BH>The bird does not automatically become a carrier of the disease if
BH>exposed, and because he developes immunities. An Adult bird that has
BH>immunities will pass them on to their young. It is the same as though
BH>they were vaccinated.
From what I have been told, babies DO NOT retain that immunity through
adulthood. It's only what's called "maternal immunity", which only lasts
about 3 weeks. After that, it wears off, and their OWN immune system has
to also develop antibodies to any viruses. There is a 'window' there
of a week or two, during which the babies have NO Immune System At All,
and can be infected with any virus that's handy.
BH>KJ>How did you test?
BH>Tested with blood serology,
That's nice for those to whom it's available. I fought like the devil to
find someone to do serology for me during our outbreak, and NOBODY in
the country could do it. I called Drs. Flammer, Gaskin, McCluggage (in
Colorado), Cal-Avian labs in California--nobody had a serology test for
polyoma. It was not available. Period.
BH>KJ>negative result means close to nothing? The bird MUST be actively
BH>I fully understand swabbing and think the serology is better first line
BH>information. Too many swab and accept false negatives.
I hear that. I've met folks who HAD an outbreak, KNEW it, got negatives
on swabs, and are now selling babies at fairs saying they're all fine
now. Thank GOD for Oxyfresh--I RUN for the shower when I come home from
seeing those people.
BH>KJ>Who did titre tests for you? That test is also not commercially
BH>KJ>available, specifically because the titre test doesn't tell WHY the 
ird
BH>Don't need commercially available. Got connections...
 Connections are nice, but they certainly don't help the rest of us!
BH>carriers with uninfected babies and caused their deaths. Back when
BH>people thought nothing of French Molt and thought it was a nutritional
BH>deficiency rather than the probability that it is actually PBFD. I know
BH>not long ago a trend of thought was that it was a secondary form or
BH>symptom of polyoma in lovebirds and budgies.
It may well be a symptom in those species--the virus doesn't affect
budgies at all like it does other parrots. Adult budgies who are
infected become carrier/shedders for life, and are a MAJOR danger to the
rest of the bird population. Dr. Ritchie calls them nasty names , and
says that if someone is going to keep budgies, they really should NOT
breed any other species of parrot, and if someone keeps and breeds other
parrots, they shouldn't get any budgies. Way too much risk of polyoma
infection.
BH>As far as I know no-one has de-authorized the use of a serology test
BH>for this or other viruses.
It may not be de-authorized, but it sure is impossible to find a vet
who'll DO it. And this was even before swab testing was common--the year
we had our outbreak was only 1 year after the advent of the polyoma swab
test. Several vets said that the polyoma serology test hadn't been used
in many years prior to the release of the swab tests.
BH>Viruses are actually very delicate in nature. Many only live a few
BH>minutes out of the host. I believe that PBFD is one of the ones that is
BH>very fragile while polyoma is heartier.
I honestly don't know as much about PFBD as I do about polyoma.
Something about knowing thine enemy...I dealt with one, but not the
other.
BH>* SLMR 2.1a * "Bother," said Pooh as he puked on Christopher Robin.
Gotta interrupt to tell you what a great tagline this is! 
--Kathy
 * SLMR 2.1a * Support the helpless victims of computer error!
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