Since SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, I have awakened each morning hoping that it was all a bad nightmare and that our world was still the same. We are just now realizing that our lives will never be the same. It is so important that all of us gather close to our families and dear friends like we do every day at Parrots Naturally in order to ponder upon all that we should be thankful for, including our feathered creatures who bring so much joy to our lives and for those who share our dedication to them.

We have heard all kinds of attempts to define the unique relationship that parrots and humans enjoy. What is this unexplainable attraction that parrots have for people and that we have for them ? Can we truly own these exotic creature? Do our Parrots really own us?

No one has satisfactorily explained the relationship or the mysterious means of communication. No, we can’t own them, but they certainly can own us. So, how do we define our role? I believe that we are all conservators and caretakers of all parrots left on the planet. We have a calling. We have inexplicably been drawn to parrots and they to us

. We must be conservators and caretakers of birds in health and ombudsmen to the sick bird. Just as we need a spokesman, an ombudsmen when we are ill , not able to speak for ourselves or oversee our treatment, our birds need a spokesperson armed with appropriate knowledge to speak for him or her. Become Proactive.

What are our responsibilities?

In general it is imperative that we all learn as much as we can about our birds by gaining a thorough knowledge of the tests and procedures used to assess health status. That is why we are preparing this series of articles and why we are offering classes at Parrots Naturally in the Fall of 2002 where we will explore more thoroughly all areas of laboratory testing

.Specifically, here is where we begin:

• Our first priority is to find an Avian Vet with whom to work cooperatively not confrontationally, a Vet who is not threatened by your questions and who will take time to explain why certain procedures are needed and what they mean.

• Don’t be afraid to interview vets to ascertain their openness to your questions and input. Talk to more than one Vet , I often travel great distances for my birds to see a Vet who has a particular specialty or who has more expertise in a particular situation and will take the time to talk to me.

• While we do not advocate self-testing or undirected treatment, there are some tests that can be done without a vet. These include obtaining samples for culturing and referring them to a laboratory , sending samples to an independent lab for viral antibody and antigen testing, DNA sexing and referral of a bird for necropsy. We will talk about these further.

• Our challenge is to educate ourselves on Avian Diseases, their causes, diagnoses and cures and to do everything in our power to support people like Dr. Ritchie who is in the forefront of Avian research. If we do not work diligently to fund these people, we are facing the threat of unknown and little understood diseases that will devastate the lives of all of our parrots and will cause the extinction of many more species of psittacines

To further our knowledge of avian testing, it is important that we start with learning some basic terminology. You may wish to review the definition of terms now.

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Definition of Terms

The following terms will be used in exploring the issues of avian laboratory testing.

Antibody: a specific protein or immunolobulin produced in response to an antigenic challenge. The serum globulins (a protein) can bind to and neutralize bacterial toxins or band to the surface of bacteria, viruses or parasites.

Antigen: a foreign substance that can stimulate the production of antibodies.

Bacteria: Single celled member of the plant family found in all environments and all living multicellular organisms, some of which may cause disease. Bactericidal: term used to describe a drug or chemical agent that kills microorganisms
Bacteriostatic: term used to describe a drug or chemical agent that inhibits the growth of an organism without killing it.

Bursa of Fabricius: a lymphoepithelial organ found at the junction of the hind gut and cloaca in birds which is the site of B cell maturation. The site is the equivalent of bone marrow in humans which produce B cells to bind with and neutralize antigens (microorganisms)

Chlamydia: a single celled organism that has been classified as a virus though formerly classified as a bacteria. Chlamydia psittacine causes pneumonia and systemic disease in humans. In birds it is called Psittacosis or Ornithosis.

Closed Aviary: Avian environment closely controlled and maintained to ensure minimal transmission of disease. Ideally birds do not come into or exit and reenter the facility without extensive testing for all known pathogens and lengthy isolation procedures are followed. Visitors are not allowed and personnel undergo rigorous decontamination before entering the facility. For further information on how the modified closed aviary concept applies to all of us click on link above.

Enteric Pathogen: Usually refers to gram negative bacteria found in the intestines of humans.

False Positive test results: refers to the detection of a substance or condition that is not there. False Negative test results: refers to a result that does not detect a substance or condition that is actually present.

Fungus: a multicellular member of the plant kingdom which lack roots and stems and are referred to scientifically as Thallophytes. There are over 50,000 species; of these 50 to 75 are considered pathogens. Fungi are not usually considered communicable in the usual sense of person to person or animal to animal transmission, Humans and animals become an accidental host by inhalation of spores or through an open wound. The increase that we are seeing in avian and human infections is in part attributed to suppression of the immune system.

Overuse or long term use of antibiotics is another factor contributing to the increased incidence of fungal infections. Candida and Aspergillus sp. are the most commonly encountered fungi in Avian medicine. Aspergillosis because of the rapidity of onset and difficulty in treating has become one of the most frightening diseases of our Parrots.

Nosocomial infection: Term used to describe infections acquired in a hospital or medical setting. In other words the patient did not have this infection when admitted or was seen, but acquired it in the course of being treated. This is a very frightening phenomenon since many nosocomial microorganisms are highly drug resistant. This term may also be used to define infections transmitted in the veterinary clinic.

Non-pathogen: A microorganism usually isolated from a human or animal source that is considered part of the normal flora and is not capable of causing disease.
Pathogen: A disease causing microorganism or agent.

Sensitivity of a test: The sensitivity of a test reflects the level of concentration of a substance that must be present in order for the methodology to detect it. A highly sensitive method will detect very small amounts of a substance whereas a less sensitive method will require the substance to be present in greater concentrations for detection.

Specificity of a test: Specificity refers to how well the method performs in detecting only the desired substance.

Virus: a subcellular particle lacking DNA and which cannot reproduce without invading a host and using the host DNA.

Virulence: The degree of pathogenicity or ability to cause disease of an organism.

Zoonotic infection or Zoonoses: Infection caused by organisms that are capable of crossing species barriers. Recent examples are West Nile virus, the 1997 Hong Kong influenza virus that was transmitted from chickens to humans, and several species of Chlamydia.

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