Experimental infection of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with fiveMycobacteriumspecies

Abstract

International audienceThe aim of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) to infections with different Mycobacterium species. For inoculations the following M. species were used: M. avium subsp. avium, M. bovis subsp. bovis, M. tuberculosis subsp. tuberculosis, M. intracellulare and M. fortuitum subsp. fortuitum. The bacterial suspension was administrated intramuscularly and all the birds were monitored for 70 days starting from the day of inoculation. During the experiment clinical examination, x- rays, plate agglutination tests, tuberculin tests, feces smear preparations and culture of mycobacteria were performed. The study showed, that M. bovis subsp. bovis was the most pathogenic M. species for budgerigars. After inoculation the bacilli induced tuberculosis-typical, clinical signs and necropsy findings. In two out of six birds infected with M. bovis subsp. bovis radiological changes were also visible. Birds inoculated with other M. species did not show any typical symptoms of infection and only the results of histopathological and bacteriological examinations indicated the presence of infection

Transmission of tuberculosis between men and pet birds: a case report

“…The long incubation period of 2.5 years in the present case is in accordance with other cases known from literature, in which incubation periods were estimated between 0.5 and 4 years, respectively (Washko et al, 1998;Steinmetz et al, 2006;Peters et al, 2007). In a recently published experimental infection study, a long incubation period for M. tuberculosis infection could also be confirmed in budgerigars (Ledwon et al, 2008). Contrary to the clinical signs described above for the blue-fronted amazon and the green-winged macaw, facial lesions were absent in the African Grey parrot.…”

Experimental Inoculation of BFDV-Positive Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with TwoMycobacterium aviumsubsp.aviumIsolates

“…avium , which caused no clinical or pathological changes typical of mycobacteriosis [12]. In the present study when we used the same amount of bacteria in the same environmental conditions, advanced mycobacteriosis was endangered.…”

“…Only a few samples were positive despite the advanced pathological changes in the internal organs. Our previous study involving other species of mycobacteria cultures of faeces proved also unsatisfactory in terms of the anticipated number of positive samples [12]. Thus, cloacal and crop swabs do not constitute valuable material for diagnostics of Mycobacterium avium subsp.…”

“…avium isolates were cultured on BBL Lowenstein-Jensen Medium + PACT (Becton Dickinson, USA) for 4 weeks in 37°C. The inoculum was administered into the pectoral muscles at a dose of about 5 × 10 5 colony-forming units/kg body weight [12]. Another six birds comprised the negative control group.…”

Beak and feather disease virus: correlation between viral load and clinical signs in wild Cape parrots (Poicepahlus robustus) in South Africa

“…Subclinical infections are also common, making detection and containment of the disease difficult [18]. These subclinical infections are difficult to detect from blood samples, as has previously been shown in clinically healthy but BFDV-positive budgerigars, where more often than not, the blood samples tested negative [19]. Hess et al [20] suggested that there is a correlation between clinical signs and viraemia as assayed using PCR during a longitudinal study of captive budgerigars; however, the correlation between Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00705-014-2225-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.…”