Interactions between viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle diseases virus and pet birds of six species. I. Clinical and serologic responses, and viral excretion.

Clinical and serologic responses to a psittacine isolate of viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease virus (VVNDV) were evaluated in pet birds of six species: budgerigar, yellow-headed Amazon parrot, halfmoon conure, lesser hill mynah, black-headed nun, and canary. The clinical response was most marked in the budgerigars, parrots, and conures, and only minimal in the nuns. Between postexposure days (PED) 3 and 5 some birds developed ruffled plumage, conjunctivitis, and central nervous system dysfunction: ataxia, wing tremors, paralysis of the extremities, and tremors of the head accompanied by nodding and jerking. Mortality by PED 203 was 55% (29/52) in the halfmoon conures, 22% (23/105) in budgerigars, 29% (12/42) in parrots, and 21%7 (15/71) in nuns.