HealthGene's Avian Bulletin (11.03.2004)

IN BRIEF
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NEW AVIAN RESPIRATORY THERAPIES
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As Veterinary Practice News reports, the fungal infection aspergillosis has been a huge problem for veterinarians for many years. An aspergillosis infection can go for months to years without detection, and then suddenly a bird will appear to have dyspnea, tachypnea, and open-mouthed breathing. In order to successfully treat aspergillosis, early diagnosis is essential. New DNA tests are a big improvement over the tests that were available in the past. These new tests are much more reliable at confirming positive infections.
Source: Veterinary Practive News. June 2004.
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EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR COMMON AVIAN PARASITES
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According to VetPracticeNews.com, a wide range of parasites can infect pet birds, but the ones veterinarians most often see in their avian patients are scaly leg and face mites, red mites, Giardia, roundworms and tapeworms, Coccidia and Trichomonas. Early diagnosis and proper medication can successfully treat all these parasites.
Source: VetPractiveNews.com
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HEALTHGENE'S HIGHLIGHTS
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HEALTHGENE'S NEW AVIAN BULLETIN
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We would like to welcome you to this new format of HealthGene's Avian Bulletin. Our goal is to keep breeders informed about the latest updates in DNA testing. Starting with this issue, we will post health-related news in our new "In Brief" section. As always, we would like to hear from you.
Write to us at info@healthgene.com.
We invite you to visit our new website dedicated to avian DNA testing:
http://www.healthgene.com/avian.
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INFECTIOUS AVIAN DNA TESTING:
THREE-YEAR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS (excerpt)
(Full article is available at www.healthgene.com/avian/ar_avian_dna.asp)
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Many bird owners, breeders, and veterinarians have already discovered the extensive list of avian diagnostic tests offered by HealthGene Laboratory. Bird owners and aviculturalists have realized the benefits of DNA testing since screening all newly acquired birds provides owners with the opportunity to safely and immediately introduce new birds to their collections, while avoiding lengthy quarantine times. HealthGene offers a number of avian diagnostic tests. In this statistical analysis, only four of the most common organisms are reviewed: Chlamydophila psittaci (Psittacosis), Avian Polyomavirus, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) virus, and Pacheco's Disease virus. A full list of tests and profiles can be viewed on www.healthgene.com/avian.

The numbers presented in this analysis denote samples submitted from an array of avian veterinary practitioners and a variety of species, signifying that most pathogenic organisms do not discriminate between species and virtually all birds are susceptible. The test results represent samples from birds displaying clinical symptoms of disease, as well as samples submitted for general screening.

CHLAMYDOPHILLA PSITTACI (PSITTACOSIS)
Total Tests: 4267
Positive: 503
% of Positive: 11.8%

POLYOMAVIRUS
Total Tests: 2354
Positive: 146
% of Positive: 6.2%

PBFD VIRUS
Total Tests: 2486
Positive: 151
% of Positive: 6.0%

PACHECO'S DISEASE VIRUS
Total Tests: 2313
Positive: 89
% of Positive: 3.8%

HealthGene Laboratory would like to emphasize that screening all newly acquired birds for the pathogenic organisms mentioned above should be part of every bird owners standard practice before exposing new birds to their collections.

To find out more about test results among different avian species, please visit www.healthgene.com/avian/ar_avian_dna.asp

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HealthGene offers lectures for avian clubs in Ontario, Canada. For more information, call 416-658-2040 or e-mail info@healthgene.com

If you would like to use any information available on www.healthgene.com or in this bulletin for your club's newsletter, please contact us by e-mail at info@healthgene.com or by phone – 416-658-2040.

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