Mortality in budgerigars associated with a reovirus-like agent
Manvell, R.; Gough, D.; Major, N.; Fouchier, R.A.M.
Veterinary Record 154(17): 539-540
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 15134173 Document Number: 575328
Postmortem tissue samples obtained from affected budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) from different collections in Scotland, UK during the mass mortalities in 2002-2003 were obtained for virus isolation. The isolates were grown in a variety of cell cultures and in embryonated eggs. 11 reovirus-like agents obtained from the infected cultures were subjected to PAGE and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. It was shown that there was a low homology in the M1, M2 and L2 gene sequences of subgroup 1 (mammalian) orthoreoviruses and the S3 gene segment of subgroup 2 (avian) orthoreoviruses. This is the first report of the isolation of reovirus-like agents associated with high mortality in budgerigars. The high mortality and transmissibility suggests that budgerigars are highly susceptible to this virus, which may have originated in another host.