Burwood Bird and Animal Hospital, 128 Highbury Rd, Burwood, Vic 3125, Australia.
Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic 3086, Australia; School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
Vet Microbiol. 2019 Aug;235:257-264. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.07.012. Epub 2019 Jul 18.
Wild birds are known reservoirs of bacterial and viral pathogens, some of which have zoonotic potential. This poses a risk to both avian and human health, since spillover into domestic bird populations may occur. In Victoria, wild-caught cockatoos trapped under licence routinely enter commercial trade. The circovirus Beak and Feather Disease Virus (BFDV), herpesviruses, adenoviruses and Chlamydia psittaci have been identified as significant pathogens of parrots globally, with impacts on both aviculture and the conservation efforts of endangered species. In this study, we describe the results of surveillance for psittacid herpesviruses (PsHVs), psittacine adenovirus (PsAdV), BFDV and C. psittaci in wild cacatuids in Victoria, Australia. Samples were collected from 55 birds of four species, and tested using genus or family-wide polymerase chain reaction methods coupled with sequencing and phylogenetic analyses for detection and identification of known and novel pathogens. There were no clinically observed signs of illness in most of the live birds in this study (96.3%; n = 53). Beak and Feather Disease Virus was detected with a prevalence of 69.6% (95% CI 55.2-80.9). Low prevalences of PsHV (1.81%; 95% CI 0.3-9.6), PsAdV (1.81%; 95% CI 0.3-9.6), and C. psittaci (1.81%; 95% CI 0.3-9.6) was detected. Importantly, a novel avian alphaherpesvirus and a novel avian adenovirus were detected in a little corella (Cacatua sanguinea) co-infected with BFDV and C. psittaci. The presence of multiple potential pathogens detected in a single bird presents an example of the ease with which such infectious agents may enter the pet trade and how novel viruses circulating in wild populations have the potential for transmission into captive birds. Genomic identification of previously undescribed avian viruses is important to further our understanding of their epidemiology, facilitating management of biosecurity aspects of the domestic and international bird trade, and conservation efforts of vulnerable species.
野生鸟类是已知的细菌和病毒病原体的宿主，其中一些具有人畜共患的潜力。这对鸟类和人类健康都构成了威胁，因为这些病原体可能会溢出到家禽鸟类种群中。在澳大利亚维多利亚州，根据许可证捕获的野生凤头鹦鹉经常进入商业贸易。环状病毒喙羽病病毒（BFDV）、疱疹病毒、腺病毒和鹦鹉热衣原体已被确定为全球鹦鹉的重要病原体，对家禽养殖和濒危物种的保护工作都有影响。在这项研究中，我们描述了在澳大利亚维多利亚州野生凤头鹦鹉中监测鹦鹉疱疹病毒（PsHV）、鹦鹉腺病毒（PsAdV）、BFDV 和 C. psittaci 的结果。从四种鸟类的 55 只鸟中采集样本，使用属或家族范围的聚合酶链反应方法结合测序和系统发育分析进行检测和鉴定已知和新型病原体。在本研究中的大多数活鸟中，没有观察到临床疾病迹象（96.3%；n=53）。BFDV 的检出率为 69.6%（95%CI 55.2-80.9）。PsHV 的检出率较低（1.81%；95%CI 0.3-9.6），PsAdV（1.81%；95%CI 0.3-9.6）和 C. psittaci（1.81%；95%CI 0.3-9.6）的检出率也较低。重要的是，在一只感染 BFDV 和 C. psittaci 的小葵花凤头鹦鹉中检测到一种新型禽α疱疹病毒和一种新型禽腺病毒。在一只鸟中检测到多种潜在病原体，这说明了这些传染性病原体很容易进入宠物贸易，以及在野生种群中循环的新型病毒有可能传播到圈养鸟类。对以前未描述的禽病毒进行基因组鉴定对于进一步了解它们的流行病学非常重要，有助于管理国内和国际鸟类贸易的生物安全方面，以及保护脆弱物种的努力。
