Production of avian polyomavirus seronegative budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) from seropositive adults

Abstract

Adult budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with 2 years of breeding experience were removed from an aviary with enzootic avian polyomavirus (APV) disease and maintained in an isolation unit. Following a 7-month respite from breeding, these birds were allowed to breed without interruption for 2 years. Although the adults were seropositive both at the beginning and end of the experiment, all 102 of their offspring were seronegative. These data suggest that APV can be eliminated from a budgerigar aviary with the use of simple management techniques.