This report describes an outbreak of avian mycobacteriosis in a flock of 100 two-yr-old pigeons. Over a 6-mo period, the sick pigeons showed cachexia followed by death. In Columbiformes classic tubercles rarely develop, but in these affected pigeons granulomatous nodular lesions of various sizes, containing numerous acid-fast bacilli, were found in the internal organs. The lesions were observed in the liver, spleen, intestine, bone marrow, ovary, and oviduct. Despite their breeding age, atrophy was also found in the ovary and oviduct. Microorganisms belonging to Mycobacterium avium complex were identified in the affected tissues by polymerase chain reaction.

From 50 commercial broiler flocks included in a study concerning respiratory disease, signs of swollen head syndrome (SHS) were shown in eight. Postmortem examination was performed in eight birds showing signs of SHS from each flock. The trachea and head from each bird were collected for laboratory investigation. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the detection of viral and avian mycoplasma antigens in the trachea, and bacteriologic examinations were performed from the infraorbital sinuses of the infected birds. According to the ELISA results, the most frequently detected antigen in the trachea was Mycoplasma synoviae (six flocks, 75%), followed by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) (five flocks, 62.5%), avian adenovirus (four flocks, 50%), avian reovirus (three flocks, 37.5%), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (one flock, 12.5%), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) (one flock, 12.5%). Turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT), infectious laryngotracheitis, and avian influenza viral antigens were not detected. Experimental assays for characterization of NDV and IBV isolates showed that they were strains of low virulence (evidently vaccine strains). Bacteriologic examinations from the infraorbital sinuses of the affected birds resulted in the isolation of Escherichia coli (seven cases, 87.5%) and Staphylococcus spp. (one case, 12.5%). It is evident that TRT virus did not play a causal role in SHS in commercial broiler flocks in Greece, but in this condition, other viruses (IBV, NDV), mycoplasmas, or bacteria may be involved, and environmental conditions seem to be essential to the occurrence and severity of the disease.

We Investigated the psychiatric and psychosocial status of 31 elderly (age >65 years) end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis (HO) (17 patients) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPO) (14 patients). There was no difference between the two groups In terms of age (67.3:1:.2.3 and 68.5:1:.4.3 In HO and CAPO groups, respectively), duration of dialysis treatment, and biochemical profile. The psychiatric and psychosocial status of the patients was assessed using the standardized psychiatric Interview (SPI), Hamilton's depression scale (HRS-O), and a questionnaire for the evaluation of the psychosocial Impact of the method of treatment. Sixteen of 31 patients presented with psychiatric morbidity (9 mild, 5 moderate, 2 severe). However, there was no significant relationship between psychiatric morbidity and method of dialysis (HO or CAPO). The mean values of SPI (21.47:1:.16.38 and 17.14:1:.13) and HRS-O (20.91:1:.17.33 and 15.41:1:.13.13) scores for the HO and CAPO groups, respectively, did not differ significantly. The analysis of the results of the questionnaire regarding the Impact of the method of treatment on psychosocial status Indicated that the HO patients felt that their lives were more dependent on factors that they could not Influence (I.e., the dialysis equipment, etc.). Our findings suggest that the psychiatric status of elderly patients undergoing chronic dialysis treatment Is not affected by the method of treatment, a factor that should be taken Into consideration when deciding the proper dialysis treatment for these patients.

In this study we described four cases of bilateral ectropion in pigeons that were investigated in Greece. Anemia, leukocytosis, and increased levels of enzymes lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, and total serum proteins were found. Chlamydial elementary bodies were observed by modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain in direct smears of conjunctiva, liver, and spleen as well as in yolk sac samples after egg inoculation with eyelid material. Histologically, significant hyperplasia of the conjunctival epithelium was observed. Using immunohistochemical methods, chlamydial antigen was revealed in eyelid, liver, and spleen paraffin sections. This study suggests that Chlamydia spp. was the causative agent that induced ectropion.