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Report on West Nile Virus & Exotic Birds
By: Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S. I
recently attended the Midwest Avian Research Exposition and was fortunate enough
to attend an excellent presentation by Dr. Susan Clubb gave an regarding her
involvement with birds suspected of having West Nile Virus.
The word “suspected” is used because at this time there is no test to
differentiate between West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis. In fact, West
Nile is now referred to as West Nile Encephalitis. Symptoms
in birds include: seizures, ataxia, uncoordination, weight loss, diarrhea,
tremors, general neurological problems, brain lesions and death. The
disease outbreak factor is thought not to be as bad in exotics, particularly
parrots, as it has been to corvids (crows) and jays, which have been virtually
wiped out in many of the outbreak areas. Dr. Clubb, who is in Florida and has a
private practice as well as is the treating veterinarian at Parrot Jungle, has
not seen the numbers of possibly infected birds that we were afraid would be
happening. She stated she had treated less than a dozen birds believed to be
infected and many recovered with supportive care. Dr. Clubb went on to state
that in her opinion the disease has both a low morbidity and low mortality rates
in parrots. There have been documented cases of bird to bird transmission,
however, this has only been proved in corvids and jays – not exotic birds. There
is a vaccine that has been developed is currently being used in zoos, bio parks
and at research facilities. So far, there has been no adverse reactions to the
vaccine and it did produce measurable antibodies in all birds even in low
dosages. In chickens, the vaccine has produced kidney damage and neurological
lesions although there were no clinical signs in the chickens. Currently the
vaccine costs $12 per injection. Her
current recommendation for treatment is not vaccination but mosquito control
with both foggers and electronic bug zappers. For
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