Review of documented beak and feather disease virus cases in wild Cape parrots in South Africa during the last 20 years

Worldwide, there is concern about the increased prevalence of infectious diseases and their effects on biodiversity. Increasing changes in the environment, particularly changes in climatic conditions as a consequence of anthropogenic-induced climate change, are some of the factors driving this incre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of ornithology 2015-10, Vol.156 (4), p.867-875
Main Authors: Downs, Colleen T, Brown, Mark, Hart, Lorinda, Symes, Craig T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
amphibians
Beak and feather disease virus
biodiversity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
climate change
climatic factors
disease prevalence
drought
Ecology
Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management
infectious diseases
juveniles
Life Sciences
parrots
Poicephalus
Review
Zoology
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Summary:Worldwide, there is concern about the increased prevalence of infectious diseases and their effects on biodiversity. Increasing changes in the environment, particularly changes in climatic conditions as a consequence of anthropogenic-induced climate change, are some of the factors driving this increased disease prevalence. Vertebrate taxa that appear to be most affected by these diseases are amphibians and birds, though this may be a consequence of research effort. Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) affecting psittacine bird species is the disease of concern here. Data on BFDV incidence in wild, endangered Cape parrots (Poicephalus robustus) were collected opportunistically from 1992 to 2014. Data show that the disease is prevalent naturally in the wild during extreme climatic events, including drought. This stresses the birds, which may result in the expression of pathological symptoms. Juveniles in particular appear to succumb during times of drought. This has conservation implications with the impacts of extreme climatic events associated with anthropogenic-induced climate change.
ISSN:2193-7192
2193-7206
DOI:10.1007/s10336-015-1258-6