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Evidence of psittacine beak and feather disease virus spillover into wild critically endangered orange-bellied parrots (Neophema chrysogaster)

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 00:59 authored by Peters, A, Patterson, EI, Geoffrey BakerGeoffrey Baker, Holdsworth, M, Sarker, S, Ghorashi, SA, Raidal, SR
We report the recent emergence of a novel beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) genotype in the last remaining wild population of the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster). This virus poses a significant threat to the recovery of the species and potentially its survival in the wild. We used PCR to detect BFDV in the blood of three psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) –affected wild Orange-bellied Parrot fledglings captured as founders for an existing captive breeding recovery program. Complete BFDV genome sequence data from one of these birds demonstrating a 1,993-nucleotide-long read encompass the entire circular genome. Maximum-likelihood (ML) and neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic analysis supported the solitary position of this viral isolate in a genetically isolated branch of BFDV. On Rep gene sequencing, a homologous genotype was present in a second wild orange-bellied parrot and the third bird was infected with a distantly related genotype. These viruses have newly appeared in a population that has been intensively monitored for BFDV for the last 13 yr. The detection of two distinct lineages of BFDV in the remnant wild population of Orange-bellied Parrots, consisting of fewer than 50 birds, suggests a role for other parrot species as a reservoir for infection by spillover into this critically endangered species. The potential for such a scenario to contribute to the extinction of a remnant wild animal population is supported by epidemiologic theory.

History

Publication title

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

Volume

50

Pagination

288-296

ISSN

0090-3558

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Wildlife Disease Assn

Place of publication

Inc, 810 East 10Th St, Lawrence, USA, Ks, 66044-8897

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 Wildlife Disease Association

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems

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