Abstract
Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) infections are often fatal to both captive and wild parrot populations. Its recent discovery in a wild population of native red-fronted parakeets has raised concerns for the conservation of native parrots, all of which are threatened or endangered. The question of a recent introduction versus a native genotype of the virus poses different conservation-management challenges, and thus, a clear understanding of the molecular phylogeny of BDFV is a crucial step towards integrated management planning. This study represents the first comprehensive attempt to screen New Zealand’s endangered and threatened psittacines systematically for BFDV. We sampled and screened kakapos (Strigops habroptilus), kakas (Nestor meridionalis), keas (N. notabilis), Chatham parakeets (Cyanoramphus forbesi), Malherbe’s parakeets (Cyanoramphus malherbi), yellow-crowned parakeets (C. auriceps) and red-fronted parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae), as well as eastern rosellas (Platycercus eximius), an introduced species that is now common throughout the North Island, for BFDV. Out of all species and populations sampled (786 individuals), we found 16 BFDV-positive red-fronted parakeets from Little Barrier Island/Hauturu, seven eastern rosellas from the Auckland region, and eight yellow-crowned parakeets from the Eglinton Valley in the South Island. The full genomes of the viral isolates from the red-fronted parakeets share 95–97 % sequence identity to those from the invasive eastern rosellas and 92.7–93.4 % to those isolates from the South Island yellow-crowned parakeets. The yellow-crowned parakeet BFDV isolates share 92–94 % sequence identity with those from eastern rosellas. The low level of diversity among all BFDV isolates from red-fronted parakeets could suggest a more recent infection among these birds compared to the yellow-crowned parakeets, whereas the diversity in the eastern rosellas indicates a much more established infection. Pro-active screening and monitoring of BFDV infection rates in aviaries as well as in wild populations are necessary to limit the risk of transmission among threatened and endangered parrot populations in New Zealand.
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Acknowledgments
This research was completed with the logistical and financial support of the Brian Mason Scientific and Technical Trust (New Zealand), the University of Canterbury (Science Faculty Early Career Grant), the Department of Conservation, Massey University (Institute of Natural Sciences), the University of Auckland, Motuihe Island Trust, Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Supporters Inc., Auckland Regional Council, and National Council of Science from Mexico (CONACYT). Sample collection was undertaken following methods approved by the DOC (permits AK-15300-RES, AK-20666-FAU, AK-22857-FAU, and 2008070), Massey University Animal Ethics Committee (protocols MUAEC 07/138 and 08/24), and the University of Auckland Animal Ethics Committee (protocol R653). Financial support for the field trip to Rangatira Island in Nov–Dec 2009 was provided through a postdoctoral fellowship by the Foundation for Science, Research & Technology to MM (UOCX0601). B.K. is supported by funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). We thank the numerous volunteers who assisted with capture and processing of birds. Special thanks go to Shane McInnes and Liz Whitwell (DOC), who greatly facilitated our work on Little Barrier Island. We thank Alison Botha, Kev Drew, Sophie Fern, Alexandra Sides and Annika Wagenhoff for assistance in the field on Rangatira Island. Abigail Liddy from the Department of Conservation in the Chatham Islands provided tremendous logistical support. We thank Graeme Elliott and Kath Walker for organizing the Adams Island Expedition, and James Armstrong for help with capture and handling of parakeets on Adams Island.
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Massaro, M., Ortiz-Catedral, L., Julian, L. et al. Molecular characterisation of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) in New Zealand and its implications for managing an infectious disease. Arch Virol 157, 1651–1663 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-012-1336-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-012-1336-5