KJ>I was contacted recently by a woman who wants to buy my next male 
KJ>Jenday baby. She lost her last pet Jenday (a hen) to Macaw Wasting 
KJ>Disease (proventricular dilitation syndrome), coupled with chronic 
KJ>...
KJ>Those of you who breed birds, would YOU sell a bird into this home?
     
KJ>--Kathy
   
Hi  Kathy!
	I am new to the group, so I don't know how much credence you will give my
advice.  I have worked with birds for ten years and have worked closely
with 2 vets treating birds for a total of about five years.  I breed birds
and I just opened my own bird store after working for someone else in that
capacity for 2 1/2 years.  
	I am responding to your note about the lady whose bird died of PDS and
whether or not you should sell her another bird.  To answer this, first I
will mention my understsnding of PDS.  (If you find any of my info to be
out dated, please let me know.  I believe it to be current and correct.) 
PDS is classified as a syndrome because it is descriptive of  a list of
symptoms and a series of biological events without a known causitive
agent.  There are diseases which can cause this syndrome.  Many cases of
PDS can be associated with other pathogens such as Candida, E. coli, and
Chlamydia.  There are cases that do not appear to have any other
associated pathogens.  Thus it would appear that the PDS might also be a
disease in its own right.  To rule out other causes of PDS requires costly
tissue sample tests.  The cost of a full necropsy would be much greater
than the replacement  value of most smaller birds.  That most people do
not have these tests performed no doubt confounds Dr. Richie's research
efforts. Many vets that see birds are content with saying, "It died of
PDS."  without  pushing for further tests because there is so much cost to
the client with little or no reward.  You did not mention whether or not
the lady with the conure had spent the hundreds of dollars in testing that
would be necessary for a more specific diagnosis.
	Now I will mention my own experiences and opinions.   Most of the cases
of PDS that I've seen have had other possible pathological causes.  The
other shop that I worked at was over-crowded and had many surfaces that
were not cleanable (such as carpet).  Until I got there the birds were on
a seed based diet with a very occasional piece of fruit  to supplement. 
We were only barely able to keep one step ahead of the Chlamydia, E. coli,
Pseudomonas, Candida, Klebsiella, etc.  The owner had no qualms about 
bringing in new birds and adding them straight to the flock.  We did see
PDS but it is my humble belief that this most often occured in birds that
were otherwise immunosuppressed.  Single wild birds, new birds, African
Greys, and  birds that refused to switch to a better diet were the ones
that most often had the problem.  It rarely showed up in the handfed
babies.  There were two cases in baby macaws.  One B&G baby was aquired
during a major E. coli outbreak.  It recovered but required over a month's
worth of antibiotics and fluids as well as several months worth of "diet
therapy."  As a full grown bird, it still weighs less than 800 grams
because its growth was so stunted. (It is no longer skinny, just small.) 
Another was a Greenwing.  It came down with PDS in conjunction with
Chlamydia and Candida as well as a few other opportunistics within a week
of going home, even though a blood test a few days before it left came up
normal.  It is not clear whether  the PDS occured before or after the
bacterial infections but it was very clear that the stress of going to a
new home was a major factor.  This bird was making a full recovery when it
developed a puncture in its proventriculus.  The necropsy showed that
almost all the signs of the syndrome had gone away.  These people recieved
a replacement Greenwing from this same shop within six months of the death
of the first bird.  Now, two years later, they have a beautiful, healthy
Greenwing and the Moluccan that they got three years ago is in excellent
condition as well.
	I believe that birds on a healthy diet --lots of vegetables like sweet
potatoes and broccoli-- with a natural pellet base (I use Harrison's) have
much less chance of coming down with the disease.  I add immune system
boosters to the diet on a regular schedule.  I use Bach flower and
homeopathic remedies to reduce stress and promote a healthy internal
balance in my birds.  I also add a drop or two of apple cider vinegar to
the water of my South American birds since studies have shown that the
natural water sources there are slightly acidic.  For over two years  I
came home from work every day after exposure to very many nasty diseases
as well as PDS.  I have never had one of my own birds come down with PDS. 
I do not believe that this disease is very transmittable, especially to a
bird in good health with a strong immune system.  I would asess the lady's
ability to properly feed her birds and house them in a low stress
environment.  If everything checks out (including your talk to Dr. Richie)
I would sell her the baby bird.  I hope this info is useful. 
	Thanks for the writing space.  Sorry this is so long.  Ask me sometime
about my B&G that had accupuncture treatments.
--Dianalee, Paradise Found
   
   
   
   
   
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