I recently attended the Midwest Avian Research Exposition and was fortunate enough to attend an excellent presentation by Dr. Susan Clubb gave an regarding her involvement with birds suspected of having West Nile Virus. The word “suspected” is used because at this time there is no test to differentiate between West Nile Virus and St. Louis Encephalitis. In fact, West Nile is now referred to as West Nile Encephalitis. 

Symptoms in birds include: seizures, ataxia, uncoordination, weight loss, diarrhea, tremors, general neurological problems, brain lesions and death. 

The disease outbreak factor is thought not to be as bad in exotics, particularly parrots, as it has been to corvids (crows) and jays, which have been virtually wiped out in many of the outbreak areas. Dr. Clubb, who is in Florida and has a private practice as well as is the treating veterinarian at Parrot Jungle, has not seen the numbers of possibly infected birds that we were afraid would be happening. She stated she had treated less than a dozen birds believed to be infected and many recovered with supportive care. Dr. Clubb went on to state that in her opinion the disease has both a low morbidity and low mortality rates in parrots. There have been documented cases of bird to bird transmission, however, this has only been proved in corvids and jays – not exotic birds. 

There is a vaccine that has been developed is currently being used in zoos, bio parks and at research facilities. So far, there has been no adverse reactions to the vaccine and it did produce measurable antibodies in all birds even in low dosages. In chickens, the vaccine has produced kidney damage and neurological lesions although there were no clinical signs in the chickens. Currently the vaccine costs $12 per injection. 

Her current recommendation for treatment is not vaccination but mosquito control with both foggers and electronic bug zappers. For more information go to:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/wnv/wnvstats.html