Macrorhabdus ornithogaster in ostrich, rhea, canary, zebra finch, free range chicken, turkey, guinea-fowl, columbina pigeon, toucan, chuckar partridge and experimental infection in chicken, japanese quail and mice

Abstract

Macrorhabdus ornithogaster in ostrich, rhea, canary, zebra finch, free range chicken, turkey, guinea-fowl, columbina pigeon, toucan, chuckar partridge and experimental infection in chicken, japanese quail and mice [Macrorhabdus ornithogaster em avestruzes, ema, canário, mandarim, galinha, peru, galinha da Angola, pombo doméstico, rolinha, tucano, perdiz ABSTRACTSince 2000, Macrorhabdus ornithogaster "megabacteriosis" has been diagnosed in the avian diseases laboratory in a diversity of avian species and varied spectrum of disease. The disease in some species (chickens, turkeys, guinea fowls) was clinically characterized by emaciation, prostration, loss of appetite, cachexia and death, with a typically chronic course. A more acute disease was observed in finches (canary-Serinus and zebra-Taeniopygia) and budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). The large rod shaped organism, visible from 100 times magnification, with and without staining, could be detected in sick and also in reasonably normal individuals of some species, such as chickens, turkeys, quails and pigeons. In rheas (Rhea americana), ostriches (Struthio camelus), canaries, zebra-finches, guinea-fowl (Numida meleagris) and budgerigars. The disease was severe, causing to up to 100% mortality. The infection could be detected in some species along with other infectious or disease problems, such as endoparasites (helminths, coccidia) and ectoparasitism (order Mallophaga or/and order Acarina). The cultivation of M. ornithogaster was successfully achieved in solid and liquid media, originated from chickens (four isolates), guinea fowl (1 isolate), chuckar partridge (1 isolate) and canary (1 isolate). A very interesting finding at microscopy was motility of M. ornithogaster, as detected both in cultures obtained on agar for pathogenic fungi and passaged into thioglycolate broth, as well as on samples observed in wet preparations from in vivo. Differences in colony aspects were noted among the isolates. Experimental infections were attempted in chicken and japanese quail, using a chicken isolate, allowing the detection of the organism in the proventriculus and liver in apparently normal birds. One chicken isolate was injected intraperitoneally in Balb/c mice and resulted in 100% mortality.

Analysis of fecal smears for diagnosis of megabactéria (Macrorhabdus ornithogaster) in domestic and wild birds

“…A gravidade dos sinais aumenta com a manifestação de quadros de imunossupressão ou associação com outros agentes, tais como os da coccidiose em tucanos, patógenos que causam diarreia em galinhas e codornas japonesas e da tricomoníase em pombos, aumentando a mortalidade que pode chegar até 100% do lote (SEGABINAZI et al, 2004;MARTINS et al, 2006;MUNHOZ et al, 2008).…”

“…Um grupo correspondente a 23,3% do número total de animais apresentou sinais descritos por Martins et al (2006) e Ferronato et. al.…”

“…236, Art. 1559, Julho, 2013 diferentes, condições sanitárias inadequadas e precária biossegurança, que aumentam as chances de transmissão do agente, como foi descrito por Martins et al (2006).…”

“…236, Art. 1559, Julho, 2013 presença do agente nas fezes (MARTINS et al, 2006;DORRESTEIN, 2010;FERRONATO et al, 2011).…”

Megabacteriosis in Nymphicus hollandicus

“…Também sugeriram que o mesmo seria um componente normal da flora gastrointestinal de periquitos, desde que os microrganismos foram também isolados de aves saudáveis. Os autores referem que o fungo pode ser encontrado nas fezes e no muco do istmo entre proventrículo e ventrículo, e não se sabe sobre a resistência do agente no ambiente (Martins et al, 2006). Munhoz et al (2008) observaram que o M. ornithogaster é um microrganismo oportunista, promovendo maior mortalidade na desordem imunossupressora.…”