orange-bellied parrots that died with aspergillosis in the Adelaide Zoo mortality cluster. Renal inclusions were also seen in two other birds from the Adelaide Zoo and three of five birds for which there was histopathology that died from Psuedomonas auregenosia had renal inclusions.…”

Detection and partial genetic characterisation of novel avi- and siadenoviruses in racing and fancy pigeons (Columba livia domestica)

“…Their presence in different birds is supposed to be the result of multiple host switch events. This theory is supported by the elevated pathogenicity and unusually wide host range of siadenoviruses (Benkő and Harrach, 2003;Wellehan et al, 2009;Ballmann and Vidovszky, 2013). The pathogenicity of the novel pigeon siadenoviruses described in this study has not been investigated yet.…”

“…The superiority of this PCR in detecting AdVs belonging to different genera has been documented in numerous cases in the past decade. It was originally designed for the recognition of novel atadenovirues in lizards, but its sensitivity and robustness allowed the discovery of many new aviadenoviruses (Wellehan et al, 2005;Bodewes et al, 2013), siadenoviruses (Katoh et al, 2009;Wellehan et al, 2009;Kovács et al, 2010;Park et al, 2012;Ballmann and Vidovszky, 2013;Joseph et al, 2014;Lee et al, 2014), atadenoviruses (Szirovicza et al, 2016) and mastadenoviruses (Vidovszky et al, 2015) in a wide range of hosts. Even the members of a hitherto unknown genus (with the proposed name Testadenovirus) could be detected (Doszpoly et al, 2013).…”

Survey of captive parrot populations around Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia, for psittacine beak and feather disease virus, avian polyomavirus and psittacine adenovirus

“…All three viruses are non‐enveloped, DNA‐based and have an icosahedral capsid . BFDV and APV are a problem worldwide, in both wild and captive populations, but the pathogenicity of adenovirus in psittacine populations remains unclear, although it is well established that this virus is significant among poultry flocks . Individual case reports suggest the same may be true for parrots …”