Title
Health evaluation of free-ranging and captive blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) in the Gran Chaco, Bolivia
Author(s)
Deem S.L., Noss A.J., Cuellar R.L., Karesh W.B.
Published
2005
Publisher
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Abstract
Bolivia has a total of 47 species of Psittacidae, seven of which have been identified in our study site, the semiarid Gran Chaco of the Isoso. One species, the blue-fronted parrot (Amazona aestiva), is frequently captured by local Isoseño Guaraní Indians for exploitation on the national and international market. These birds are often temporarily housed in small villages under unhygienic conditions with poultry and other domestic species. On occasion, these parrots escape back to the wild. Additionally, many of these birds are kept as pets or are used to lure wild parrots within slingshot range for subsequent capture. In this study, we evaluated the health status, including the level of exposure to selected infectious agents, in the wild-caught captive birds and free-ranging birds. Physical examinations were performed, and blood was collected, from 54 live birds (20 captive and 34 free-ranging). Feces were collected from 15 birds (seven captive and eight free-ranging). Necropsies were also performed on four recently dead wild-caught birds. On serologic testing, no birds were found to have antibodies to avian influenza virus, Chlamydophila psittaci, infectious bronchitis virus, infectious bursal disease virus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, Marek's disease virus, paramyxovirus-1, paramyxovirus-2, paramyxovirus-3, polyomavirus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, western equine encephalitis virus, or Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Positive antibody titers were found for psittacine herpesvirus (8/44, 18.2%), Aspergillus spp. (3/51, 5.9%), and Salmonella pullorum (33/49, 67.3%). All three of the birds that tested antibody positive for Aspergillus spp. were captive, whereas six of the eight and 15 of the 33 birds that tested positive for psittacine herpesvirus and S. pullorum, respectively, were wild. Copyright 2005 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
Keywords
bacterium antibody; virus antibody; animal; animal disease; article; bird disease; blood; blood analysis; Bolivia; epidemiology; female; health status; male; parrot; physical examination; physiology; wild animal; zoo animal; Amazona; Animals; Animals, Wild; Animals, Zoo; Antibodies, Bacterial; Antibodies, Viral; Bird Diseases; Blood Chemical Analysis; Bolivia; Female; Health Status; Male; Physical Examination; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Amazona; Amazona aestiva; Aspergillus; Aves; Avian infectious bronchitis virus; Avian influenza virus; Chlamydophila psittaci; Eastern equine encephalitis virus; Gallid herpesvirus 1; Gallid herpesvirus 2; Herpesviridae; Infectious bursal disease virus; Mardivirus; Orthomyxoviridae; Paramyxoviridae; Polyomavirus; Psittacidae; Psittaciformes; Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Gallinarum; Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Pullorum; Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus; Western equine encephalomyelitis virus
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the WCS Library to request.
![]()
Back
PUB12291