AVIAN POX There are five sub-groups of Avian Pox Virus. Parrot pox is one of them. It occurs in two forms in Psittacines; That is in dry and wet form. The dry is shown as dry scabs on facial areas and are usually harmless.But the wet pox causes severe oral lesions and concurrent systemic disease. The disease is transmitted through Mosquitos /insects or direct contact with infected birds. African lovebirds and Budgerigars are one of the most commonly affected of the Psittacine species. Cause of death is usually due to secondary bacterial infections setting in and lesions leading to wasting and malnutrition. As the birds stop eating due to painful lesions, There are Vaccines for Pigeon and Fowl Pox but they are not effective in the psittacines. High dose of Vitamin A with a long course antibiotic treatment using Tylosin is recommended to prevent secondary infection . Eyes should be washed with warm saline water and baby shampoo over the pox (seems to work). plus Tobramycin eye drops. The bird may need to be force feed if it has stopped eating. Scar marks are sometimes left on the the eyelids and cere, CRD and Aspergillosis are common diseases that set in once the bird is cured of pox.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:25:29 +0000