Avian Disease Testing

AvianPro offers a package disease test for – Beak and Feather, Chlamydia, Polyoma, Pacheco, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, at a cost of $250 per bird. Complete the Disease Testing Form below and you will receive an email with instructions on submitting your samples, and where to send the samples. Once we receive your samples, disease testing usually takes 5 to 7 business days for test results.

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) – is a member of the Circoviridae family, with a circular, single-stranded DNA genome of around 2,000 bases. It closely resembles Porcine Circovirus and several plant viruses, including the Banana Bungy virus. PBFD primarily affects psittacines, with species like Cockatoos, Macaws, African Grey Parrots, Ringneck Parakeets, Eclectus Parrots, and Lovebirds being particularly vulnerable. The disease can be fatal in young birds, while older birds may survive with few lasting effects. Some believe survivors may become carriers, shedding the virus later, while others think some birds can eliminate the virus and develop natural immunity, passing it on to offspring. PBFD can also impact the liver, brain, and immune system, reducing resistance to infections. Premature death often results from secondary infections.

Chlamydia psittaci – is the bacteria responsible for psittacosis (Parrot Fever or chlamydiosis). The term “psittacosis” comes from the Greek word ‘psittakos,’ meaning parrot. Chlamydia are gram-negative, spherical, intracellular parasites that rely on host-produced ATP for energy, earning them the nickname “energy parasites.” Incubation periods in caged birds range from days to weeks, typically 3 to 10 days. Latent infections are common, with active disease potentially occurring years after exposure. In birds, C. psittaci can cause upper respiratory infections, nasal or ocular discharge, diarrhea, or a combination. Some infected birds show no symptoms, which is concerning as they may become carriers and spread the bacteria. C. psittaci poses a zoonotic risk, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. It is also a leading cause of infectious abortion in sheep and cattle.

Avian Polyoma Virus (APV), also known as Budgerigar Fledgling Disease, belongs to the Papovavirus family. It has a diameter of 40-50 nm and a double-stranded DNA genome of about 5,000 base pairs. APV is one of the most significant threats to caged birds globally, affecting nearly all parrot species. The disease is especially harmful to young birds, particularly those between 14 and 56 days old, often resulting in death. Adult birds may develop some immunity. The incubation period for Polyoma is believed to be about two weeks or less.

Pacheco’s disease is caused by several closely-related viruses in the Herpesviridae family. These herpesviruses, 120-220 nm in diameter, have a double-stranded DNA genome and replicate in the cell nucleus, primarily infecting lymphatic tissue, skin, and nerve cells. First recognized in Brazil, Pacheco’s Disease Virus (PDV) causes rapid death in birds, often within days of showing symptoms. The virus is shed in feces and nasal discharge just 3-7 days after infection and is highly contagious, spreading quickly in aviaries. New birds introduced to an aviary may be the first sign of an outbreak, with healthy birds dying mysteriously. Pacheco’s disease is usually fatal and affects psittacines of all ages, with New World species more susceptible than Old World species.

Cryptosporidium – is a small parasite, about 3-5 micrometers in size, that infects the intestinal tracts of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. While 23 species have been identified, their host specificity is not highly selective, and the total number of species is still debated. Cryptosporidium found in humans is classified as C. parvum. In recent years, human infections, including epidemics in U.S. cities, have increased, making cryptosporidiosis an important opportunistic infection, especially for immunocompromised individuals. In birds, C. baileyi, C. meleagridis, and C. parvum have been reported, though other species may also infect birds, but this has not been confirmed. Cryptosporidium infects the surface of cells lining the small intestine, reproduces asexually, and oocysts are excreted in the feces, spreading the infection.

Giardia – is a zoonotic, single-celled intestinal protozoan parasite that can infect birds, dogs, cats, humans, and other animals. It exists in two forms: the active trophozoite and the dormant cyst. The trophozoite moves using flagella, hair-like structures, and attaches to the surface of the villi (finger-like projections in the small intestine) using a small sucking disk. The cyst, the dormant form, is shed intermittently in the feces of infected birds. Cysts are environmentally stable and can survive, becoming a source of infection for other hosts. In contrast, trophozoites are unstable outside the host, limiting their ability to infect other hosts.