Experimental Infection of Embryonic Cells and Embryonated Eggs of Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) with Two Parrot Bornavirus Isolates (PaBV-4 and PaBV-2)

Parrot bornavirus (PaBV) might be transmitted vertically. Cockatiel embryonic brain cells and embryonated eggs of cockatiels (ECE) were infected with PaBV-2 and PaBV-4. In embryonic brain cells, PaBV-2 and PaBV-4 showed no differences in viral spread despite the slower growth of PaBV-2 compared with PaBV-4 in CEC-32 cells. ECE were inoculated with PaBV-4 and 13–14 dpi, organs were sampled for RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry/histology, and virus isolation. In 28.1% of the embryos PaBV-4-RNA and in 81.3% PaBV-4-antigen was detected in the brain. Virus isolation failed. Division of organ samples and uneven tissue distribution of the virus limited the results. Therefore, 25 ECE were inoculated with PaBV-4 (group 1) and 15 ECE with PaBV-2 (group 3) in the yolk sac, and 25 ECE were inoculated with PaBV-4 (group 2) and 15 eggs with PaBV-2 (group 4) in the chorioallantoic membrane to use the complete organs from each embryo for each examination method. PaBV-RNA was detected in the brain of 80% of the embryos in groups 1, 2, 3 and in 100% of the embryos in group 4. In 90% of the infected embryos of group 1, and 100% of group 2, 3 and 4, PaBV antigen was detected in the brain. PaBV antigen–positive brain cells were negative for anti-neuronal nuclear protein, anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein, and anti S-100 staining. Virus was not re-isolated. These results demonstrated a specific distribution pattern and spread of PaBV-4 and PaBV-2 in the brain when inoculated in ECE. These findings support a potential for vertical transmission.