Papova Virus

Historical article originally published in Budgerigar World, April 1984.

Introduction from Ron Hunt

25 Hurlstone Ave
Glenfield
N.S.W. 2167

Dear Neale,

The article on Papova Virus is straight out of B.W. 1984 but I believe is still a problem from time to time. This article is from a lady fancier in the United States & has some very interesting points of view.

The Tall Tales But True are from my pen & the people concerned are true but should remain anonymous for obvious reasons, but remains a warning to all sub committees.

Becoming a Judge is also from my pen & is of major importance to the workings of a show, seems to be a bit overlooked today & contributes to late start resulting in late finishes, to say nothing about frustration per show organisers.

I am not certain if I passed on my story of becoming a judge or maybe some of the same in another article.

We must have “some” readers as I have had people come up & tell me they liked the article on “such & such”. This of course gives me encouragement.

Kindest Regards,
Ron Hunt

Papova Virus

For the benefit of the fancy we are pleased to publish the following letter from Louise Loepke, an American Fancier of considerable experience, together with an extract from the American Budgerigar Society monthly magazine to whom we are indebted, and from Joy Stryzek, Illinois.

All these contributions deal with a growing problem which has started in the United States but may exist elsewhere. It is advisable all fanciers are aware of this viral problem.

Letter from Louise Loepke

Sir,

Thank you for your quick response to my letter regarding Papova Virus, and for the information you gave on contacting the University of West Germany.

Of course you have my permission to publish my letter. Hopefully this will shed some light on the problem.

To update the situation of the Novice Breeder we were trying to help, he was advised to use extra sanitation in his birdroom, paying special attention to immaculate housekeeping and sterilization of drinkers and feeders.

Within two weeks, no more signs of the virus was apparent. No more chicks were dying. It is now 4 weeks and still all his baby chicks are doing fine. He is hoping that all is now well in his aviary. But he is always on the alert, looking for any sign in the youngsters that the virus is attacking again.

Bringing his problem out “in the open”, it seems that other breeders in our Midwest area have experienced baby chicks dying with the same symptoms, but not in any great volume to cause them any alarm.

So when I received your letter, and contacted the Novice Breeder, he did not feel it necessary, at that time, to contact the University of West Germany. However, it gives him some sense of security to have this contact in case the problem returns.

As mentioned in my previous letter, not too much is known about this virus here in the States, other than it has been named Papova Virus.

I am enclosing a short article on Papova that appeared in the A.B.S. Bulletin. It may be of some interest to you.

I do hope my letter being published in “Budgerigar World” will give us some answers to this virus. It really has my curiosity stimulated.

Sincerely,
Louise Loepke
Chicago, USA

Papova Virus Research Continues

In a recent telephone conversation with Dr. Richard Davis, Director of the papovavirus research project at the Poultry Disease Research Centre, Athens, Georgia, he reported the following:

In addition to budgerigars, more and more different varieties of psittacine birds have been identified as possibly having papovavirus. Many show serologic evidence of having contact with papovavirus or a papova like virus with resultant production of antibodies.

A variety of parakeets, conures, cockatoos, macaws, numerous varieties of parrots and cockatiels show evidence of the virus in their tissue as well as a serological (antibody) response.

Research continues to proceed vigorously on the vaccine project with some promising but preliminary results. Dr. Davis did express a desire to be present at the All American in 1984 to more fully explain the disease and the work of his research group.

Some startling findings recently noted were the infection of sero-negative Budgerigars kept in the same room with infected birds, but separate from direct contact with each other. Within 16 to 23 days all negative birds converted to serologically positive, indicating infection with papovavirus. This indicates that the disease can be spread by airborne exposure.

Continued support of the project has been forthcoming from the A.F.A. and many other concerned persons in the bird world. Unfortunately the American Budgerigar Society has not been able to help Dr. Davis in this very important work.

However, if private individuals wish to promote this vital and important project, they may send donations to Dr. Richard Davis, c/o Poultry Disease Research Center, 953 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605.

All checks are tax deductible and should be made out to University of Georgia Comparative Medical Research Fund.

Note: Unrestricted Use at bottom of checks.

Papova Virus – Joy Stryzek

What on earth does Papova virus have to do with me and what on earth is it? This virus is somewhat mysterious, and yet it has spread across the United States.

When I saw an article about it in the November issue of Bird World, I thought “Oh, that’s the Budgie disease in California.” Well, within the last few weeks I have found out that the virus is in our state. So, let’s start learning about this virus.

First of all, it is pronounced pa-po-va. It is commonly called the Budgie Fledgling Disease (BVD). It gets this name because it attacks baby Budgies at the age of 10-21 days.

The mortality rate is quite high in the nest box. The babies show distended stomachs, discoloured skin or abnormal feather growth.

BUT, THIS IS NOT JUST A BUDGIE DISEASE!!!!! IT HAS ALSO ATTACKED COCKATOOS, MACAWS, CONURES AND AMAZONS.

The odd thing about this virus is that the adults are the carriers but they do not look ill. The only way it shows up is when a carrier is bred and the babies die in the nest box.

The adult bird should then be blood tested. A blood test will show up the disease. If the test proves positive then you must cull these birds from your stock. Also, any babies that might survive would also have to be culled because they will be carriers of the disease.

This virus is now being researched because there is no vaccine and no cures at this time. The way the disease is passed along is not even fully known.

It is theorized that it is passed onto the babies when they are fed by the parents. It is possible that the parents have the virus in their crops and when the food is given to the babies, then the virus is also. Another possibility is that it is passed on through the droppings.

Epidemic Proportions

So how can a Budgie disease end up in other types of psitticines (hookbills)? Here is one possible example — You have a pair of Budgies up for breeding and one of them is a carrier of Papova virus.

They have five babies and they all have the virus, but you are not aware of it yet. You pick up the babies and check them to see if they are okay and maybe you even play with them.

Then it is handfeeding time for your baby Cockatoo that you just bought. You do not wash your hands and pick up the spoon used for handfeeding. Now the virus is on the spoon. And when you put the food on to the spoon the virus mixes with it and down the mouth of your baby Cockatoo goes the virus.

This is not just some simple problem to solve and it can hit any bird owner. In California this virus wiped out the Indian Ring Neck population according to Tony Silva.

Tony also told me of a California Cockatoo breeder who has it in his aviary. And it is not just in the United States. In Australia they had it in epidemic proportions. They have finally got it under control and are just about rid of it. The odd thing is that in England they have had no problem with this disease at all.

The biggest problem with this virus is that breeders refuse to admit they have it in their aviaries. This is because they fear that people will no longer buy from them.

So, in some aviaries when papova is found they split up the breeders and sell them off separately to pet stores and wholesalers. Their idea is that the birds won’t be used for breeding anymore.

This is really an act without thought. You cannot be sure that those birds won’t end up as breeders at a later date or as foster parents. And so the virus has been spread to Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Florida, and many more states.

What can we do to protect ourselves and our birds from contracting the virus and running the risk of having them destroyed? We can all follow the very old phrase “Buyer Beware”.

If you buy a bird, buy it from someone you know and can trust. If you buy a bird from another source have it blood tested for the disease.

If you have bought a bird as a pet and find that it has the virus, do not get upset. If this bird will never be used for breeding and is going to be in a cage by itself, you don’t have to get rid of it.

This virus does not attack people. Just be sure that the bird won’t ever be a breeder!

Research

If you suspect your bird has Papova virus, Dr. Davis is doing research on it which is being funded by the American Federation of Aviculture.

Serum or plasma can be submitted for serological testing by your vet. If your bird is dead, Dr. Davis accepts specimens if Papova is suspected.

Submissions of frozen liver, brain, and kidney for virus isolation and liver, kidney, brain and heart for histopathology, is requested.

The address of the research is:

Dr. R.B. Davis
Poultry Diagnostic Research Centre
University of Georgia
953 College Station Road
Athens, Georgia 30601

I hope this helps you understand this virus and makes you aware! If I can be of any further help please let me know.

*Papova has been found in an aviary in Mokena, and in bigger aviaries in the Chicago area. It has also shown up at a business that sells birds in the Lockport area and in a bird selling business that advertises heavily in the Bird World Magazine and is located in the Southeast area of the United States.

Source: Budgerigar World, April 1984