Common Bacterial Diseases of Birds Flashcards
Normal Bacterial flora of companion birds
Lactobacillus
Corynebacterium
Monhemolytic Stresptococcus
Macrococcus
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Which Bacterial species is most commonly isolated form pododermatitis lesions in birds
Staphylococcus areas
Avian Mycobacteriosis
M. Avian - intracellular complex
M. genavese - most common in pet birds
M. Tuberculosis and M. Bovis
ZOONOTIC
What other bacteria stain acid fast postive?
Nocordia
legionaella micdadie
What color is a postive acid fast staining bacteria
RED
Avian Mycobacteriosis
Susceptible
all species
immunocompromised individuals at greater risk
Avian Mycobacteriosis
Transmission
Primarily oral route
Possible aerosol route
Avian Mycobacteriosis
Clinical Signs
Chronic weight loss
very thin body condition
Gastrointestinal and hepatic signs
Less common: Respiratory signs
Avian Mycobacteriosis
Lesions
Most common in GI tract and liver
Lungs - can see estensive involvemnt of respiratory system
Masses in skin and conjunctiva
Avian Mycobacteriosis
Pathogenesis
Do NOT form classic tubercles of mammalian mycobacteriosis
Avian Mycobateriosis
Diagnosis
PCR of tissue biopsies
Histopathology with acid fast stain
Cytology - Stain poorly with gram stain
Culture - challenging, very slow growing
Avian Mycobacteriosis
Treatment
Euthanasia often recommended due to zoonotic risk → never been documented
Triple or quadrouple therapy, ioniazid, clarithromycin, ethambutol, rifampin
Very long treatment (QOL)
tends to recur years later
Avian Mycobacteriosis
Gross pathology
External lesions
poor BCS
SQ swelling that appear as tumors → usually on head, face, occasionally mandible and neck
Nodules in eyelids
Pathologic fractures of long bones d/t osteomyelitis
Avian Mycobacteriosis
Gross pathology
internal lesions
Organs afftected: liver, spleen, intestines, lungs, air sacs, throacic and abdominal cavities
Pale yellow to tan nodules in 1 or more organs
Severe intestinal thickening
Amyloidosis has been linked in some species (ducks)
Avian Mycobacteriosis
Histopathology
- Granulomas - caseous, central area of necrosis with accumulation of eosinophilic debris surrounded by layer of multinucleated giant cells
- Infiltration of a large number of foamy macrophages +/- multinucleated giant cells but no tissue necrosis
- infiltraiton of a large number of foamy macrophages +/- multinucleated giant cells but NO tissue necrosis
Mycoplasmosis
Taxonomic groups affected
passerines
poultry
Mycoplasmosis
Transmission
highly transmissible → spread through ocular and nasal discharge
Poor survival outside the host
Requires exchange of discharges
most common at sites of close contact - feeders
Mycoplasmosis
Clinical Signs
conjunctivitis - red, swollen eyelids, clear ocular surface
Rhinitis and sinusitis - nasal d/c
Crusting along eyelid margins → damage to cornea, ocular d/c, loss of sight
General ADR
Mycoplasmosis
Diagnosis
PCR on lesions or sinus flush
Culture - slow growing
Mycoplasmosis
Management and prevention
wild birds - remove feeders
Initial concern in treating birds due to risk of subclinical carriers
Current recommendations: tylosin in water, ciprofloxacin, meloxicam
Decrease close contact
Environmental cleanup
Clostridial Disease
Common problem in raptors, chickens, and quail
Clostridial disease
toxin-producing organsims
clostridium perfringens
Commonly assoaciated with food and the thawing process
Clostridial disease
Clinical signs
sudden death
necrotic enteritis
Clostridial disease
Diagnosis
fecal cytology → safety pin appearance
Clostridial Disease
Treatment
Fluid therapy - often in hypovolemic shock
Metronidazole
Clostridial Disease
Botulism
Toxin produced by
C. Botulinum
toxin prevents acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junction → ascending flaccid paralysis
Clostridial disease
Botulism
Most common in wild, water birds
Salmonellosis
specied affected
mainly passerines, affected especially at bird feeders
Also in raptors fed birds and rodents
Pigeons
Salmonellosis
Clinical Signs
passerines - septicemia
Raptors - enteritis
Pigeons - arthritis
Salmonellosis
Diagnosis
Culture - needs enrichment
Salmonellosis Zoonotic?
YES!!!!
Avian Cholera
Etiologic agent
Pasteurella multocida
Avian Cholera
Disease presentation
Acute: death in 6-48 hours after exposure
Chronic: localized infection of bursae, wattles, joints, tendon sheaths, and footpads
Lameness, exudative conjunctivitis and pharyngitis
Torticollis
Avian Cholera
Susceptibility to disease
depends on age, sex, genetics, immune status, nutritional status, concurrent disease, host, strain virulence
Avian Cholera
Transmission
exposure through mucous membranes of pharynx or upper airway passages or Cuts/abrasions in skin
Ingestion - common in scavengers and predators
Other: aerosol, insect, fomite
Environmental contamination from diseased birds = primary source of infection
Avian Cholera
Diagnosis
clinical suspicion of disease when large numbers of dead birds found in a short time
confirmed by bacterial culture
Avian Cholera
treatment
eradication in a flock - complete depopulation, cleaning, and disinfection
Avian Cholera
Prevention
Good management and biosecurity
Keep wildlife out
susceptible to standard disninfectants
vaccines available
Antimicrobial usage
Limited pharmacokinetic and safety data
Most are off-label usage (warn owners)
Doses very differnet form mammals - birds are MUCH HIGHER DOSES
Antimicroial Selection
No different from other species
Determine cause and site of infection
Pathogen susceptibility
Severity of illness
Conditions at site of infection
pK and PD data of drug
Side effects and toxicity
Antimicrobial Selection
Compliance
can be harder for owners to medicatio a bird vursus dog or cat
Antimicrobial Selection
Dose, route, frequency
Is it realistic to give 1ml to a 30 gram bird
Frequency of administraion
Route of administration
