Feather & Beak Disease
Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease (PBFD)
This dreadful disease is caused by a circovirus. It has a wide species range and is a deadly avian disease that may not show any symptoms.
Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease or PBFD is caused by a virus which infects and kills the cells of the feather and beak. The virus also impairs the immune system. Consequently many diseased birds succumb to bacterial and other infections.
PBFD can affect birds of any age, but is more commonly seen in young birds from 0-2 years. Although many older birds can suddenly turn up positive for the virus, even though they had been normal most of their lives. This disease is EXTREMELY contagious. Viral particles are airborne. Dried feces & feather dust can adhere to clothing, nesting material, feeding utensils, nets, bird carriers, toys, perches and of course the cages.
Obvious symptoms of PBFD are feather problems that could be mistaken for french moult, possible bald patches on the head, missing primary wing feathers and/or tail feathers, they may have a beak that is deformed, especially the upper beak, and often overgrown; the beak usually splits or breaks, and ragged looking or half-developed feathers and powdery feather-sheaths.Infected birds will eventually lose most or all feathers and become extremely ill. Then the bird will die a very painful death, usually from secondary infection.
PBFD is one of the diseases that can be passed from bird to bird and the risk of spreading this, or other diseases, is a good reason to quarantine any new bird that comes into your household. PBFD is extremely contagious and there is no known cure and vaccines are only now being developed. Birds carrying this disease may not show any symptoms until stress brings it out, but they may infect other birds before they become symptomatic..
PBFD has been diagnosed in over 40 species of psittacines, mostly in Old World members of the parrot family. PBFD is seen more often in cockatoos, but Eclectus parrots, lovebirds, budgies, and African grey parrots are also affected. Younger birds are more commonly affected, especially with the acute form of the disease. Most birds diagnosed with psittacine beak and feather disease are under 2 years of age.