Would you like to know what I think or what I know (as in proof)?
I have lost several macaws to the wasting syndrome, that is what it was called in the late 70' and early 80's Macaw Wasting Syndrome. My father was a Veterinarian and so when people had sick and/or dying imported birds guess where they dumped them, well the ones that had a conscience. Many of the 'older' Vets believe that a great number of the birds that died during import and quarantine were due to stress and ABV of one genome type or another. Were my ever diagnosed with PDD absolutely and I will forever believe that is why they were dumped at the my dad's clinic. So the 33% figure that you gave is probably pretty conservative because most of the breeding stock is from imported birds and most likely exposed at either importation or quarantine. So why didn't all of them die? No one knows. Some species respond differently to the avian bornavirus and scientist have identified 7 different genomes of the virus so far. So all of my birds came to me sick, some so much so that they could not perch and were severely dehydrated and emaciated. We struggled with illness off and on for many years then I met Alicia McWatters. Alicia taught me so much, she was a wonderful and inspiring woman. Through what I learned from her and from my own knowledge and research we all changed. We changed our diet, how we ate, what we ate but that isn't all that we changed. How they sleep, how long they sleep, how they are housed, how they are handled, we changed it all. When they first discovered the ABV and then the subsequent tests for it some one remembering my father and our history got in touch with me and asked me if I still had my birds and if they could test them and me being the curious soul that I am I said certainly. All of mine tested positive for the ABV antibodies have they already had it? My father thinks so and I think so. Can they get it again? Probably if they aren't well cared for. Once they were tested and the results came back then came all the questions. I don't have all the answers and I don't believe anyone ever will but it has certainly made quite a number of the Avian Specialist sit up and take notice.
“Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” Hippocrates
Now to try and answer your questions.
Do you ever feel like people treat you as "dirty" when they find out the ABV status of your flock? If I didn't tell you, you would never know. They didn't just survive since we changed how we live they have thrived. I understand what you mean the ABV has been called the AIDS of the Avian World. I can tell you that there is no shame in it, people are afraid and unless things change a lot more birds are going to become ill and die. So put your head up and smile and fight with everything that you have! You have to get some nutritious foods with some calories into them they are going to need both of these to fight it.
Do you feel you could ever bring in a new bird? I have never bought any of my birds but if I was given another bird by whatever means, absolutely I would take it and I would do for it and treat it just like my others.
I wonder what rescues think of this situation, as supposedly 33% of captive parrots are positive anyway. so THEY may be sending out positive birds unless they are testing. I can not answer this but I have often wondered it myself. I love the idea of rescues and of fostering but 30 days quarantine is not sufficient when you are talking about ABV.
read this article there has always been proof that what we eat impacts our health http://www.loganmd.com/lectures/LetMedicinebeThyFood_000.pdf
I can not tell you what to do but I know what has worked for me. I know that right now at this moment avian researchers are finally for the first time ever researching what these animals really need. The basis for all pelleted diets is based on poultry research and a limited few independent studies.
NEVER give up!
