Avian Tuberculosis in Wild Birds in the Netherlands

Smit, Theresa; Eger, A.; Haagsma, J; Bakhuizen, T.

doi:10.7589/0090-3558-23.3.485

Cited by 45 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…As mentioned above, AM in free-living raptors has rarely been diagnosed. In the Netherlands, Smit et al (1987) isolated M. avium from, among other raptors, 17 out of 450 (3.8%) common kestrels and in three out of 313 (0.96%) long-eared owls. These prevalences are similar to those reported in the present article.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Smit et al (1987) proposed that kestrels and other aggressive raptors may contract AM through injuries during fights, and even isolated M. avium from some local injuries. However, in the present case no infected injuries were observed in any of these birds, although subcutaneous granulomas were detected in seven birds that may be derived from old injuries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is mainly due to the persistence of the organism once established, its contagiousness and its ability to survive in the environment (Thorel et al, 1997). Nevertheless, reports of AM in free-living wild birds are not uncommon (Smit et al, 1987;Millán et al, 2004;Gerhold & Fischer, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Europe, reports include those of two common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) (Wilson, 1960;Bucke & Mawdesley-Thomas 1974) and a barn owl (Tyto alba) (Wilson, 1960). Smit et al (1987) isolated M. avium from multiple raptor species, both diurnal and nocturnal, found dead in the Netherlands. The only reported case in Spain was detected in a Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) from southern peninsular Spain (Aranaz et al, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Avian mycobacteriosis in free-living raptors in Majorca Island, Spain

Millán

Negre²,

Castellanos

et al. 2010

Avian Pathology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Avian mycobacteriosis is a chronic, infectious disease caused by different species of mycobacteria, usually belonging to the Mycobacterium avium complex. From 2004 to 2007, 589 raptors brought dead or sick to a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) were necropsied. The birds belonged to 12 different species, chiefly common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) (n0297), scops owl (Otus scops) (n 0109), barn owl (Tyto alba) (n 075), long-eared owl (Asio otus) (n 058), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) (n 027), and booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) (n013). Gross lesions compatible with mycobacteriosis were observed in 14 birds (2.4%) found in several locations in Majorca. They were 12 kestrels (prevalence in this species, 4.0%), one long-eared owl (1.7%) and one scops owl (0.9%), all the birds presenting whiteÁyellowish nodules from pinpoint size to 1 cm in diameter in diverse organs, mainly in the liver, spleen and intestine. Affected organs were subjected to bacteriology and molecular identification by polymerase chain reaction and, in all cases, infection with M. avium subspecies avium was confirmed. The observed prevalences are similar to those previously observed in Holland, although the actual prevalence detected in this study is likely to be higher than reported because only birds with gross lesions were subjected to culture. Further molecular characterization with a set of six mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unitÁvariable number tandem repeat loci was used to sub-type the isolates in order to show the existence of possible epidemiological links. Six different genotypes were found, which points to infection from multiple foci. No temporal or geographical aggregation of the cases was observed to be associated with the presence of positive birds or with the different variable number tandem repeat allelic profiles. The most feasible origin might be water or food sources, although the reservoir of mycobacteria remains unknown.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Avian mycobacteriosis in free-living raptors in Majorca Island, Spain

Millán

Negre²,

Castellanos

et al. 2010

Avian Pathology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The incidence detected during avian necropsy has ranged from 0.5% to 14% (21,25,31,32). Mycobacterial infection prevalence in wild birds has not been determined, although usually at least 1 per cent of birds examined postmortem are affected.…”

Section: Epidemiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycobacteriosis in Wild Birds: the Potential risk of Disseminating a Little-known Infectious Disease

Soler¹,

Brieva²,

Ribón³

2009

Rev. salud pública

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Avian mycobacteriosis is important for animal and human health; wild birds play an important role in mycobacterial species' ecology and movement. This review was aimed at reporting the role of birds in the spread of avian mycobacteriosis in human and animal populations at risk and thus a systematic review was made of PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo and Scirus databases. Mycobacteria are classified into the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculous mycobacteria; the Mycobacterium avium complex represents the most important part of the latter because it is primarily responsible for mycobacterial infection in wild birds and is a potential pathogen for mammals, especially for immunocompromised patients. The clinical signs in birds are variable as it is a chronic and debilitating disease, involving emaciated carcasses, white nodules in different organs and microscopically it presents granulomatosous multifocal inflammation. Diagnosis begins by suspicion based on clinical signs and finishes with microbiological confirmation. New diagnostic techniques include testing with DNA-RNA probes. No effective treatment is currently available and chemoprophylaxis on suspicion of infection is not recommended at the start; these factors increase the potential risk of mycobacteriosis becoming one of the most frequently documented zoonotic diseases which is difficult to treat in birds and humans. Recent concern regarding mycobacterial infection lies in the increased frequency of these opportunistic infections occurring in immunocompromised individuals and these infections' potential impact on bird conservation, this being increased by greater contact between humans and wild and captive birds.

show abstract