Characterization of a Papovavirus Isolated from Fledgling Budgerigars

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Abstract
A virus suspected of causing high death rates in fledgling budgerigars in Georgia and Texas [USA] aviaries was isolated in budgerigar embryo fibroblasts inoculated with tissue homogenates from affected birds. Virus was most easily recovered from tissues containing many intranuclear inclusion bodies. Cytopathic effect on fibroblasts of all 4 isolates was characterized by a swollen nucleus followed by rounding and detachment of the affected cell from the monolayer. Properties suggesting the B-931 isolate belongs to the Papovaviridae family are: the presence of DNA; insensitivity to treatment with CHCl3; and presence of cubic viral particles 42-49 nm in diameter in the nucleus of infected chicken embryo fibroblasts. The isolate did not hemagglutinate erythrocytes of chickens, turkeys, budgerigars, guinea pigs or type O humans and was basically stable against heating and freeze-thawing. An examination of fledgling budgerigars from infected aviaries demonstrated that sick birds carried more virus than healthy birds.

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