PREPARATION AND TYPE OF SAMPLES
The type of samples you have to send to the laboratory depends on the kind of test you want to send. For sexing by DNA, the laboratory can perform the test from feather or blood samples. For the analysis of diseases, we need blood samples on paper or swab. Thank you for consulting our indicated recommendations for each product. It is important to follow them to ensure that the laboratory can extract DNA from all the samples it receives.
You can check the list of optimized species here. If you have any questions about the species of your bird, you can contact us from your personal area or by email to info@sexadodeaves.com
Before registering your samples, you will have to make sure that the scientific species of your birds are on our list of optimized species. This is essential for the performance of DNA sexing tests. See the list here.
All the received samples need to have a registration request that automatically is generated when you register your birds' data. To register your samples, you have to fill in the details of your birds from your account> SEE MY SHIPMENTS AND RESULTS > GET YOUR REQUEST. When you confirm your shipment, you will see a .pdf document that you can download and print. In each application, you will have to attach the corresponding samples for each bird.
If you do not have a printer or cannot print, you must first register your birds as usual, and then you must write on a blank page the number of references that appear on your account: sample number, shipping code and attach the samples corresponding to the bird. We remind you that you will have to use one sheet per bird.
The DNA extracted from the feathers is obtained mainly from a small clot of dried blood that is located in the barrel of the feather. This clot is a relict left over from the formation of the feather. Although this process is similar in all birds, the amount of blood that makes up this clot differs not only between species but also between feathers of the same individual. Because of our experience in the laboratory, we have identified those species in which the amount of DNA extracted from their feathers is not enough to perform the molecular sexing. For this reason, we ask our customers to send us blood instead of feathers for a small number of species.
The avian circovirus is the virus responsible for the disease Psittacosis (Psittacine Beak and Feathers Disease, PBFD). This virus infects by using the bloodstream of its host to reach new cells.
At BBI Laboratory, we understand the concern of our customers for the health of their birds, and we do not want to remove feathers from individuals that could potentially be infected by this disease. The diagnostic method of PBFD in the laboratory is performed by amplifying a DNA fragment of the circovirus by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Numerous studies and scientific publications have standardized this protocol to work from the blood.
You can learn more about the diagnosis of diseases in birds in this blog post.
You cannot send feathers or blood because the Psittacosis causing pathogen is found in the defecation pathways of its host. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze swabs rubbed on the cloaca. Psittacosis is transmitted to other birds and humans when they come into contact with infected stools, or from breathing the dust released from them when they are dry.
The bacterium that causes psittacosis in birds (Chlamydophila psittaci) can be hosted in some individuals without expressing any of the three characteristic symptoms of psittacosis (respiratory diseases, oculibvar / nasal problems and/or diarrhea). To ensure the early detection of the parasite, we request sewage and/or mouth swabs as it is in these places where the bacteria will first be detected.