Aug 01, 2016 07:06 AM EDT
Scientists have discovered a
new virus responsible for causing mysterious deformities in birds.
Researchers from the California
Academy of Sciences, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) have found the new virus that has been linked to Avian
Keratin Disorder (AKD), a disease that causes debilitating beak overgrowth.
The disease has affected
populations of wild birds around the world, and the cause has remained elusive
despite decades of research.
"Take one look at a bird
suffering from Avian Keratin Disorder, and you'll understand the importance of
stopping its spread," Jack Dumbacher, Academy curator of ornithology and
mammalogy and co-author of the study, said in a press
release.
"Birds must be able to feed
themselves and preen their plumage by carefully spreading waterproofing oils on
their feathers. When deformed beaks restrict them from these life-giving
activities, birds become cold, hungry, and often die. We're trying to
understand the causes, origins, and distribution of this disorder."
Avian Keratin Disorder is
characterized by severe beak deformities such as elongation, crossing or
curvature. The deformities affect birds' basic behaviors such as feeding and
preening, which are crucial to their survival.
The mysterious condition was
first documented among a population of black-capped chickadees in south-central
Alaska in the 90s and spread into Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
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