Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Psittacine beak and feather disease in 2 free-living great green macaws: a case report and literature review.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Olivares, Roberto W I et al.
- Affiliation:
- Servicio de Patologí
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
This report discusses two free-living great green macaws that were found to have psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), a viral illness that usually affects young pet birds. Both macaws showed signs of being very tired and had lost feathers and weight. One bird was diagnosed through visible signs and a specific test, while the other was confirmed with additional tests that looked at tissue samples. The findings included some discoloration of their beaks and significant feather loss, along with serious issues in their immune system. This is the first time PBFD has been documented in great green macaws living in the wild.
Abstract
Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) is caused by the psittacine beak and feather disease virus (PBFDV;,). This disease affects mainly young captive birds, inducing lesions mainly in the skin adnexa and lymphoid organs. Here we report PBFD in 2 free-living great green macaws (). The birds were depressed and had lost feathers and body condition. The diagnosis was confirmed by gross lesions and PCR testing in one bird, and by gross and microscopic lesions, PCR testing, viral sequencing, and in situ hybridization in the other bird. Gross lesions in both birds included mild beak discoloration and feather loss. Microscopic lesions in the bird whose tissues were examined histologically included bronchopneumonia and severe lymphoid depletion with intracytoplasmic and intranuclear botryoid inclusion bodies in the cloacal bursa. Sequences of the viral DNA obtained from paraffin-embedded cloacal bursa tissue had 100% nucleotide and 100% amino acid identity with several strains of PBFDV isolated from captive birds in multiple countries. To our knowledge, PBFD has not been reported previously in free-living great green macaws.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40237412/