posted by Sybil on Jan 4
Is It A Reliable Protocol?
A few months ago, in the fall of 2008, some incredible news was circulating through the Internet….
A bone fide test for PDD (Proventricular Dilation Disease, formerly called “Macaw Wasting Syndrome”) had been found.
PDD is a neurological disease which most commonly causes the nerves which trigger digestion in the proventriculus of the parrot to atrophy. Slowly, the bird starves to death… Sometimes this disease also can cause seizures or physical instability as it damages the brain.
Until this point in time, the only testing available were crop biopsies which were, all too often, inconclusive. A positive was a positive…but a negative didn’t mean much. All too often the only definitive diagnosis was made upon necropsy.
A true positive diagnosis is a death sentence. And since the disease is contagious…although no one knows for sure how contagious it is…many birds with a positive biopsy result, especially those who were in multiple bird households, were destroyed.
Recently, a close Friend of The Oasis, who for this article will be called “Anna,” took one of her birds, an African Grey named “Charlie” to the Vet. Charlie was passing undigested seed and was not feeling well overall. The antibiotics first given didn’t resolve Charlie’s problem…so the Vet decided to try the new PDD test on the bird. Two other younger birds who had been tested by him, and came up positive, were truly found to be PDD positive on necropsy….
Anna’s bird came back positive. Since she has other birds in her home she arranged to bring the others in for testing. In the meanwhile, another antibiotic was given to Charlie to counteract what was seen as a secondary infection.
The Veterinarian suggested that Anna consider euthanizing Charlie.
Anna and I had several long talks. My personal belief system states that where there is life there is hope….
We discussed carefully isolating Charlie from any “negative” birds and to put certain basic bio-hazard or hospital protocols into place (last one fed, careful hygiene, sterilization procedures and clothing changes.)
All the birds were tested again, including Charlie.
A week later the Vet called with the second round of testing results. Apparently the lab felt there had been in error in the batch of tests….All except Charlie came back inconclusive… but Charlie now came back negative.
The lab said that they would do a complete re-test on all the birds at no cost.
The testing was done, but this time each and every one came back negative.
And by now Charlie is no longer passing seed. So Charlie has had one positive and two negative test results. All the other birds, who are acting healthy and appear well have had one positive and one negative.
Obviously neither the Vet nor Anna nor I know what to think. Since there is only one laboratory in the US doing the new PDD test, they cannot go elsewhere to have the testing redone. Although, even if they could, what would it mean at this point in time?
I spoke with Anna’s Vet to assuage my curiosity. He believes that in all likelihood if anyone has PDD it would be Charlie. Anna continues to keep him separated from the other birds and follows her new protocols.
But this puts into question the efficacy of the new test. Is it putting out false negatives? False positives? Is it lab error?
And the scariest thought is…are people euthanizing their birds out of fear, simply based on a new test??
January 4th, 2009 at 12:44 PM
“… where there is life there is hope…”
The same can also be said for birds that have tested positive for PVD (polyoma) and PBFD (beak & feather), then apparently developed an effective immune response, and months later repeatedly tested negative for those diseases.* It is my opinion that no bird should ever be euthanized based solely on one positive test. The final outcome should be determined by the bird’s immune system and the supportive care that it receives – not on a (possibly inaccurate) test result.–kbh
*LEARN MORE about “natural vaccination”:
PBFD Review 2005
By Margaret A. Wissman, DVM, DABVP
http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-diseases/bird-diseases-pbfd.aspx?cm_sp=InternalClicks-_-RelatedArticles-_-bird-diet-and-health/bird-diseases/bird-diseases-pbfd
January 4th, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Pssst… Sybil!
–TYPO–
It’s Dilatation – not Diatilation
January 5th, 2009 at 2:27 PM
This test is in a developmental stage; as I understood it, it is not ready for use as a diagnostic tool. Can you provide documentation that it is being offered commercially for use by the veterinarians as a diagnostic tool? Because otherwise, the use of it to do diagnosis is quite unprofessional — unless I have missed the announcement of its public availability.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:01 PM
To my knowledge, there are three labs working on a testing procedure. Since you did not name the particular lab in your blog, one is left only to assume which one it is, to the detriment of all three labs.
To my knowledge, not one of the three labs I know of has proclaimed a “bona fide” test. To the contrary, they have stated it is a test in the early stages of development. In lawman’s terms, perhaps it could be called an EXPERIMENTAL test.
To quote your blog…….
“But this puts into question the efficacy of the new test. Is it putting out false negatives? False positives? Is it lab error?
And the scariest thought is…are people euthanizing their birds out of fear, simply based on a new test??”
Most tests in early TRIALS put out false negatives and positives. Again, these are experimental tests. And where humans are involved, it could easily be lab error.
People have euthanized birds when a mate has died with PDD, or euthanized birds dying of PDD, or whole flocks when some birds had died of PDD, so little has changed in that area. Test or no test.
Whole groups of birds were euthanized when a bird died of Psatticine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD), but then…….a test became available. Years later there were still new developments regarding the PBFD testing. But at least avian medicine made some headway, and has saved a lot of birds.
If an avian vet will euthanize a bird because they don’t know the difference between an experimental test, and an accurate (bona fide) test then shame on them. But a much bigger shame and scare is when some one scares people into thinking these are real, bona fide tests out there (when they aren’t), and the labs and research quits working with the avian community and pulls these EXPERIMENTAL tests, throwing avian medicine and testing for our beloved feathered creatures, years behind.
Your endeavors are too young to remember whole flocks dying of psittacosis, PBFD, polyoma, pachos, and other devastating diseases, but thankfully avian medicine has overcome some great obstacles, least of all the bird people. We now have tests and controls for many of these diseases. Then came a time when aviculture beat up the very researchers, and their testing, causing a great alienation between the two groups. Then came the cries of why is there so little research being done, why don’t the researchers tell us of their findings? We sit quietly with a glimmer of hope and many prayers that someday a test for PDD will come along. Alas, the researchers are reaching out to us once again, and in their hands is that glimmer, perhaps even a major breakthrough, and we all hold our breath.
So far as I know, they are asking for samples to help validate the data they are working with, and nothing more. So, no one at this time should be euthanizing a bird because an experimental test, validation for a test in the experimental stages, comes back with they think is a positive. There is no bona fide test yet.
If research labs think this is happening, I guarantee you, they will pull the validation testing, put the testing years behind, and leave us all wondering why they don’t share with us anymore.
Jean Pattison
January 6th, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Your comments on the PDD test have come to my attention and I find them very distressing.
True the test is experimental but then the “standard” tests we all rely on everyday are far from perfect. The test for PBFD and psittacosis for example are known for being less than 100%
I question any veterinarian that would recommend euthanizing a bird based on any of the current tests we have available and a reasonable person would not ever make life / death decision based on a test so new and unproven.
One of our current tests, the crop biopsy, is known for false negatives. But we still use it because it is a tool to help diagnose a disease that unfortunately too often can only be found post mortem.
The new test should be used as a tool for the owners / veterinarian’s to help diagnose, nothing more.
I am very active in PDD circles and have personally experienced this disease 5 times. Will I test at my next well-bird? Yes.
Will I make life / death decisions based on the results? NO!
You are a highly recognized, respected person in aviculture and I would expect better than this from you.
Sincerely,
Ken
January 7th, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Thank you all for your comments. I learn from you all.
I will continue on this thread as I learn more.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:42 PM
We have now developed an antibody test as well as several PCR tests for the virus that is believed to cause PDD. We are also testing a protein to determine if it can be used as an effective vaccine similar to the vaccine we have for PBFD. So fare testing by ELISA has been more effective then PCR but both are now functioning as accurate tools to fight the spread of PDD.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Arne: Can you please write me privatly so that The Oasis Vet and I can learn more? My e-addy is sybil@the-oasis.org
Thanks!
February 14th, 2009 at 2:26 AM
the-oasis.org – great domain name for blog like this)))
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ads: http://hixoh.ru/
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:12 PM
According to my vet in NY there are two labs currently doing testing (one in Texas, one in Ohio). According to her, one lab appears to be slightly more reliable (Tx) but as a precaution we are sending blood from a suspected PDD case to both labs and she has already warned me of the potential for false positives.
The subject of euthanasia has already come up as different things race through my mind…but if my vet ever suggested it based on one test that may or may not be accurate…I’d never see that vet again.
While PDD has always been a death sentence…new discoveries abound…and those of us touched by the disease, or possibility of it, cling to the hope of a cure. If different therapies have been pursued and failed or the bird suffers from little quality of life, that’s one thing. In my case, if Sara comes back positive, the rest of my flock has already suffered long term exposure to her so euthanizing to protect them is pointless (my flock has been together for a number of years at this point). I’ve already moved her to another room in the house to not further expose them…but my focus is with containing the disease to our house and not exposing others to it.
I did rescue for a long time and a friend brought up a good point while I was lamenting the possibilities of where the point of infection may have been or what I could have done to prevent it. All the quarantining in the world wouldn’t stop PDD. Birds can go for years without exhibiting signs so unless you keep all your birds in separate rooms with separate air flows, there’s not much chance of confining the exposure amongst one’s own flock.
I absolutely understand the fear…facing infection when I have 12 birds is probably the most fearful thing I’ve had to face in the 28 years I’ve been keeping birds. But there is more at stake here then our own fears (fear of spreading the infection among your own flock, fear of being outcasted in bird circles because you’ve got “it”)…there is the potential to offer help to the researchers to find a vaccine, a cure or a better diagnostic test. To me, the birds health and well-being comes first. I would never let one of mine suffer…even for the “greater good”…but it seems to me that the potential to help the entire avian community is more important then MY suffering.
Taylor
April 9th, 2009 at 5:39 AM
Not that I’m impressed a lot, but this is more than I expected for when I stumpled upon a link on Furl telling that the info here is quite decent. Thanks.
April 30th, 2009 at 6:26 AM
Hi,
I lost a Macaw to what we think was PDD, could somebody please post which are the 3 Labs that test for PDD so I can check other birds.
Thanks
May 13th, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Hi there, not sure that this is true, but thanks
May 14th, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Added this page to Digg
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 AM
thanks
June 24th, 2009 at 8:20 AM
Man, that’s great…Thanks for providing such a good info
July 7th, 2009 at 1:34 PM
Just got a 20 yr. old african gray and the vet said it tested postive for pdd.I have other birds and now I don’t know what to do??Should I beleive the test??Please respond..The african gray was never exposed to other birds except when it was a baby..
July 8th, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Swine flu is entering the mixing bowl. The virion that emerged this spring in Mexico is now reaching the place where it may have its greatest potential to mutate-the tropics. Cases have recently been identified in India. Flu viruses circulate year-round in tropical regions, where they can mix with each other, mutate and spawn new strains.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:10 PM
Looks like a good forum for whats going on.
Be back soon
poorfarm