Often, flakes of beak tissue can be peeled away. The bird will then start to show signs of dirty and stained plumage. If you are in doubt, consider an examination by your avian veterinarian. A suspicion of PCD can be made at examination, and confirmed by a laboratory test. Several blood quills will need to be removed, and a blood sample taken.
Naive birds are susceptible to infection.
The yeasts are also commonly found on fruit and in contaminated water. The infection often invades the oesophagus, crop, stomach and intestines. Infections can be acute or chronic. Acute infections show no real signs other than perhaps a little mucous. Chronic infections in the mouth look like white firm fluff which adheres to the lining of the mouth, and will often bleed if disturbed.