Zebra Finch Infectious Disease Flashcards
(38 cards)
What paramyxoviruses infect finches? What are the clinical signs?
PMV-1 = Newcastle. Rarer
PMV-3
Neurologic disease, diarrhea, and occasionally resp signs
What are the clinical signs of avian influenza?
Sudden death, unthriftiness, resp and neurologic signs. Zebra finches very susceptible to the H5N1 strain.
What virus is associated with neoplasia? How did the affected bird present?
Polyomavirus
Unilateral periorbital swelling and discrete SQ nodules on neck, thorax, and wings
What features of polyomavirus were noted on histopathology? What strain was identified?
Intranuclear inclusion bodies. Highly cellular, unencapsulated, infiltrative with poorly differentiated, pleomorphic, neoplastic cells with mild fibrovascular stroma.
Closest to canary and crow strains.
What animals do most polyomaviruses affect?
Nestlings and do not cause tumors
What clinical signs are are associated with avipoxvirus? Histological lesions?
Dermal and mucosal lesions, anorexia, lethargy, emaciation, and sudden death.
Characteristic Bollinger body intracellular inclusion bodies.
How is avipoxvirus likely spread?
Lice and mites acting as mechanical vectors.
Generally, what type of Mycobacterium are pathogenic to birds? What specific strains are pathogenic?
Ubiquitous environmental saprophytes.
Mycobacterium genavense predominants in psittacines and passerines. M. avium avium in most bird species.
Mycobacterial infections most commonly affect what organs?
The liver, spleen, and intestine. Any of these organs can appear swollen.
What do microscopic lesions typically look like?
Large number of epithelioid cells or foamy macrophages, +/- multinucleated giant cells. No necrosis. Thus more lepromatous than tuberculosis.
How is mycobacteria spread in birds?
Fecal-oral, possibly aerosol
Is M. genavense zoonotic?
Yes, in immunocompromised humans. Consider birds endemic. Post signage. Do not recommend treatment.
Is M. genavense environmentally stable?
Yes, for years in the environment.
What Salmonella subspecies affects finches?
Salmonella choleraesuis choleraesuis
What age does Campylobacter jejuni affect?
Particularly juveniles
What are clinical signs of Campylobacter?
Apathy, retarded molting, formed or liquid feces that are yellow due to large amounts of undigested starch. May see whole seeds in droppings. High mortality in infected fledglings.
Is Campylobacter common in finch colonies?
Yes. Difficult to eradicate through antibiotic treatment and subclinical carriers are common. Inform personnel about zoonotic risk.
What Chlamydophila species affects finches? What is unique about this agent?
Chlamydophila psittaci. Due to zoonotic potential, reportable in most states.
How is Chlamydophila tested for?
Conjunctival and choanal swabs over feces for bacteriologic culture.
How does Mycoplasma typically present?
No clinical signs or conjunctivitis.
Is Mycoplasma common in lab finch colonies?
No, but M. gallisepticum has been seen in North American house finches. Potential risk for finches housed outdoors.
What protozoal agents occur commonly in passerine birds? Rarely?
Coccidiosis with Isospora (most common) and Eimera common. Cryptosporidium rare.
Describe flagellate infection in finches.
Trichomonas species. Common and not host specific. Identified by staining a crop swab.
Cochlosoma sp. in intestinal tract of society finches. Can cause death in zebra finches they foster.
