Assam scientists detect parrot bornavirus 4 in India, experts warn
Scientists in Assam have discovered parrot bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) in India for the first time, a virus linked to a deadly bird disease called PDD that attacks the digestive and nervous systems.
The finding has experts worried about both pet parrots and endangered species, since this virus can spread quietly among birds.
PaBV-4 in over half tested parrots
Researchers tested 83 captive parrots from 13 species across Assam, Karnataka, and West Bengal between 2020 and 2024.
PaBV-4 was found in more than half of the birds tested, especially among those that had died, but also in some healthy ones.
Worryingly, infected birds included several endangered or near threatened species.
The virus' genetic fingerprint matched strains seen in Canada, Japan, and South Korea, pointing to possible links with the global pet bird trade.