The prevalence of beak and feather disease virus infection in wild populations of parrots and cockatoos in New Zealand

Abstract

The surprisingly high prevalence of BFDV in wild eastern rosellas and sulphur-crested cockatoos has serious implications for the conservation of native parrots and the export of wild-trapped parrots and cockatoos from New Zealand. Serological studies for BFDV in wild exotic parrots, and molecular studies of virus genotype, are recommended to further characterise the origin and epidemiology of the disease in populations of wild exotic parrots and cockatoos in New Zealand.