A Ledwon

Experimental infection of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with five Mycobacterium species

The aim of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) to infections with different Mycobacterium species. For inoculations the following Mycobacterium species were used: Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium, Mycobacterium bovis subsp. bovis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis subsp. tuberculosis, Mycobacterium intracellulare and M. fortuitum subsp. fortuitum. The bacterial suspension was administrated intramuscularly and all the birds were monitored for 70 days starting from the day of inoculation. During the experiment clinical examination, X-ray scans, plate agglutination tests, tuberculin tests, faeces smear preparations and culture of mycobacteria were performed. The study showed that M. bovis subsp. bovis was the most pathogenic Mycobacterium species for budgerigars. After inoculation, the bacilli induced tuberculosis-typical, clinical signs and necropsy findings. In two out of six birds infected with M. bovis subsp. bovis radiological changes were also visible. Birds inoculated with other Mycobacterium species did not show any typical symptoms of infection, and only the results of histopathological and bacteriological examinations indicated the presence of infection.

Experimental Inoculation of BFDV-Positive Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with Two Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium Isolates

Beak and feather disease virus- (BFDV-) positive (naturally infected) but clinically healthy budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) were inoculated with two isolates of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium isolated from naturally infected golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) and peafowl (Pavo cristatus). During a period of more than two months after inoculation, samples of cloacal and crop swabs, faeces, and blood were obtained for BFDV and Mycobacterium avium testing with PCR. Birds were euthanized nine weeks after inoculation. All infected budgerigars developed signs typical of mycobacteriosis, but more advanced clinical and pathological changes were visible in the group infected with the pheasant isolate. Only a few cloacal and crop swab samples were positive for Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium despite advanced pathological changes in the internal organs. In the groups infected with mycobacterium isolates the frequency of BFDV-positive samples was higher than in the control group. In the infected groups the frequency of BFDV was substantially higher in the cloacal swabs of birds inoculated with the pheasant isolate than in the peafowl-isolate-infected group.

Multidrug therapy of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium infection in experimentally inoculated budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).

The aim of the study was to determine whether the four-month experimental therapy of mycobacteriosis in budgerigars may cause a complete recovery. A group of nine budgerigars was infected with a Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium isolate with proven pathogenicity for budgerigars. Five weeks post-inoculation, multidrug therapy was started. Another group comprising six birds received the same treatment but no infection, and the third group also comprising six birds was kept without infection or treatment as a control. The adopted antibiotic regimen included clarithromycin 61 mg/kg b.w., moxifloxacin 25 mg/kg b.w. and ethambutol 60 mg/kg b.w. administered by crop gavage every 12 h for 18 weeks. Despite a significant improvement in the condition of the infected, treated birds, the four-month therapy was not sufficient for the complete recovery of all.

Cloacal adenocarcinoma and mycobacteriosis in a White’s Tree Frog - case description

A ten-year-old female White’s tree frog (Litoria caerulea) with cloacal prolapse was submitted for clinical examination. Oedema and congestion of the cloacal mucous membrane was observed, with poorly visible nodules of approximately 0.4 cm in diameter. Moreover, lack of corneal transparency was observed (Fig. 1). The frog was kept together with three other individuals in a terrarium generously watered twice a day and equipped with one heated side wall and a bulb. The ambient temperature was 25-30°C. Daylight duration was 12 h. The frogs were fed using tweezers twice a week, mainly with mouse neonates, and less frequently with bees and cockroaches. Lack of corneal transparency was found in the other two females, but it was not found in the significantly thinner male. The cloaca was washed and disinfected with 0.3% gentamicin solution, after which it was replaced. For the following 4 days marbofloxacin (Marbocyl, Vetoquinol, France) was administered IM SID at 2 mg/kg and meloxicam (Metacam, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Germany) was administered IM SID at 0.2 mg/kg. After a few days the cloaca prolapsed again, was replaced, and then prolapsed for a third time. In light of the further development of the nodular lesions on the prolapsed cloacal mucosa, euthanasia was decided. The frog was anesthesized with ketamine 100 mg/ kg bw (Ketamina 10%, Biowet Pulawy, Poland) with xylazine 10 mg/kg bw (Sedazin, Biowet Pulawy, Poland) in an IM injection (6), and subsequently administered 20 mg of pentobarbital sodium (Morbital, Biowet Pulawy, Poland) into the median abdominal vein. Immediately after death the frog was necropsied. During necropsy, the gut was taken for bacteriological examination, and sections of the liver, kidneys, ovary, skeletal muscle, heart, cloaca and eye were taken for histopathological examination (hematoxylin-eosin staining). The nodular lesions covered only the prolapsed area of the cloaca. No lesions in other organs were observed in the Cloacal adenocarcinoma and mycobacteriosis in a White’s Tree Frog – case description

Invasion of Flukes of the Echinostomatidae Family in Racing Pigeon (Columba livia var. domestica) Lofts

SUMMARY Over 4 years, only two known cases of fluke invasions were diagnosed in racing pigeons (Columba livia) originating from different regions of Poland. In both cases, the invasion was characterized by a very high mortality (approximately 70%), and the source of the infestation was snails of the Lymnaeidae family eaten by pigeons. Fluke invasions in pigeons are extremely rare and to date have not been described in Poland. Therefore, the occurrence of the symptoms of hemorrhagic diarrhea and sudden deaths of either adult pigeons or nestlings were suspected to be associated with poisoning. Autopsy revealed an invasion of flukes causing hemorrhagic enteritis. Renal failure and spleen atrophy were also found in the birds. Using molecular biology techniques, infestation with the fluke Echinostoma revolutum was determined in the second case.