Meloxicam Treatment in Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) Infected With Avian Bornavirus

This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of meloxicam in the treatment of proventricular dilatation disease induced by challenge with avian bornavirus (ABV), strain M24. Three groups of 4 cockatiels were employed. Group 1 was challenged with ABV alone, group 2 was challenged with ABV and 20 days later began daily oral meloxicam treatment, and group 3 received daily oral meloxicam alone. All birds in groups 1 and 3 remained in apparent good health and maintained their weight until being euthanized on day 150 after challenge (group 1) or day 130 of treatment (group 3). In contrast, group 2 birds died or were euthanized on or before day 98 because of severe weight loss and depression. Necropsy and histopathology results indicated that all birds in group 2 had pathologic evidence of proventricular dilatation disease. ABV was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing in all the major organs of the group 2 birds. The proventriculus was enlarged in 2 birds in group 1, and 75% of the birds in this group had ABV detectable in all their major organs. No significant lesions were observed in group 3 birds.