Avian Mycobacteriosis In Free-Living Raptors In California: 6 Cases (1997-2001) (original) (raw)

Mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium genavense in birds kept in a zoo: 11-year survey

Journal of clinical microbiology, 1996

We report on a disease in 27 birds (1 bird belonging to the order Coraciiformes, 3 to Piciformes, 4 to Galliformes, 7 to Psittaciformes, and 12 to Passeriformes) caused by fastidious mycobacteria. All birds were caged at the Antwerp Zoo and died suddenly between 1983 and 1994. Seventeen birds had no previous signs of disease, and 10 birds showed emaciation. Gross necropsy findings were generally nonspecific, but all the birds were smear positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Histopathologic evaluation performed on 14 birds revealed predominantly intracellular AFB. Extracellular AFB were more abundant in advanced lesions, especially in necrotic areas. In the intestine the mucosal area was generally heavily infiltrated, suggesting an intestinal origin of the infection. There was extensive invasion of the lungs in most birds. In 11 birds sparse growth was obtained after at least 6 months of incubation on Löwenstein-Jensen medium or on Ogawa medium supplemented with mycobactin. Subcultur...

The presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium in common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) living in captivity and in other birds, vertebrates, non-vertebrates and the environment

Veterinární medicína, 2011

Although avian mycobacteriosis is not prevalent among domestic fowl used for intensive husbandry, it has been described in both free living birds and birds in captivity, e.g., zoological gardens and small fowl flocks. In this study, we examined 305 pheasants from six flocks as well as 70 other birds belonging to 14 species and 97 other vertebrates caught in a closed area. We also investigated the prevalence of mycobacteria in non-vertebrates (earthworms) and soil in two pheasant flocks. Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (M. a. avium) was isolated in four flocks from 17 (5.6%) pheasants. In one M. a. avium-infected pheasant co-infection with M. a. hominissuis was diagnosed. Granulomatous inflammatory lesions were observed in liver and spleen in only four M. a. avium-infected pheasants originating from two flocks. From the other 38 pheasants other mycobacterial species were isolated, such as M. fortuitum, M. terrae, M. triviale, M. chelonae, M. scrofulaceum, M. smegmatis, M. flavescens...