2006
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Executive Summary
Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) was listed as a Key Threatening Process in April 2001 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). Consequent to this, the Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) for Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease affecting endangered psittacine species was published in 2005. This plan gives priority to three nationally listed threatened psittacine species that are at most risk from the disease. The TAP lists five Action Plans under the headings National Coordination, Research, Disease Monitoring, Management Strategies and Education and Extension. These protocols deal with parts of Action Plans 2 (Research) and 5 (Education and Extension).
The protocols contain information of value to recovery teams, zoos, wildlife carers, veterinarians and aviculturists. They concentrate on quarantine matters and endangered psittacine birds, both captive and wild. In considering quarantine aspects, diseases of quarantine importance other than PBFD that can be detected by laboratory tests are included.
Areas covered include:
- The incubation period of PBFD and its application to a quarantine period;
- The effectiveness of disinfectants on BFD virus;
- Current hygiene tools, techniques and practices used to control the transmission of diseases in birds;
- The ability of husbandry facilities to implement a minimum set of hygiene standards;
- Development of protocols for clinical and post-mortem evaluation, quarantine, sample collection, transport of birds and specimens, disinfection, response to test results, and
- disposal of dead birds;
- Pathology/laboratories to which samples should be forwarded; and
- Notification procedures in the event of a positive or negative diagnosis.
The report establishes a framework for controlling and preventing diseases in captive and wild populations of psittacine birds, and produces recommendations for dealing with specific diseases.