Common Bacterial Diseases of Birds

Question 1

Normal Bacterial flora of companion birds

Answer 1

Lactobacillus

Corynebacterium

Monhemolytic Stresptococcus

Macrococcus

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Question 2

Which Bacterial species is most commonly isolated form pododermatitis lesions in birds

Answer 2

Staphylococcus areas

Question 3

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Answer 3

M. Avian - intracellular complex

M. genavese - most common in pet birds

M. Tuberculosis and M. Bovis

ZOONOTIC

Question 4

What other bacteria stain acid fast postive?

Answer 4

Nocordia

legionaella micdadie

Question 5

What color is a postive acid fast staining bacteria

Answer 5

RED

Question 6

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Susceptible

Answer 6

all species

immunocompromised individuals at greater risk

Question 7

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Transmission

Answer 7

Primarily oral route

Possible aerosol route

Question 8

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Clinical Signs

Answer 8

Chronic weight loss

very thin body condition

Gastrointestinal and hepatic signs

Less common: Respiratory signs

Question 9

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Lesions

Answer 9

Most common in GI tract and liver

Lungs - can see estensive involvemnt of respiratory system

Masses in skin and conjunctiva

Question 10

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Pathogenesis

Answer 10

Do NOT form classic tubercles of mammalian mycobacteriosis

Question 11

Avian Mycobateriosis

Diagnosis

Answer 11

PCR of tissue biopsies

Histopathology with acid fast stain

Cytology - Stain poorly with gram stain

Culture - challenging, very slow growing

Question 12

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Treatment

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Gross pathology

External lesions

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Gross pathology

internal lesions

Answer 14

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)

Question 15

Avian Mycobacteriosis

Histopathology

Answer 15

1. Granulomas - caseous, central area of necrosis with accumulation of eosinophilic debris surrounded by layer of multinucleated giant cells
2. Infiltration of a large number of foamy macrophages +/- multinucleated giant cells but no tissue necrosis
3. infiltraiton of a large number of foamy macrophages +/- multinucleated giant cells but NO tissue necrosis

Question 16

Mycoplasmosis

Taxonomic groups affected

Answer 16

passerines

poultry

Question 17

Mycoplasmosis

Transmission

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Mycoplasmosis

Clinical Signs

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Mycoplasmosis

Diagnosis

Answer 19

PCR on lesions or sinus flush

Culture - slow growing

Question 20

Mycoplasmosis

Management and prevention

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Clostridial Disease

Answer 21

Common problem in raptors, chickens, and quail

Question 22

Clostridial disease

toxin-producing organsims

Answer 22

clostridium perfringens

Commonly assoaciated with food and the thawing process

Question 23

Clostridial disease

Clinical signs

Answer 23

sudden death

necrotic enteritis

Question 24

Clostridial disease

Diagnosis

Answer 24

fecal cytology → safety pin appearance

Question 25

Clostridial Disease Treatment

Answer 25

Fluid therapy - often in hypovolemic shock Metronidazole

Question 26

Clostridial Disease Botulism Toxin produced by

Answer 26

C. Botulinum toxin prevents acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junction → ascending flaccid paralysis

Question 27

Clostridial disease Botulism

Answer 27

Most common in wild, water birds

Question 28

Salmonellosis specied affected

Answer 28

mainly passerines, affected especially at bird feeders Also in raptors fed birds and rodents Pigeons

Question 29

Salmonellosis Clinical Signs

Answer 29

passerines - septicemia Raptors - enteritis Pigeons - arthritis

Question 30

Salmonellosis Diagnosis

Answer 30

Culture - needs enrichment

Question 31

Salmonellosis Zoonotic?

Answer 31

YES!!!!

Question 32

Avian Cholera Etiologic agent

Answer 32

Pasteurella multocida

Question 33

Avian Cholera Disease presentation

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Avian Cholera Susceptibility to disease

Answer 34

depends on age, sex, genetics, immune status, nutritional status, concurrent disease, host, strain virulence

Question 35

Avian Cholera Transmission

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Avian Cholera Diagnosis

Answer 36

clinical suspicion of disease when large numbers of dead birds found in a short time confirmed by bacterial culture

Question 37

Avian Cholera treatment

Answer 37

eradication in a flock - complete depopulation, cleaning, and disinfection

Question 38

Avian Cholera Prevention

Answer 38

Good management and biosecurity Keep wildlife out susceptible to standard disninfectants vaccines available

Question 39

Antimicrobial usage

Answer 39

Limited pharmacokinetic and safety data Most are off-label usage (warn owners) Doses very differnet form mammals - birds are MUCH HIGHER DOSES

Question 40

Antimicroial Selection No different from other species

Answer 40

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

Question 41

Antimicrobial Selection Compliance

Answer 41

can be harder for owners to medicatio a bird vursus dog or cat

Question 42

Antimicrobial Selection Dose, route, frequency

Answer 42

Is it realistic to give 1ml to a 30 gram bird Frequency of administraion Route of administration