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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
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Procedures for Identifying Infectious Prions After Passage Through the Digestive System of an Avian Species
Published on: November 6, 2013
Viral enteritis in cockatoos (Cacatua spp.)
Avian Pathology : Journal of the W.V.P.A
|September 1, 1991
Summary
A viral enteritis caused by an enterovirus is suspected in young Sulphur-crested cockatoos and galahs in Australia. This infection led to severe diarrhea, wasting, and death in these birds.
Area of Science:
- Avian pathology
- Veterinary virology
- Zoonotic disease research
Background:
- Young Sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) and galahs (C. roseicapilla) in Victoria, Australia, exhibited a fatal wasting syndrome.
- Clinical signs included profuse diarrhea, leading to death in affected birds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of a severe enteritis in young Australian cockatoos and galahs.
- To identify potential pathogens associated with the observed mortality.
Main Methods:
- Necropsy and histological examination of affected birds' duodenal tissues.
- Electron microscopy of fecal and intestinal samples to identify viral particles.
Main Results:
- Necropsy revealed duodenal dilatation and mucosal thickening.
- Histology showed fused villi and crypt enterocyte proliferation.
- Electron microscopy identified unenveloped viral particles (approx. 30 nm) in feces and intestinal sections.
Conclusions:
- An enterovirus infection is the likely cause of the enteritis in these psittacine birds.
- The findings suggest a significant link between the identified viral particles and the observed disease syndrome.
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