Can companion birds be infected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus? What are the clinical signs in companion birds?
Top A: Yes, all birds are susceptible to infection with avian influenza (AI) viruses. However, because H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has not yet been identified in the United States, risk of infection for companion birds is very low. If affected, companion birds may show signs of respiratory (e.g., discharge from the nose and/or eyes, sneezing, ruffled feathers, or labored breathing), gastrointestinal (e.g., diarrhea), and/or neurologic (e.g., incoordination, depression) disease and be lethargic. There are no clinical signs that are unique to AI infection in companion birds, and some infected birds may show no signs of illness.
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