Detection of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) and avian polyomavirus (APV) DNA in psittacine birds in Italy.
Beak and feather disease (psittacine circovirus) and Budgerigar fledgling disease (avian polyomavirus) are viral diseases that can frequently affect captive psittacine birds. We designed the first survey to investigate the presence of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) and Avian polyomavirus (APV) inside the population of captive psittacine birds in Italy. Samples were collected in 18 Italian psittacine breeding centres and four trade centres over a 4-year period. A total of 1516 birds were tested for BFDV and 877 birds were tested for APV by means of a polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay. BFDV was found in 122 (8.05%) and APV in 7 (0.79%) birds. No significant difference in infection rate was found between imported and locally raised parrots. We report the first BFDV DNA isolation in wild birds imported to Italy from Papua New Guinea.
Bert
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E
Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Turin, Via Leonardo Da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy. elena.bert@unito.it
Tomassone
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L
Peccati
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C
Navarrete
M G
MG
Sola
S C
SC
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018173:Circoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017925:Circovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D011563:Psittaciformes / Q000821:virology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral