Abstract
Question: I would like to know
more about Pacheco's Disease. In particular,
how is it spread, how long
does it remain dormant in the bird,
and which birds are susceptible?
K. Losletter, New Mexico
Answer: Pacheco's Disease, named
after the Brazilian veterinarian who
discovered it, is also called Parrot
Herpes Virus. During the worldwide
epidemics of psittacosis (parrot fever)
in the 1920s and 1930s, it was
observed that some birds were dying
suddenly without the symptoms
attributed to psittacosis. Dr. Pacheco
observed that some birds died very
suddenly without any clinical signs,
other affected birds failed rapidly and
died within a few days. The liver and
spleen appeared to be the primary...