Is PBFD simptomatology species specific rather then strain specific? – a case of 8 lovebirds

Abstract

Eight lovebirds of both sexes and different age were admitted showing alterations in behaviour and apathy. During the initial examination delamination of the beak was noted in all birds and discrete areas of alopecia in three of eight birds. Based on clinical experience, molecular diagnostic on PBFD, sequencing of obtained amplicons, and histopathological examination were performed. All birds tested positive on the presence of PBFD virus, despite the fact they did not exhibit expected clinical signs for PBFD. Sequencing results showed 100% match with sequences previously isolated from parrots with PBFD exhibiting classical PBFD manifestation. Histopathological examination showed similar findings as in previously described cases of PBFD in parrots. Other studies on psittacine birds correlate clinical manifestations and nucleotide variations with geographic localization. Our results indicate that the clinical manifestation of the disease is more dependent on bird species than on the genetic variation of the virus or the geographical distribution.

Osam rozenkolisa oba pola različite starosti su primljeni na pregled zbog uočenih promena u ponašanju i apatije. Tokom inicijalnog pregleda kod svih ptica je uočena delaminacija kljuna, a kod tri jedinke bila su prisutna i diskretna polja alopecije. Na osnovu kliničkog iskustva postavljena je sumnja na oboljenje bolest kljuna i perja te je urađena molekularna dijagnostika na pristutvo virusa bolesti kljuna i perja, sekvencioniranje dobijenih amplifikata i patohistološko ispitivanje. Rezultati ispitivanja su potvrdili prisustvo virusa u uzorcima od svih ispitivanih jedinki, poklapanje nukleotidnih sekvecni od 100% sa uzorcima od drugih ptica sa drugačijom kliničkom slikom, a patohistološke promene su identične onima opisanim kod bolesti kljuna i perja. Studije brojnih autora povezivale su kliničku manifestaciju bolesti sa nukleotidnim varijacijama ili geografskom lokalizacijom. Međutim, opisani rezultati bi mogli da ukazuju da je kliničko ispoljavanje bolesti više zavisno od vrste domaćina nego od genotipa virusa koji bolest izaziva i od teritorije na kojoj se bolest ispoljava.