Use of a Compounded Poloxamer 407 Antibiotic Topical Therapy as Part of the Successful Management of Chronic Ulcerative Dermatitis in a Congo African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus).

A 23-year-old, 425-g male African grey parrot ( Psittacus erithacus) was evaluated for chronic ulcerative dermatitis of the axillary regions under both wings. Initial swab cultures of the sites had revealed a coagulase-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas (MRSA) with marked antibiotic resistance. A second swab culture obtained 8 weeks after the initial culture showed heavy growth of a coagulase-positive Staphylococcus species, which could not be speciated, but showed the same sensitivity as the previous culture. Previous treatment included systemic antibiotics and a topical antimicrobial cream, with variable response and only temporary resolution. On examination, full-thickness, ulcerative, necrotic dermatitis was present under both wings with intermittent bleeding and subdermal tissue exposure. Initial treatment included wound debridement, oral antibiotics, topical therapy, analgesics, and bandages. After a relapse, a poloxamer gel containing 2% doxycycline, 1% chloramphenicol, and 0.5% mupirocin was used in combination with oral antibiotics and analgesics. On follow-up examination, the skin lesions had completely resolved and the patient was doing well and remains normal 4 years later. This report emphasizes the importance of prompt, aggressive multi-modal therapy for MRSA and other dermal bacterial infections in pet birds that may represent zoonoses or have carrier-state zoonotic potential. Preparation by a compounding pharmacy of a transdermal poloxamer gel containing antibiotics shows promise for severe, infected, ulcerative skin lesions in birds when other therapies fail to achieve a cure.

American kestrel (Falco spaverius) fledgling with severe bilateral periorbital swelling and infection with Mycoplasma buteonis, Avibacterium (Pasteurella) gallinarum, and Staphylococcus pasteuri.

Abstract: A female American kestrel (Falco spaverius) fledgling was found on the ground with a suspected trauma to the right eye and open-mouth breathing. During the first 2 days of hospitalization, the bird developed severe bilateral periorbital cellulitis, blepharoedema, and sinusitis. The periocular tissues of the right globe were devitalized and communicated with a fistula at the commissure of the right side of the beak. The blepharoedema of the left eye was aspirated and yielded a dark colored malodorous fluid, which was submitted for aerobic bacterial and Mycoplasma cultures. Results showed a mixed infection with Mycoplasma buteonis, Avibacterium gallinarum, and Staphylococcus pasteuri, all of which are not commonly isolated from birds of prey. With antimicrobial therapy, supportive care, and surgical debridement of the right periocular necrotic tissues and adhesed phthisical globe, the kestrel recovered from this severe mixed upper respiratory infection.

An Acute Mortality Event Associated with Novel Macrorhabdus ornithogaster Infection and Underlying Factors in a Newly-Established Captive Group of American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) Nestlings.

Twenty-four American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) nestlings were collected in Florida (USA) on 17 April 2017 to establish a captive flock. On 7 May 2017, three birds died suddenly, following severe lethargy, hemorrhaging from the mouth and nares, anorexia, and production of bright-green colored feces. An additional ibis with delayed growth and pathological fractures was euthanized 18 May 2017. Severe ventriculitis associated with Macrorhabdus ornithogaster was noted in all four birds, bacterial sepsis was confirmed in one bird by culture and histologic examination, and bacterial endotoxemia was suspected in two birds based on gross and histologic examination, but no bacteria were isolated from these birds. Birds also had vitamin E liver levels consistent with coagulopathy previously described in pelicans. We sampled feces from 91 adult, free-living, healthy ibis in Florida in July 2017 and found 71% were shedding organisms with morphologic characteristics consistent with Macrorhabdus sp. Molecular characterization of the ibis-origin M. ornithogaster showed it was phylogenetically related to numerous M. ornithogaster sequences. It is unknown if M. ornithogaster infection resulted in clinical disease as a result of dietary or stress-related dysbiosis, or other factors. Macrorhabdus-associated disease has not previously been confirmed in wading birds. We discuss potential associations of gastric M. ornithogaster infection with morbidity and mortality in these cases and highlight the need for additional studies on this pathogen in free-living birds.

Health assessment of captive tinamids (Aves, Tinamiformes) in Brazil.

Ninety-five (95) captive tinamids (Aves, Tinamiformes) of species Crypturellus obsoletus (brown tinamou), Crypturellus parvirostris (small-billed tinamou), Crypturellus tataupa (Tataupa tinamou), Crypturellus undulatus (undulated tinamou), Rhynchotus rufescens (red-winged tinamou), and Tinamus solitarius (solitary tinamou) were evaluated for diseases of mandatory control in the Brazilian Poultry Health Program (PNSA). Antibodies were detected by serum agglutination test (SAT) in 4 birds for Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and in 27 birds for Salmonella Pullorum (SP) and Salmonella Gallinarum (SG). However, by hemagglutination inhibition (HI), sera were negative to MG and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS). Bacteriology was negative for SP and SG. No antibody was detected by HI to avian paramyxovirus type 1. However, antibodies to infectious bursal disease virus were detected in 9.4% (9/95) by ELISA. Fecal parasitology and necropsy revealed Capillaria spp. in 44.2% (42/95), Eimeria rhynchoti in 42.1% (40/95), Strongyloides spp. in 100% (20/20), Ascaridia spp., and unknown sporozoa in small-billed tinamou. Ectoparasites were detected in 42.1% (40/95) by inspection, and collected for identification. The louse Strongylocotes lipogonus (Insecta: Phthiraptera) was found on all Rhynchotus rufescens. An additional four lice species were found on 14 individuals. Traumatic lesions included four individual R. rufescens (4/40, 10%) with rhinotheca fracture, one with mandible fracture and three with posttraumatic ocular lesions (3/40, 7.5%). One C. parvirostris had phalangeal loss, another had tibiotarsal joint ankylosis and another had an open wound on the foot. Results suggest that major poultry infections/ diseases may not be relevant in tinamids, and that this group of birds, as maintained within distances for biosecurity purposes, may not represent a risk to commercial poultry. Ecto- and endoparasites were common, disseminated, and varied; regular monitoring of flocks is recommended for best performance.

Biofilm formation and cellulose expression by Bordetella avium 197N, the causative agent of bordetellosis in birds and an opportunistic respiratory pathogen in humans.

Although bacterial cellulose synthase (bcs) operons are widespread within the Proteobacteria phylum, subunits required for the partial-acetylation of the polymer appear to be restricted to a few γ-group soil, plant-associated and phytopathogenic pseudomonads, including Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 and several Pseudomonas syringae pathovars. However, a bcs operon with acetylation subunits has also been annotated in the unrelated ß-group respiratory pathogen, Bordetella avium 197N. Our comparison of subunit protein sequences and GC content analyses confirms the close similarity between the B. avium 197N and pseudomonad operons and suggests that, in both cases, the cellulose synthase and acetylation subunits were acquired as a single unit. Using static liquid microcosms, we can confirm that B. avium 197N expresses low levels of cellulose in air-liquid interface biofilms and that biofilm strength and attachment levels could be increased by elevating c-di-GMP levels like the pseudomonads, but cellulose was not required for biofilm formation itself. The finding that B. avium 197N is capable of producing cellulose from a highly-conserved, but relatively uncommon bcs operon raises the question of what functional role this modified polymer plays during the infection of the upper respiratory tract or survival between hosts, and what environmental signals control its production.

Yersiniosis caused by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in captive toucans (Ramphastidae) and a Japanese squirrel (Sciurus lis) in zoological gardens in Japan.

Two captive Keel-billed toucans and a Chestnut-mandibled toucan in another zoological garden died suddenly without any pre-existing symptoms, and three months later, a Japanese squirrel died of diarrhea. All these animals showed necrotic enteritis and multifocal necrosis in the liver and spleen with Gram negative bacilli. The bacilli showed strong positive immunolabeling for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis O4 in the Keel-billed toucans, Y. pseudotuberculosis O2 in the Chestnut-mandibled toucan and Y. pseudotuberculosis O1 in the Japanese squirrel, while Y. pseudotuberculosis 4b, 2b and 1b were respectively isolated from the lesions. To our knowledge, this might be the first reported case of fatal yersiniosis in a Japanese squirrel in the world as well as in toucans in Japan.

Extracutaneous viral inclusions in psittacine beak and feather disease.

Thirty-five birds that died with naturally acquired psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) were necropsied to identify extracutaneous viral inclusions. Inclusions were found in various tissue sections from 34 of 35 birds. By immunoperoxidase staining, intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were shown to contain PBFD viral antigen. Inclusion-bearing lesions were widely disseminated but often closely associated with the alimentary tract. Lesions within the palate, esophagus, crop, intestine, bursa of Fabricius, and liver probably serve as sources for viral shedding into the feces.

Candidiasis in cockatiel nestlings and mucormycosis in a pigeon.

Deaths of cockatiel nestlings caused by Candida albicans, and of a pigeon caused by air-sac infection with Absidia corymbifera, are described. Lesions in the cockatiels were pseudomembranes and ulcers in the mouth, esophagus, and crop. In the pigeon the air sacs were thickened and contained a grayish gelatinous exudate.

Canary pox causing high mortality in an aviary.

In an aviary housing 200 six-month-old canaries, 165 became ill and 145 died over a 6-week period from a disease initially characterized by lethargy, ruffled feathers, open-mouth breathing, and death in 2 to 3 days. Proliferative "pox-like" lesions around the eyes and mouth were not seen until the 4th week. At necropsy, initially affected birds had cloudy air sacs and patchy pneumonia. Histologically, the lungs had proliferative necrotizing bronchitis. Birds necropsied later had proliferative skin lesions and intracytoplasmic inclusions typical of poxvirus in the epidermis and airway epithelium. A virus was isolated from an organ pool of lung, air sac, liver, and skin of affected birds and was identified by electron microscopy as poxvirus.

[Epizootiology and pathogenesis of avian mycobacteriosis in doves (Streptopelia sp.)]. / Epizootologie a patogeneze aviární mykobakteriózy hrdlicky (Streptopelia sp.).

The collared turtle-dove (Streptopelia decaocto) and the turtle dove are common synanthropic bird species. The collared turtle dove in particular comes to close contact with farm animals, including with tuberculosis-infected small poultry on farms. It can thus be infected by avian mycobacteria and to become their further source and disseminator. Elucidating the occurrence of avian mycobacteriosis in turtle we examined 218 specimens of the collared turtle-doves and 22 specimens of turtle-doves taken in habitats with different epidemiological setting. We found no pathomorphological tuberculous lesions and isolated no mycobacteria from organs or the contents of intestines in any of them, though we also examined turtles living near poultry farms infected with tuberculosis or near farms where avian tuberculin-positive cattle was reared. Under the same conditions we found repeatedly, e.g. in sparrows, both the tuberculous lesions and mycobacteria. The turtle dove can thus be considered as very resistant to avian mycobacteria and the occurrence of avian mycobacteriosis can be regarded as rather exceptional. The susceptibility of the collared turtle-dove to avian mycobacteria was verified also by experimental infections. After intramuscular infections of M. avium serotype 2 suspension, we demonstrated macroscopic tuberculosis lesions only in the site of inoculation from day 21 onwards. The histological lesions were found in the liver, spleen and bone marrow from day 28 after inoculation. However, mycobacteria were isolated from various organs and tissues as early as 12 days after inoculation. Attempts to demonstrate tuberculous lesions and to isolate mycobacteria from the intestines failed. No tuberculous lesions produced in turtle dove within the period of 122 days after peroral infection by food contaminated by TBC poultry livers and bacteriologically examined was negative too. After free contact between TBC poultry and turtle doves the sporadic histological TBC changes in liver were found after 180 days and in one case mycobacteria were isolated from the liver and muscle after 157 days. The transfer of M. avium from TBC infected turtle doves pigs and poultry was successful. After 45 days of join contact among TBC turtle doves, healthy pigs and poultry in stables and after further stay of pigs and poultry in contaminated environment for additional 65 and 175 days, respectively. In the course of the experiment, 105 days after its onset, marked reaction to avian tuberculin was demonstrated in one pig. Simultaneously with it, the TBC lesions in mandibular and mesenteric lymphatic glands were found. In one pig, mycobacteria were isolated from those suspectedly affected lymphatic glands.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)