I started this page when I lost Maui, my beloved Buru red lorikeet (on my shoulder in the profile pic), to Proventricular Dilation Disease in July of 2007. I felt I needed to do something to help fill the hole his passing left in my life.
I found that surprisingly few bird lovers/owners had any idea how devastating PDD can be. One person who runs a parrot sanctuary e-mailed me saying that I should just have my bird tested--apparently even this person who has birds in and out of her home on a regular basis was unaware that there is as of yet no test for PDD. Then I was even more surprised to find that, since PDD is not zoonotic, there's little money for research. Apparently, unless there's a threat that humans can get a disease, the disease flies below the funding radar.
So I've come up with this page...
If you love your bird, please take a few minutes to educate yourself about the danger of PDD and please also consider donating to one of the following PDD research non-profits:
1) Emerging Disease Research Group / Dr. Branson Ritchie at the University of Georgia / Avian Health Network. Donate now! Link will take you out of MySpace.
The EDRG is the lab which discovered the vaccine for Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) [not yet available in the US, and may never be... long story I'll try to include in a blog soon]. The EDRG's proven success leads many to believe they deserve your donation dollars. In February 2008, the EDRG established a neural cell system from a psittacine bird. With such a "stem cell," the EDRG has a completely new way to grow PDD in a lab and no longer needs to test on live birds.
The Avian Health Network is a fundraising group for the EDRG. Almost every penny they collect goes to Dr. Ritchie's work (you can check their tax records online). AHN members were wonderfully supportive when Maui was sick; I will be forever indebted for their advice, kindness, and support.
The EDRG lab has asked for samples from birds positively diagnosed with PDD which have not yet been treated for the disease. The lab needs blood, droppings, biopsy tissue, etc. If your bird has been positively diagnosed with PDD, please contact me at spackl@insightbb.com so I can forward your contact information to the EDRG. Or, you can have your vet print out the PDF Form for the PDD Research Protocol for Veterinarians. Link will take you out of MySpace.
2) Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center / Dr. Ian Tizard of Texas A&M / American Federation of Aviculture. Donate now! Link will take you out of MySpace.
In May 2008, Dr. Tizard reported developing a serologic test that seems to be absolutely specific for PDD (no false positives). These results are a tremendous breakthrough. Although the test is not yet fully sensitive (three false negatives out of about 20 biopsy-confirmed positives), further work should improve the test's sensitivity.
The American Fedration of Aviculture has been active in Avian Conservation and Research since its beginning in 1974. For 2008, the AFA selected the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center as one of four very worthy recipients of its Avian Research Grants Program. The AFA does charge an administration fee of 20%, but the balance of a contribution goes to whichever program you earmark (and at least the 20% skim is going to a bird-related group). I'll check whether we can donate directly to the Schubot Center, but most institutions are not set up to receive smaller individual contributions...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please feel free to e-mail me with questions or comments. During Maui's illness, I learned much more about PDD than I ever cared to know. I'm not an avian vet, but I'll bet I own more avian veterinary books than your vet does...
Please Please Please observe strict quarantines with new birds introduced to your flock. My wife and I believe Maui got PDD from the English budgies we brought home from the pound. No one knows enough about this disease--how it spreads, how long it can lay dormant, etc. Don't willy-nilly mix and match birds brought home on a whim. Some researchers believe a bird can carry PDD and show no signs for up to eight years. PLEASE protect your birds.
Learn more about PDD at Good PDD Article at BirdChannel
"If you want to change the world, shut your mouth and get on with it."
-- Cracker (every parrot's favorite band)
.
|
I Would Be a Pet Bird
|
.
|
Who I'd like to meet:
..
..
|
Online Now!
