A Case Report of Avian Polyomavirus Infection in a Blue Fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva) Associated with Anemia

Natalia Azevedo Philadelpho,Marta B Guimarães,Antonio J Piantino Ferreira

doi:10.1155/2015/350794

Natalia Azevedo Philadelpho, Marta B Guimarães + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/350794

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Abstract

An adult Blue Fronted Amazon parrot (A. aestiva) presenting with emesis, apathy, undigested seed in feces, and severe anemia was treated for approximately 2 months. Upon radiographic examination, an enlarged kidney was the only alteration. PCR for avianBornavirus,Circovirus, and Polyomavirus was performed for the feces and blood. The results were positive for APV in both samples and negative for the other viruses. After 6 months, the feces from the same animal were negative for APV. Because the animal was positive for APV in both the feces and the blood, it is likely that these clinical symptoms were due to Polyomavirus infection. Severe anemia is an unusual clinical sign of Polyomavirus, and this study aims to identify novel differential diagnostic criteria for the disease.

Highlights

The Polyomavirus, one of the most important viruses in psittacines, is a highly infectious virus [1], reaching almost 100% infection rates in indoor aviaries
The disease has been described in North America, Europe, South Africa, Asia, and Australia [2,3,4] and is more common in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), lovebirds (Agapornis sp.), ringnecks (Psittacula krameri), conures (Aratinga spp., Nandayus nenday, and Pyrrhura spp.), and macaws (Ara spp.) [4, 5]
A Blue Fronted Amazon parrot (A. aestiva) aged 2 years and 4 months was presented at the Avian Clinic of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the University of Sao Paulo (FMVZ-USP) for emergency evaluation after three days of anorexia and apathy and one day of emesis

Summary

Introduction

The Polyomavirus, one of the most important viruses in psittacines, is a highly infectious virus [1], reaching almost 100% infection rates in indoor aviaries. The disease has been described in North America, Europe, South Africa, Asia, and Australia [2,3,4] and is more common in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), lovebirds (Agapornis sp.), ringnecks (Psittacula krameri), conures (Aratinga spp., Nandayus nenday, and Pyrrhura spp.), and macaws (Ara spp.) [4, 5]. The disease has been described in passerines and Falconiformes [6, 7]. There are few reports in Amazon parrots worldwide and no description of APV in this species in Brazil. The aim of this report is to describe a possible clinical sign of APV in Amazon parrot

Case Presentation

Discussion