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

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Abstract

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.

Zusammenfassung

Übersicht dokumentierter Schnabel- und Federkrankheitsfälle bei wildlebenden Kappapageien in Südafrika in den letzten 20 Jahren Weltweit besteht Besorgnis über die wachsende Verbreitung von Infektionskrankheiten und die Folgen für die Artenvielfalt. Unter anderem treiben zunehmende Veränderungen der Umwelt, besonders der klimatischen Bedingungen infolge anthropogenen Klimawandels, die Verbreitung von Krankheiten voran. Die am meisten von diesen Krankheiten betroffenen Wirbeltiertaxa sind offenbar Amphibien und Vögel, wobei dies auch eine Folge unterschiedlichen Forschungsaufwands sein könnte. Hier betrachten wir den Schnabel- und Federkrankheitsvirus (BFDV), der Papageienvögel befällt. Daten von BFDV-Fällen bei wildlebenden gefährdeten Kappapageien (Poicephalus robustus) wurden von 1992 bis 2014 opportunistisch gesammelt. Diese Daten zeigen, dass die Krankheit im Freiland naturgemäß während extremer Klimaereignisse wie Dürren auftritt. Diese belasten die Vögel, was eine Ausprägung pathologischer Symptome zur Folge haben kann. Offenbar erliegen besonders Jungvögel während Dürreperioden der Krankheit. Dies hat Folgen für den Schutz der Art, im Zusammenhang mit den Auswirkungen extremer Klimaereignisse, die mit anthropogenem Klimawandel in Zusammenhang stehen.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all those who shared their observations with us. D. York and Molecular Diagnostic Services, Durban, South Africa, are thanked for conducting BFDV analyses. In particular, we are grateful for the contributions of B. Gardner, W. Horsfield, L. Warburton, M. Perrin, and the late O. Wirminghaus.

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  1. School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa

    Colleen T. Downs, Mark Brown & Lorinda Hart

  2. School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, P/Bag 3, WITS, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa

    Craig T. Symes

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  1. Colleen T. Downs
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  2. Mark Brown
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Correspondence to Colleen T. Downs.

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Communicated by K. C. Klasing.

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Downs, C.T., Brown, M., Hart, L. et al. Review of documented beak and feather disease virus cases in wild Cape parrots in South Africa during the last 20 years. J Ornithol 156, 867–875 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-015-1258-6

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