Newcastle disease (bird paralysis) in parrots
Other names: Newcastle، Al-Shawta، Al-Laffa
Symptoms
- Lethargy, loss of appetite and weight
- Respiratory signs and conjunctivitis
- Bright yellow-green diarrhea
- Neurological signs: incoordination, head shaking, torticollis, paralysis
How it spreads
Respiratory droplets, fecal contamination of food and water, contact, utensils — endemic in Egyptian poultry, so proximity to poultry/pigeons is a risk.
Diagnosis
Virus isolation and laboratory tests (AGID/PCR); a disease that must be reported to the veterinary authorities.
Treatment
Symptomatic treatment only and not recommended; report to the General Organization for Veterinary Services. [Update 3] Merck: visceral Newcastle is rare in indoor-bred parrots; treatment is symptomatic only, is not advisable, and must be reported. The PMV-1 vaccine is forbidden in parrots (fatal reactions). Paramyxovirus 2 and 3 are managed with supportive care (PMV-3 in Neophema and rosellas).
Prevention
Separate parrots from poultry, pigeons and wild birds, do not use the same utensils/clothes, quarantine new birds, disinfect.
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.
Other diseases
- Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD)
- Polyomavirus
- Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) / bornavirus
- Pacheco's disease (psittacid herpesvirus)
- Internal papillomatosis
- Avian pox
- Avian influenza
- West Nile virus