BIRD MARTS
The Single Greatest Threat to Avian Health
in the New Millennium!
by Ernie Colaizzi
Keeping birds happy and healthy is the number one concern of most bird owners.
- What toys will they like?
- What is his/her favorite foods and treats?
- Is the paint on its cage safe?
- What can we do to insure our birds live long, healthy lives?
All these questions and more go through
our minds on a daily basis. Birds cannot care for themselves, it
is up to their human caretakers to do the best job possible. Cleaning
cages daily, fresh foods and water, toys, play time and more all
go into a 'normal day 'of caring for birds. The mistakes most well-intentioned
birds owners make are most frequently from ignorance just not knowing
- as opposed to stupidity.
Today a serious new health risk is threatening the lives of birds
across the country. A very real health risk that has the potential
for epidemic proportions. It goes by the simple name of 'Bird Marts'.
Some people call them bird fairs, bird expos, bird shows and more.
These innocuous appearing events are being put on by bird clubs,
aviculturists and other people for profit and/or fund raising. What
can possibly be so dangerous as a diverse groups of birds of varying
ages brought together for one or two days? Everything! Anyone who
believes these events are safe are not being truthful, or are simply
ignorant of the facts.
People talk about quarantine - referring to the U.S.D.A. Bird
Quarantine Stations that operated between 1971 and 1993 - how dangerous
and awful it was. Thirty (30) days confined to cramped quarters
sharing food, water, air, perches and more. Several sick birds could
infect many more during the quarantine period resulting in high
mortality rates. Many stations were less than honest. (Does anyone
remember an honest importer?) And what happened when a station was
having a disease outbreak with high mortality? They would have a
sale! Drop the price and move them out. Take their problem and spread
it around. Yes, it was terrible, but without it we wouldn't have
the breeding stock so necessary for our operations today.
No matter how dangerous quarantine stations were, they still cannot
match the dangers of today's 'bird marts'! These events have risen
to become the single greatest threat to bird health we have ever
encountered! How can a simple bird event be so life threatening?
Is it nothing more than breeders coming together to sell their birds
to the public? An unsuspecting public! At least in the quarantine
stations, birds were exposed to other birds from the same areas
of the world. The diseases present were also from the same
area (indigenous) and many would have some natural immunity to it.
In a Bird event' setting, birds are exposed to many other birds
from all over the world (even though they may be domestically bred).
These birds, no matter how young, have the potential to bring their
specific diseases and problems with them. In essence, any disease
from anywhere in the world may conceivably be present and many are!
Years ago, concerned veterinarians and aviculturists began to notice
a serious rise in sick and dead birds following many such events.
Serious diseases such as Pacheco's, Polyoma, P.B.F.D., Chlamydia (Psittacosis), Wasting syndromes and more would suddenly appear
from nowhere. We frequently discussed these diseases, their possible
sources and patterns of outbreaks to recently held 'bird events'!
It was obvious where the diseases were originating from, but could
we prove it?
After many lengthy conversations with Dr.'s Dahlhausen and Radabaugh
from Research Associates in Milford, Ohio, we came up with a plan
to determine the incidence of diseases present at various events. Our goal was to determine what diseases were present, which events
or seasons were safe and possible ways to insure the safety of birds.
To determine which diseases were present, we would employ the use
of their advanced technologies. DNA, PCR technology was selected
due to its extremely sensitive and accurate parameters. This method,
when performed properly, does not have false positives. If
the test was positive, the organism was there. The bad news is a
negative does not mean the organism wasn't there, it simply means
we did not detect it!
Testing began in 1998. Diseases we tested for were limited to the
'Big Three' (Polyoma, P.B.F.D. and Chlamydia), as these were the
only DNA probes available for environmental testing. Sample collection
was simple. Using a sterile culturette swab (looks like a Q-tip
with a long handle), an individual would simply rub the tip across
a table top or floor in the 'bird event' area. Considering
how small the culturette tip is, if diseases are detected, it reflects
just how much viral or bacterial contaminants must be present. In
order to prevent bias of events or people skills for collection,
the procedures were the same for all. Swabs would only be taken
from tables or areas where live birds were not being
displayed. In other words, only vendors selling supplies, magazine
subscriptions, clubs, raffle areas, non-bird pets and even people.
Eight different events were tested from around the country. Our goal was to be able to demonstrate these problems exist universally throughout the U.S., not just in Texas or Connecticut or Florida, etc. Following are the results of these events.
| Approximate
Day May, 1998 May, 1999 October, 1999 October, 1999 December, 1999 March, 2000 March, 2000 March, 2000 |
P.B.F.D. Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Negative Positive Positive |
Polyoma Positive Positive Positive Negative Positive Positive Positive Positive |
Chlamydia Negative Positive Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative |
As
you can see from the above chart, P.B.F.D. was detected at virtually
every event but one. Polyoma was also detected at all events but
one. Chlamydia, being a bacteria may be harder to detect or as the
chart shows, may be less of a problem than the viruses present.
If we had been swabbing tables with birds, the likelihood of detecting
the presence of Chlamydia may be much greater.
Typical results from individual swabs collected at various 'bird
marts' as follows:
| Swab
Collected From Local bird club without birds Raffle table without birds Toy Exhibitor Reptile Exhibitor Interior Arena Walls Random Person (Human) |
P.B.F.D. |
Polyoma Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive Positive |
Chlamydia Positive Negative Negative Negative Negative Negative |
Although not accounted in either chart, several bird sales areas were also swabbed at various events:
| Swab Collected From Event #1 Event #2 |
P.B.F.D. Positive Positive |
Polyoma Positive Positive |
Chlamydia Negative Negative |
Additionally, a hand-feeding African Grey Parrot was presented for DNA, Blood Testing after purchase from a 'bird event' with the following results:
| African Grey | P.B.F.D. Negative |
Polyoma Positive |
Chlamydia Not tested for |
Suspect breeds:
Although all types of psittacines may contract or carry any of the 'Big Three' diseases, certain species appear to be hosts for them. P.B.F.D. appears to have found a home within lovebirds.
Lovebirds can develop all majors signs of the disease
and survive. The relationship between Lovebirds and P.B.F.D. is
still not fully understood. In colonies of lovebirds with P.B.F.D.,
infection rates of up to 100% are common.
Budgies (parakeets) have found a way to co-exist with Polyoma Virus
even though infection rates are very high. Nestling mortality, feather
abnormalities - crawlers- and acute juvenile deaths are all typical
of this virus. Polyoma Virus perpetuates itself with each successive
generation and may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to
eliminate from breeding colonies.
Cockatiels appear to be the group of parrots most able to survive
with endemic Chlamydial infections. Only recently has a reliable
test for Chlamydia been available. We can now accurately screen
these birds for infection as opposed to utilizing non-specific tests
such as protein electrophoresis, B-ELISA or nebulous clinical signs
which mimic many other diseases.
Not only do these three groups of birds comprise the greatest reservoir
of the three major diseases, they also comprise the greatest number
of birds present at typical bird events. It is hardly a surprise
that the 'Big Three' diseases continue to remain so prevalent today!
So why all the concern over 'bird events'? First and foremost, these
deadly disease causing organisms are found throughout the entire
'bird event' area. It is in the air, on hair, clothing and
shoes, table tops, toys, supplies,
cages, foods, virtually everything in the area! People and birds
may not have entered with any of these diseases, but they definitely
leave with them!
As Dr. David Phalen of Texas A & M stated, 'people come looking
for bargains, real or perceived, but the bad news is the diseases
are free'! People take them wherever they go, to their favorite
pet store, their friends homes and home to their own birds. Their
role as courier has gone totally unnoticed!
Many people are unaware that several of these organisms, especially
P.B.F.D. and Polyoma Virus, are extremely hardy. It is believed
these viruses can remain stable for upwards of one year and still
be infective. The items purchased from events bring these viruses
into homes waiting for an opportunity to cause illness. Furthermore,
these organisms can be transported from 'bird mart' to 'bird mart'.
The diseases present could easily come from a previous show and
can certainly be carried to future shows on displayed merchandise.
Reflecting back on quarantine, several hundred birds may be exposed
to one disease and most often a disease from their region of the
world. A disease they may have some natural immunity to. When
we attend a 'bird mart', hundreds of birds are exposed to numerous
diseases. Diseases many have never seen before, with no natural
protection. To complicate matters, several diseases together may
produce a fatal illness, when individually they may be harmless
(de, P.B.F.D. and Polyoma exposure to mature eclectus parrots can
result in death). Some exhibitors proudly display signs stating
their birds are protected by a Polyoma vaccine. Most psittacines
at these shows are far too young to be protected by a vaccine. Whether
or not the vaccine offers any protection from Polyoma is still up
for debate, but it is highly unlikely the vaccine would have any
effect against P.B.F.D., Chlamydia or any other viruses and bacteria
present.
We must take this a step further. After attending a bird event,
hundreds or thousands of people now leave to expose their bird(s)
and homes or worse yet, their friends birds and birds in their favorite
pet store. A single 'bird mart' can expose thousands of birds overnight!
Remember we are talking about one 'bird mart'. Now add to those
numbers the amount of 'bird marts' taking place across the country.
Thru these 'bird marts', we perpetuate these and other deadly diseases.
Bird events help insure the future ability of these organisms to
survive and infect subsequent generations. This problem can only
get worse!
The evidence is here in black and white. The potential for generating
and spreading fatal avian diseases is unsurpassed anywhere in the
world as it is at 'bird mart' type events. We have not found a single
'bird event' free of these diseases! With the methods employed for
detection, there is no room for doubt of the extreme seriousness
of these events. It is unconscionable to believe that:
A) Anyone who cares for
birds would hold any event where young birds are present for display
or sale.
B) Anyone would attend any event to purchase
any items for birds.
C) Any person would ever attend any event with
such a high degree of fatal organisms waiting to be transmitted
to healthy birds.
D) Anyone would support or recommend any such
event.
It is time to wake up to the dangers of 'bird marts' and the damage
they create. The facts are conclusive, many diseases are present.
Once DNA probes have been perfected for diseases such as Herpes
Virus, Wasting Syndrome, P.M.V., Avian T.B. and more, testing may
reveal how many more of these organisms have been present and infecting
birds. Help prevent present and future illnesses and deaths.
DO NOT ATTEND THESE FUNCTIONS! Stop supporting all events of this
nature until one can be safely organized. When people attend
these events, they risk the lives of all birds - both present and future generations - theirs, yours and mine! In the end, the ultimate losers are always the birds. Why
must they suffer with their lives?
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