Sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) and galahs (C. roseicapilla) captured in Victoria, Australia at 7 to 9 weeks of age were found to suffer a profuse diarrhoea and wasting syndrome ending in death. Necropsy revealed dilatation of the duodenum with mucosal thickening.

Histologically, the duodenal mucosa had short, fused villi, with marked proliferation of crypt enterocytes compared with normal birds. Electron microscopic examination of faeces and intestinal sections revealed the presence of round, unenveloped viral particles approximately 30 nm diameter, with no surface structures and a smooth, entire edge. Although no virus was cultured, it is likely that an enterovirus infection was associated with a significant enteritis in the cockatoos.