High prevalence and genetic heterogeneity of adenoviruses at a psittacine breeding facility.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) survey was performed at an amateur parrot breeding facility in Italy to investigate the presence and molecular characteristics of adenoviruses. Eighty psittacine birds, belonging to seven parrot species, were sampled by cloacal swabs; in addition, 15 livers were collected from specimens that were found dead. Seventy-two out of 95 samples collected were positive for adenoviruses, with a prevalence rate of 75.