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PDD (proventicular dilitation disease) has a new and better descriptive name - Avian Ganglioneuritis (AGN). AGN is often correlated with avian bornavirus - but not always! These are two distinct diseases that should be addressed independently. Gangliosides are the little proteins throughout a bird’s nervous system. These proteins are hidden within a nerve’s myelin sheath – something akin to foam insulation. This is the immune system’s way of protecting itself. But if something disrupts the nerve’s gangliosides, they become exposed outside of their protective sheath and the immune system is compromised. That is when the immune system goes on the attack and activates the disease known as Avian Ganglioneuritis. For some species it can affect the proventriculus and the GI tract; for other species it might cause seizures or neurological imbalances. This is why the term PDD is out-of-date based on what we now know. Many birds are AGN positive but never show symptoms. Some are symptomatic but manage fine on medications. Others succumb. It’s not thought to be contagious, but we should all be more informed about the diagnostics and treatments. Join us for an important discussion with Bob Dahlhausen, DVM. Dr. Dahlhausen owns Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics (VMD), the only U.S. lab with a patent to test for AGN. This is a complicated disease. We must continue to learn more about how to diagnose and manage it. Dr. Dahlhausen remains on the cutting edge of this important research!