I understand the Petco stores here in Portland are having trouble with PDD and PBFD. I choose to stay out of all the large pet chain stores altogether with my birds. I do buy my cat food from PetSmart. I may have to start shopping elsewhere.

Its not just the chain stores that have it. Be careful who you trust. I cant say much right now, but everyone will know soon enough. I quit a local store because of the lies to customers, sending home sick birds. I could have made my own birds sick and they didnt tell me until after I already handled them.

If you know something that can possibly save the life of a bird owned by someone on this board, or any bird for that matter, we'd appreciate you saying so.

"A virus is not alive so it cannot be killed..."



Kathy, can you or anyone here 'splain me in layman's terms, what the above quote means (the not alive part) - taken from your post?

As far as I know virus can't be killed like bacteria, it can only really be killed by an immune response. Antibiotics don't kill a virus they merely support an immune system and that is why they fail with aids. Immunization is "dead or inactive" virus provoking the immune system. A virus can be destroyed with bleach, alcohol or even just changing temperature.

~J~,
I've stated the explanation that was given to me when I asked the same question. (I thought only living things had DNA!) I'd greatly appreciate hearing other opinions.
Thanks for yours, Angie. You've jogged my memory about "killed virus" vaccines...
Kathy

Nice try Angie but that does not answer my question.

I was aware of most all you said but one of the parts I am confused on is: If a virus is not alive, why try and destroy it - etc...?

The goal (as I understand it) is to disable the DNA of the virus so that it becomes unable to replicate (reproduce) itself and make its host sick... or dead.
Kathy

I virus is alive (replicating) only inside a host, it can't be cultured like a bacteria. It is inactive outside its own host, till it finds a new suitable host. A virus is also fairly species specific, to jump species it has to mutate and most often can't. Alive and replicating is different to inactive. The same bacteria can "infect" different species and "grow" outside a host, like e-coli for example.

Joel

I found this on the website listed below the information. It is simplified but there are also pictures explaining the modes of transmission, replication etc. of viruses:


Unlike human cells or bacteria, viruses do not contain the chemical machinery (enzymes) needed to carry out the chemical reactions for life. Instead, viruses carry only one or two enzymes that decode their genetic instructions. So, a virus must have a host cell (bacteria, plant or animal) in which to live and make more viruses. Outside of a host cell, viruses cannot function. For this reason, viruses tread the fine line that separates living things from nonliving things. Most scientists agree that viruses are alive because of what happens when they infect a host cell. Because a virus is merely a set of genetic instructions surrounded by a protein coat, and because it does not carry out any biochemical reactions of its own, viruses can live for years or longer outside a host cell. Some viruses can "sleep" inside the genetic instructions of the host cells for years before reproducing. For example, a person infected with HIV can live without showing symptoms of AIDS for years, but they can still spread the virus to others.

Howstuffworks "How Viruses Work"