Pinmoore Animal Laboratory Services Ltd

Avian Pathogens
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Avian Pathogens

Chlamydophila

Chlamydophila psittaci is a common zoonotic pathogen in birds and can cause conjunctivitis and pneumonia in people. The source of the infection usually occurring via inhalation of dried bird droppings of infected psittacines. The  infection is particularly prevalent in budgerigars and cockatiels. In birds clinical signs can vary from conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, dyspnoea and green urates. Hepatosplenomegaly is a common clinical or post mortem finding.

Diagnosis can be difficult. Clinical presentation is not pathognomic. Antibody titres can be performed to identify exposure, but the gold standard is considered to be detection of the shedding of the organism in the faecal material. A PCR test is available. A faecal sample collected over three days is the preferred sample for analysis to reduce the incidence of false negative results due to intermittent shedding by the bird.

Sample material: Faeces or Cloacal swab

Cost                                                                                                                £26.00

PBFD  (Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease)

PBFD is a highly pathogenic circovirus infecting many bird species. It is of particular concern in pssitacines. Feather abnormalities can be seen in chronically infected birds, but it also presents as acute leucopaenia and death in young birds (especially grey parrots) and is associated with secondary infections such as aspergillus and chlamydophila due to the immunosuppression. Screening for the virus is vital, prior to birds entering a collection or for assessing clinical cases with feather loss.

Virus-positive psittacines can be identified with the help of a PCR.

Sample material: Heparinised blood, bone marrow biopsy or feathers (fresh pulp required).

Cost                                                                                                                £26.00

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Avian Polyoma virus (APV)

For baby psittacines, this infection can be deadly leading to feather abnormalities, anaemia and spontaneous haemorrhaging and sudden death. Older birds can occasionally show symptoms of septicaemia, hepatitis and feather abnormalities. Avian polyoma virus can be diagnosed by means of PCR.

Sample material: Heparinised blood or feathers (containing pulp).

Cost                                                                                                                £26.00

Psittacid Herpes virus

The Psittacid Herpes virus (PsHV), an α-Herpes virus, is responsible for Pachecos disease. Like many Herpes viruses, PsHV has the ability for a latent infection with lifelong persistence of the pathogen. This world-wide occurring disease leads to peracute to acute deaths. The main gross post mortem finding is a hepatopathy. The disease can cause outbreaks during stressful situations, such as quarantined or imported birds, changes in husbandry, flock dynamics, movement, breeding or sexual maturity can activate a latent infection. A PCR is available to screen incoming birds to a collection.

Sample material: Liver, kidney, spleen, faeces

Cost                                                                                                                £28.00

Duration of all tests approximately 5 – 7 days.

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Aspergillus in birds

Aspergillus sp is a common pathogen in a variety of avian species. It can be found in psittacines fed poor diets or as a secondary pathogen in birds infected with PBFD virus. In falconiformes it presents in ‘highly strung’ birds, such as Goshawks and Gyr Falcons after a stressful incident. Species that do not usually contact the organism are also predisposed and this includes birds from colder climates such as penguins and snowy owls. Sea birds are also predisposed and it can be commonly found in grounded Gannets. Cases can also be seen in waterfowl and gamebirds. Most commonly found and isolated is Aspergillus fumigatus followed by Aspergillus flavus and in rare circumstances Aspergillus niger.

The diagnosis relies on a variety of techniques. A presumptive diagnosis may be made based on clinical history, radiography and haematological investigations, but direct visualisation of lesions with an endoscope is required for confirmation. Endoscopic biopsy of lesions for cytology or histopathology can reveal fungal hyphae. Fungal culture can also be performed as is required for a definitive diagnosis.

However in circumstances where this is not possible an Aspergillus antibody titre can be performed on serum or EDTA blood.

Histopathology (exotic)                                                    (up to 3 tissues)  £44.00

Cytology (exotic)                                                                                           £26.00

Fungal culture                                                                                                £10.00

Aspergillus antibodies                                                                                  £23.00

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