Abstract
In late August of 1975, we were presented
with a dead Black Mask Lovebird.
According to the owner, it was not
noticed to be ill prior to its death. A
preliminary gross examination revealed
nothing out of the ordinary. When the
liver was examined microscopically, it
was discovered that the nucleii of the
liver cells contained inclusion bodies.
Inclusion bodies are readily identifiable
structures which are produced by some
viruses when they act within a cell. We
were familiar with similar inclusion bodies
in poultry , but it required a search of
the literature to reveal the true nature of
the disease in the Lovebird. It became
clear that this bird had died of Pacheco's
Parrot Disease. It had been first described
by a trio of Brazilian veterinarians working
in Sao Paulo, Brazil , in 1930. On that
occasion it caused losses among three
kinds of Brazilian parrots including the
orange wing parrot , the blue fronted
parrot, and the mealy parrot. Subsequent
experiments showed that the virus would
infect and kill the Tui paroquets and the
Budgerigars. Nothing more was reported
until 1974 when it was diagnosed in
Florida. During a single outbreak there,
it killed three macaws (one Ara ararauna
and two Ara militaris) which had brought
the disease from California, and four
scarlet macaws andeight cockatoos, which
had become infected by contact. Two
hornbills and a mynah bird which shared
the same room were not affected. In
the early 1970's, the disease was reported
in an African Grey parrot in Kenya. Subsequent
to our discovery of the disease in
the Black Mask Lovebird, we have seen it
in a Mustache, a Hooded , and a Black
headed parakeet.