Wasting disease
Wasting disease in parrots, known as Spironucleosis, affects young birds like king parrots and galahs in the ACT.
It's a severe disease that can happen quickly so infected birds are often found already dead. It occurs mostly from late March to September when the weather is starting to cool.
The disease is caused by a small parasite that attacks the gut, leading to weight loss, weakness, and diarrhoea. Infected birds often become very thin, with green droppings sticking to their feathers.
Young birds may become infected by sharing food from adult birds. With cooling weather and less food during winter months, birds are less immune to the disease, and they can become sick easily.
Wasting disease can sometimes be confused for other diseases. This includes Aspergillosis, Salmonellosis, Psittacosis and Chlamydiosis. They're similar diseases caused by microscopic organisms, but Spironucleosis happens at the same time annually.
The disease can only be confirmed in a live bird by looking at its faeces under a microscope. A low-powered microscope with a dark background can spot the tiny parasites that look like little tadpoles. The faecal sample needs to be examined fresh because the parasite dries up into a small, hard-to-recognise ball.
Successful treatment of these birds depends on quick action and how much weight they've lost. The treatment starts with intense care, including feeding and giving fluids. The birds also need a warm environment and medication such as dimetridazole or metronidazole to fight the parasite. Treatment can last from 7 to 14 days, with the birds slowly gaining weight, eating more, and stopping diarrhoea. Caretakers must keep everything very clean because the droppings can easily spread the disease.