Erysipelas in the critically endangered kakapo (<i>Strigops habroptilus</i>)

Gartrell, Brett D.; Alley, M.R.; Mack, Hamish J; Donald, J.J.; McInnes, Kate; Jansen, Paul

doi:10.1080/03079450500268583

Cited by 41 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Such an event occurred in 2004, when three kakapo died from erysipelas within 72 hours of translocation. The birds had been checked for known pathogens [35], and erysipelas had not previously been observed in kakapo [36]. While attacks from previously unidentified pathogens are unavoidable, this highlights an area in which molecular microbiology could play a key role in aiding kakapo recovery efforts, through the use of specific, high-sensitivity molecular probing techniques to detect pathogens before their numbers expand to levels that affect the bird.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gut Microbiome of the Critically Endangered New Zealand Parrot, the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)

2012

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The kakapo, a parrot endemic to New Zealand, is currently the focus of intense research and conservation efforts with the aim of boosting its population above the current ‘critically endangered’ status. While virtually nothing is known about the microbiology of the kakapo, given the acknowledged importance of gut-associated microbes in vertebrate nutrition and pathogen defense, it should be of great conservation value to analyze the microbes associated with kakapo. Here we describe the first study of the bacterial communities that reside within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of both juvenile and adult kakapo. Samples from along the GIT, taken from the choana (≈throat), crop and faeces, were subjected to 16 S rRNA gene library analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of >1000 16 S rRNA gene clones, derived from six birds, revealed low phylum-level diversity, consisting almost exclusively of Firmicutes (including lactic acid bacteria) and Gammaproteobacteria. The relative proportions of Firmicutes and Gammaproteobacteria were highly consistent among individual juveniles, irrespective of sampling location, but differed markedly among adult birds. Diversity at a finer phylogenetic resolution (i.e. operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of 99% sequence identity) was also low in all samples, with only one or two OTUs dominating each sample. These data represent the first analysis of the bacterial communities associated with the kakapo GIT, providing a baseline for further microbiological study, and facilitating conservation efforts for this unique bird.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gut Microbiome of the Critically Endangered New Zealand Parrot, the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)

2012

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“…Necropsy and bacterial culture results confirmed that erysipelas was the cause of death of all three birds (Gartrell et al, 2005). These birds were among a group of 19 kakapo, 23% of the then world population of 83 birds, that had been transferred from one island sanctuary to another in July 2004.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Tests of mottled petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata) and sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) carcasses collected on Codfish Island indicated that 10 of 15 contained live E. rhusiopathiae bacillus (Gartrell et al 2005). Adults and chicks of these species were common on the island immediately prior to the 2004 transfer of kakapo to Chalky Island.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of IgY antibodies againstErysipelothrix rhusiopathiaein a critically endangered parrot (kakapo,Strigops habroptilus) and associated responses to vaccination

et al. 2013

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An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to estimate levels of IgY antibody against the bacterium Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in serum samples collected from the critically endangered kakapo (Strigops habroptilus, Psittaciformes, Aves) before and after vaccination against this bacterium. Relative IgY antibody titres in pre-vaccination serum samples (n = 71 individual kakapo) were normally distributed with the exception of four outliers which displayed low IgY levels. Notably all four low IgY samples were collected from fledglings 3 -6 months old. Pre-vaccination serum samples from nine nestlings <3 months old, seven of which were hatched in incubators and had no contact with either adult kakapo or their natural environment (e.g. soil), were found to have relatively high IgY levels, suggesting transfer of maternal IgY molecules to fledglings via the yolk. IgY levels in pre-vaccination serum samples from seven kakapo aged 25 -30 months were also relatively high, suggesting that most kakapo naturally acquire anti-E.rhusiopathiae IgYs within their first 2 years. There was no evidence that vaccination increased the kakapo population's mean anti-E.rhusiopathiae IgY levels. However, there was a significant negative relationship between an individual bird's pre-vaccination IgY level and any subsequent increase following vaccination, suggesting that vaccination may only raise the IgY levels of birds with relatively low pre-vaccination IgY levels. A statistical model of the relationship between 'death from erysipelas' and sex, age and transfer from one to island sanctuary to another found that only transfer was significantly associated with death from erysipelas.

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“…Only 2 other reports of erysipelas in psittacines were found in the literature reviewed by the authors. 10,15 The use of IHC and PCR on paraffin-embedded tissues of confirmed and suspected cases of erysipelas in birds has not to been reported previously in the literature reviewed by the Galindo-Cardiel et al 499 Figure 1. Rainbow lorikeet, coelomic cavity.…”

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confidence: 95%

Outbreak of Mortality in Psittacine Birds in a Mixed-Species Aviary Associated With Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Infection

Galindo-Cardiel

Opriessnig²,

Molina

et al. 2011

Vet Pathol

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Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae septicemia, associated with an increased mortality of captive psittacines in a mixed-species aviary, was diagnosed by histopathology, Gram staining, bacterial culture and sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Over a period of 23 days with no premonitory signs, 2 rainbow lorikeets and an eclectus parrot died. Of these birds, one lorikeet and the eclectus were submitted for necropsy. The main pathologic findings were thrombosis (2/2), bacterial embolism/thromboembolism (2/2), necrotizing hepatitis (2/2), necrohemorrhagic myocarditis (1/2), fibrinohemorrhagic and heterophilic visceral coelomitis (1/2), submandibular necrosuppurative dermatitis with necrotizing vasculitis and bacterial and fungal thromboembolism (1/2), and locally extensive rhabdomyonecrosis with bacterial embolism (1/2). Intralesional bacteria were positive by Gram staining and immunohistochemistry in both cases. E. rhusiopathiae was isolated by routine bacterial culture from the liver of the lorikeet, which was also positive by real-time PCR. This report is one of the rare descriptions of erysipelas in psittacines, and to the authors' knowledge, it appears to be the first in the described species using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR on avian paraffin-embedded tissues for the diagnosis.

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Erysipelas in the critically endangered kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)

Cited by 41 publications

References 20 publications

Gut Microbiome of the Critically Endangered New Zealand Parrot, the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)

Gut Microbiome of the Critically Endangered New Zealand Parrot, the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)

Prevalence of IgY antibodies againstErysipelothrix rhusiopathiaein a critically endangered parrot (kakapo,Strigops habroptilus) and associated responses to vaccination

Outbreak of Mortality in Psittacine Birds in a Mixed-Species Aviary Associated With Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Infection

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