I met Dr. Ritchie and Len Charette today

[The Outlaw]

Just got back from a presentation for Avian Health Network and Dr. Branson Ritchie's PDD Research fund raiser. It was fascinating and was way too short for the hundreds of questions that you just KNOW I have. Anyway, they drew for the PDD Memorial Quilt. It was so emotional sitting in that room with the very owners of some of those deceased birds. There but for the grace of God go I.

We simply HAVE to raise funds for this research. I'm not kidding and I cannot stress enough how critical it is. What I essentially learned today was far worse than even I predicted. In essence, though huge strides in PBFD have been made with a vaccine expected out next year and even a vaccine for WNV within 2 years, PDD the granddaddy of all disease still is a mystery. And its the one that is likely to end it all IF we don't get our rears in gear.

I was under the missunderstanding that funds other than donations from individuals, clubs and some businesses supported the research . In fact, the ONLY funding is through those channels. No Federal support, no State support and a constant fight with the poultry industry. They have declared war on the avian community and would love nothing better than to ban the ownership of our birds for fear of disease transmission to the poultry industry.

So, here we sit. Just hoping that SOMEONE will give him money just won't cut it. We've got to be PRO-ACTIVE. I was shocked when he disclosed how really small his test group is until he told me of the monthly expenses and lab costs attached. Frankly, I'm clueless as to how they stay afloat.

My old group, Birds R People 2 managed to raise $1000 in about 6 months for the cause last year. I figured our check was pretty small, but surely our hearts were in the right places. Well, turns out that it really wasn't small at all.

When I get my notes in order, I'll share what I learned today. Now I'm busy feeding family and pssiticines. However, we have to figure out a way to raise some money before we all find ourselves wishing that we had. If it hadn't been for the avian community, PBFD would STILL be epidemic. It was through Dr. Ritchie and the Emergent Disease team that finally a vaccine was developed. Still, he cannot do it without resources.

I'm begging each and every one of you who claim to love your birds to contribute to this effort. There isn't a person on this board or any OTHER board who couldn't invest $5 in research. We can't have our best scientists jumping on planes every weekend trying to raise funds to simply MAINTAIN the lab.

I challenge this board and my forum to do what's right. Don't think you're safe. The one thing that was so apparent after hearing him today was that this disease is out of control and may well become pandemic. Our first recorded cases came into this country from S. America via the California quarantine stations in the 1970's. It has spread ever since. There is no cure and the treatments currently in place will only prolong life for a few years. Its ugly, real ugly.

Oh, Lori, I met Len Charette. I told him you had just put a deposit on one of his TAGS. He laughed. I think you made an impression on him He has supported this research since the beginning. What a guy. He's been donating for years to get it done.

Anyway, I gotta go. Please put on your thinking caps. I'd love to send a fat check to AHN from Birdboard. Heck, with over 4000 members, we could blow them all away!

THE OUTLAW

[The Outlaw]

We'll start with West Nile Virus (WNV). It appeared for the first time in NYC in 1999. It was spread via mosquitos that attached to sparrows and later started devasting the raptors, especially, crows, cormorants and other water fowl, including flamingos. It hasn't really hit the pssitacine population though its a real threat.

Apparently the old world birds (African, Indian, European) have a kind of immunity. They will usually survive it, but can spread it. The hardest hit of the pssitacines are the New World parrots (S. American, Australian). These birds will usually succumb within 24 hours. That's pretty horrifying.

There is currently a plasmonid vaccine in the works that should be available within 2 years. It is the latest adaptation of the early equine vaccines.

Even though the parents may have immunity to WNV, their chicks would only have immunity for a few weeks. They would require vaccination periodically.

Dr. Ritchie stressed the importance of taking your birds outside. The benefits are so much greater than the risk of actually get WNV that is silly to deny your birds. Use common sense. Don't take them out until the mornig dew is gone and bring them in before dusk when the mosquitos are most active. When asked if full spectrum lighting could serve as a substitute, he didn't really think so. He apparently doesn't fully support the belief that its especially effective.



So much for the good news.

Now, let's talk about the bad stuff. Pretty much what has happened with PDD research is that its barely holding on. Little research beyond Dr. Ritchie's team at the Emerging Disease Center in Georgia and apparently some research at Avian Biotech is actually ongoing. He wasn't even aware of Avian Biotech's program. I stumbled upon that accidentally last summer.

Here's the history of PDD:

First raised its ugly head in the 1970's with S. American pssitacines in California's quarantine. Unfortunately, that exposed many, many birds and the pet trade industry.

Over 50 species are susceptible to the disease. Of late, that statistic has risen with the discovery of waterfowl, namely geese also contracting and spreading the disease. Other free ranging birds such as finches, canaries, spoonbills toucans and possibly even woodpeckers are currently known to carry the disease. Woodpeckers are closely related to toucans.

For all practical purposes, all pssitacines are at risk. Many already have it and aren't yet symptomatic. You cannot tell a bird is infected until its in the later stages. There is NO cure and the treatment is to simply make the birds as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.

(cont)

[The Outlaw]

Dr. Ritchie then showed slides of proventriculus and crop biopsies and explained that more often than not, birds are misdiagnosed with similar looking diseases but not PDD. He said that unless a crop biopsy or proventricular biopsy are done, there is no way to actually view the disease cells. He listed the actual clinical name as Lymphaplasmacytic Ganglioneuritis in the nerve tissue. I have no doubt misspelled that, my handwriting is pretty bad these days. PDD is a neurological disease. It effects the proventriculus and keeps the bird from properly absorbing the nutrients it ingests. Consequently, the birds literally starve to death. Since food can't go through the gut correctly, it sits and becomes bacteria laden causing even more problems.

There are other histologic imposters that are similar to PDD. They are Lymphoplasmacytic Enteritis and lymphoplasmactic Ingluvitis (again, my handwriting sucks). These are treatable conditions and not neurologic.

Many birds are euthanized without the proper test being done. Even heavy metal poisoning can cause similar symptoms to PDD. So, if you suspect that a bird is ill and can't rule out other diseases, then a crop biopsy must be done.

He currently has birds in his test group that have survived for as long as 5 years with PDD. However, they are constantly fed soft foods and as problems arise,they are immediately treated. Often megabacteria can develop and ultimately kill birds suffering with PDD.

If you have a confirmed PDD case, then he suggests you simply isolate it from the other birds in your home and accomodate its special needs, making it as comfortable as possible. Offer only soft foods, including softened pellets and treat whatever opportunistic illness that may arise.

THERE IS NO CURE FOR THE DISEASE. Even with using Mobic, Celebrex and other anti inflammatories, the clock is ticking. Its always fatal.

It was once thought that quarantined birds of 3 months would be a good indicator of infection. Its now known that the disease can hide for years before becoming discernable. That is the worst part. We may already have infected birds amongst us. Its HIGHLY likely that we do.



Now, EXCELLENT news:

There will be a vaccine for PBFD (Pssitacine Beak and Feather Disease) available within a year. That is a direct result of funding for disease research by Us! The avian community through its fundraisers and donations has managed to fund the research and finally develop a vaccine.

Just shows what we CAN do if we are determined. He's not asking us to travel every weekend around the country giving speeches. Nope, he's asking that we simply help fund his efforts and those efforts of others up to their ears in research.

I'd like my birds to have new cages, the best toys an amazing diet and all of that. But before that, I'd like them to be well and have the chance to live for decades. I can do no more than report the facts. At the end of the day, either you are part of the solution or simply part of the problem. You know I'm an activist when it comes to things I love.

I wore my Save A Rainbow shirt today. I was proud to do so. Still, when I saw his image on that quilt, I cried. I'm crying now. I'll never, ever forget that bird. He was one in a million.

THE OUTLAW

[Samm]

Hey Nancy, great idea! Could you post the address where to send $$, if a majority of us here on BB just kicked in $5 each, it could amount to quite a nice donation.

[The Outlaw]

Samm and Blake:

Here's the link to the Stop PDD campaign. Its an ongoing fundraiser for Dr. Ritchie's team at the center for Emerging Disease Research in Georgia. Everything you need to know is there. I appreciate your willingness to help. Its essentiat that we ALL understand that WE are the only source of research funds they have. If you know any movie stars, musicians, stock car drivers, any kind of celebs, let them KNOW WE NEED THEIR SUPPORT.

http://www.stoppdd.org/

Hey, I'm only a middle aged housewife with a large flock of amazing creatures sitting here at her old computer in Maryland and even I recognize my obligation to help stop this horror.

THE OUTLAW

[Lisa B]

i wanted to go today......i had no one to make the trip with.....
I was considering a fundraiser for him up this way,,,,,I have to get incontact with him.
I forgot all about Len going........he did mention it to me at a show in AC....
**he;s not far from me**

but...the whole reason for this post is to say you can count me in too......
It's imprortant for us to all of get involved.....most people dont get involved until something directly effect them....
This disease is out there,,,,and if we dont find a cure, sad to say,,,,,one day it will effect us all...whether it be a friends bird, or our own!!!!!!!

[The Outlaw]

The GOOD news is that a vaccine for West Nile Virus is already available in the testing stages. And that's because of a team of scientists determined to stop this disease. This happened because of cooperation between the groups working on diverse species. The equine community was the first to suffer the effects of WNV and once they were able to develop a vaccine, they shared what they knew with Dr. Ritchie's team. Consequently, the new and improved avian vaccine. They are trying to rush it through Food and Drug as we speak.

So, one small team in Georgia, totally underfunded and stretched to their absolute limits has been able to actually create a vaccine for both PBFD and WNV. Hello! They know their stuff!

I will tell you the very first impression of Dr. Ritchie that I got. He didn't arrive in some sharkskin suit with a designer tie. Nope, he showed up in a white cotton shirt looking like he didn't know that irons even existed, and was completely focused from the moment he said his hellos. He answered questions throughout his entire presentation and I gotta tell ya, he had some tough, well worded inquiries from the audience. We are a very smart bunch of folks, it appears. I was VERY impressed and quite humbled.

He just looked like a scientist SHOULD look. I really don't think your $5 is paying for anyone's trip to the islands. When asked whether or not he owned any birds, he said no. He simply wasn't around enough to provide them what they needed. And that was exactly what I expected a GOOD vet to say. Think of their needs first.

I imagine that Dr. Ritchie is in his late forties, possibly early fifties. I'm not good at guessing men's ages. Just how many more years will he be able to continue the research? Who's in line for his job?

Here was the scariest thing he said: one of the things that frightens them most about PDD is that they aren't sure WHAT it is. There is a very real threat that it may continue to mutate and eventually infect MAMMALS. He has to always consider the safety of his team.

Should that happen, I can PROMISE you that the federal government will, without question, euthanize and I mean GAS, every bird in every home in the United States. And, that would THRILL the poultry community. That's how serious this problem is.

[birdyland]

I've just sent my donation via Paypal with a note that I was prompted by a post on birdboard ;-}

It's not much.... but at least it's something.

[Tiki]

Nancy, thanks for all this information. I really had no idea about the extent of the PDD problem. I am willing to help out personally if you can wait until my next paycheck in June-this month has been tight but I do keep my promises. I will open a topic in the Moderator's forum as to how Birdboard in general can help. The 2 Kevins are somewhat out of commission for the time being so I can't promise anything but I will try.

[greyburd]

Nancy, thank you so much for this information. I PROMISE to make a donation, either through BB (if we get something together) or do it myself through private donation. Unfortunately, it will have to wait until I move and get settled in (which should take me about a month or so). But I do PROMISE to get involved.

I think it's grey't that you met Len also. Once I do (finally) move, I'm going to be getting a Timneh from him also. He has a clutch that will be ready around September. I just hope he still has some at that point. If not, I'll wait!!!