Parrot bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4)

Parrot bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) Latest News

A team of scientists has, for the first time in India, identified and genetically characterised Parrot bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) that often causes rapid death in captive psittacine birds.

About Parrot bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4)

• It is an enveloped single-strand RNA virus that infects parrots and other psittacine birds (such as macaws, cockatoos, parakeets, and conures). 
• It belongs to the genus Orthobornavirus in the family Bornaviridae. 
• PaBV-4 is one of several parrot bornavirus species and is among the most commonly detected in captive parrots worldwide. 
• PaBV causes proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), a largely fatal condition affecting birds’ digestive and nervous systems.  
• Affected birds may exhibit:
  • Weight loss despite a normal appetite.
  • Regurgitation or vomiting.
  • Passage of undigested seeds in droppings.
  • Enlargement (dilatation) of the proventriculus (the glandular stomach).
  • Neurological signs such as tremors, loss of coordination (ataxia), seizures, or paralysis.
• Transmission
  • The virus is believed to spread mainly through contact with infected birds or their droppings and feather dust, although the exact routes of transmission are not yet fully understood.
  • Infected birds may carry and shed the virus without showing clinical signs, facilitating its spread.
• Treatment and Prevention:
  • There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for PaBV-4.
  • Management focuses on supportive care, reducing inflammation, and maintaining nutrition.
  • Prevention relies on strict biosecurity, quarantine of new birds, routine health screening, and minimizing contact between infected and healthy birds.

News: TH

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