KJ>RD>KJ> PDS is the #1 un-test-able bird-killing disease in the US right 
w.
KJ>RD>How common is it, and are there areas of the country where it is more
KJ>RD>prevalent?
I would comment that it makes sense that areas where birds are more
common and highly bred or were imported to will probably have a h
gher rate of incidence. For example, Florida, or maybe states
that are known for doing a large amount of shipped -in babies
from out of state breeders, possibly.
KJ>From what he said at the lecture, it's fairly evenly distributed
KJ>everywhere. The big problem with PDS is that it has a long incubation
KJ>period, and there is no test (yet), so you don't KNOW your birds are
KJ>infected until one dies. By then it's too late.
Also, it is important not to jump to self-made assumptions or diagnoses
about your birds without clinical indications, such as a bird in the
area or sharing a cage with a bird that died and was diagnosed through
necropsy as having PDS. For example, an inexperienced person might not
understand that it is normal for a pet bird to regurgitate half digested
food on your shoulder trying to feed it's beloved owner, and might have
read something about undigested seed in an article and they might flip
and have a bird put down or something...
So it's important to have professional opinions.
Also, there are several different things, for example that have the same
basic symptoms as PDS but are different causes. I once had a budgie of
British English stock that had "Megabacteria" which is mentioned i think
in Harrisons and Harrisons. It is a large bacteria in the gut that can
become opportunistic and take over interrupting digestion and basically
mimicking PDS. It is seen a lot in European birds, for example sometimes
those coming out of Belgium, Holland, or Britain. Seems the water there
for some reason is more acidic and keeps this large bacteria under
control. That is the way to control it here, by making the GI tract
more acidic such as adding HCL acid or cider vinegar to the drinking
water. One of the symptoms of this is that the bird "goes light" and
food absorption is interrupted.
I just thought that this is something that should be brought up when
discussing PDS as it so closely mimicks it. It is not a widely discussed
topic nor is it common, I don't think in birds in America. My vet
whooped and called everybody in and was so macabrely excited that she
actually got to see a live example of this organism (at my expense...)
Well, just thought it'd be appropriate... (will sign off and finish
picking the half digested seed outta my hair that my pet white eye left
there while sitting on my head. Cute. At least it's dry now...)
Barbara
 * SLMR 2.1a * Got to go:the dinner's fighting & the kids are burning...
--- GEcho 1.00
---------------