Beak and feather disease virus or Circovirus is a small, non-enveloped circular single-stranded DNA virus of the Circoviridae family. The virus causes beak and feather disease (PBFD) in avian species specifically psittacine birds such as Cockatoos, Macaws, African grey parrots and Ringnecked parakeets. Beak and feather disease virus typically targets actively growing cells like beak, feather, and the cells of the immune system resulting in secondary bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. The viral particles remain viable in the environment for months.
Transmission of the virus from one individual to another is through direct contact, inhalation of feather dust or ingestion of infected faecal material. Clinical signs of the disease include irreversible loss of feathers, shedding of developing feathers, development of abnormal beak or feathers, and lesions on the beak and nails.
There is no known treatment and the only way to control the disease is through hygiene, strict isolation or culling of all diseased birds. Early diagnosis is necessary to control disease progression in infected birds and avoid its spread amongst uninfected ones.
Method
Real -Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited:
EDTA Blood, Tissue, Culture.
Alternatives:
Feather.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days. Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.
Beak and feather disease virus or Circovirus is a small, non-enveloped circular single-stranded DNA virus of the Circoviridae family. The virus causes beak and feather disease (PBFD) in avian species specifically psittacine birds such as Cockatoos, Macaws, African grey parrots and Ringnecked parakeets. Beak and feather disease virus typically targets actively growing cells like beak, feather, and the cells of the immune system resulting in secondary bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. The viral particles remain viable in the environment for months.
Transmission of the virus from one individual to another is through direct contact, inhalation of feather dust or ingestion of infected faecal material. Clinical signs of the disease include irreversible loss of feathers, shedding of developing feathers, development of abnormal beak or feathers, and lesions on the beak and nails.
There is no known treatment and the only way to control the disease is through hygiene, strict isolation or culling of all diseased birds. Early diagnosis is necessary to control disease progression in infected birds and avoid its spread amongst uninfected ones.
Method
Real -Time PCR
Sample Type
Accredited:
EDTA Blood, Tissue, Culture.
Alternatives:
Feather.
Transport Condition
Samples should be transported at 4°C.
Turn Around Time (TAT)
Normal Turnaround time for pathogen Identification is within 5 working days. Urgent Samples will be reported within half of the minimum test period & will be Charged Double.
Samples delivered after 11:00 AM will be processed next working day unless urgent.
