BH>FW>Think of all the other birds at the bird mart that were exposed. 
Grief...
BH>FW>major outbreak.
BH>Except that polyoma isn't going to adversely affect adult birds.
It might not AFFECT them, but even an adult who is exposed CAN
potentially become a polyoma carrier and spread the disease into other
aviaries and/or nurseries.
BH>sell locally if possible. I also have been informed of some new research
BH>data that might blow old theories about polyoma out of the water. Do you
BH>by any chance have access to the AAV Journal? I think there might be an
BH>interesting article appear there soon.
I'd be VERY interested in this--I don't have access to AAV journals,
however. Who is producing this article? I'd be happy if you could either
mail or e-mail me a copy when it is released-- kjohnson@ddc.com.
BH>I tested randomly for polyoma and specifically the macaws. Macaws are
BH>particularly susceptible to polyoma,which is a species specific virus
BH>and is more viscious in nature when it jumps species (Like when lovebird
BH>polyoma hits macaws, etc).
Who told you it's species specific? Dr. Ritchie, to my knowledge, has
not proven this to be true...
>Anyway the macaws were negative. Never even
BH>been EXPOSED to the virus. Totally clean, Which also translates that
BH>their parents are clean too.
How did you test? Do you know that just swabbing a bird and getting a
negative result means close to nothing? The bird MUST be actively
shedding virus at the time the swab is taken--if it isn't passing virus
at that second, then even if the bird is rampantly infected, you will
still get a negative result. To get a good result from a test, you
should collect some fecal samples over a 5-7 day period, mix them
together, and swab THAT. To get a REALLY good sample, you should
preferably collect the samples during a period of high stress, such as
during breeding, incubating eggs, feeding new babies, other illness, or
moving.
>Anyway, randomly tested some pet birds, and
BH>a pair of small conures turned up with high titre numbers, highly
BH>positive for the virus. At best this means they have the antibody, have
BH>been exposed. At worst they are carriers of the virus and were shedding.
Who did titre tests for you? That test is also not commercially
available, specifically because the titre test doesn't tell WHY the bird
has antibodies, as you commented. Many birds were unnecessarily
destroyed when this test was being used in the early '80s as a detection
test for the virus. It's not supposed to BE used anymore, according to
Dr. Ritchie.
BH>These conures were pets at the time and were living in the bedroom where
BH>I had the babies. All the while,with me not knowing it, they had high
BH>titres. YET, the babies, macaws included, tested negative for the
BH>polyoma even though less than 10 feet away across the room were these
BH>conures from the babies. Lucky? Definitely. Perhaps polyoma is not as
BH>easily contracted as is often insinuated? Probably.
If this was my flock, I would re-test at random, during breeding season,
and see what I found then. I'd be very interested to see how the conures
would test if given a nestbox.
BH>Did I use good clean
BH>technique when handling babies?
BH>was a nurse, so it helped. I used Oxyfresh on my hands and Kennelsol to
BH>clean instruments and feeding implements with.
This probably helped a lot more than relying on the virus not being
easily transmissable on its own! 
BH>But the point is, unwittingly, there the virus was just across the room
BH>and it didn't cross those few feet! I walked past that cage around the
BH>bed to get to the babies. I think we are going to learn a lot more soon
BH>about polyoma. Don't get me wrong. It is a very serious disease and I
BH>highly respect and hate it.
Antibodies do NOT equal presence of virus. I went through a polyoma
problem in 1993, which I'm sure I've mentioned out here too many times
already.  (If you haven't heard the story, I'll tell it again
however--just ask!) But during that outbreak, I found out that just
knowing a bird has antibodies to any given virus does NOT mean the bird
even has that virus in its system any longer. That would be like having
yourself tested for measles antibodies--you've probably been vaccinated,
or perhaps you caught measles as a kid. You have antibodies, but you
certainly aren't shedding measles virus around the house daily!
Personally, I rely on the closed aviary system, regular
collection-method swab testing, and good hygiene after being around any
other feathered things, to keep up on the status of disease here, and
to keep my birds safe from polyoma. Now that it is commercially
available, and as soon as I can afford the vaccine for everybody, they
will be vaccinated, just for MY peace of mind. I NEVER want to see
another positive result on any of MY babies ever again!!!!!!!!!!!
--Kathy
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