Ulcerative Dermatitis and Valvular Endocarditis Associated withStaphylococcus aureusin a Hyacinth Macaw (Anadorhynchus hyacinthinus)

Abstract

An 18-yr-old male hyacinth macaw (Anadorhynchus hyacinthinus) was found dead in his aviary with no preexisting signs. The bird had a chronic history of feather damaging behavior, with severe ulcerative dermatitis. Pathologic findings revealed a vegetative valvular endocarditis, myocarditis, septicemia, chronic severe glomerulonephritis, and thyroid dysplasia. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the valve, the liver, and the skin. Repeated trauma and low-rate bacteriemia may have contributed to the development of endocarditis. Translocation of S. aureus skin infection in the bloodstream may lead to subacute endocarditis in humans and such mechanism is suspected in this case. This case suggests that endocarditis associated with S. aureus septicemia is a potential complication of feather damaging behavior. This case also reports a systemic complication of ulcerative dermatitis secondary to feather damaging behavior. Endocarditis has been poorly reported in psittacine species, and such medical complication of feather damaging behavior has never been reported to our knowledge. Furthermore, S. aureus is a bacteria of public health concern and should be integrated into the differential when pet parrots with dermatitis are in proximity to owners.

Characterization of Staphylococcus spp. isolates and ß-lactam resistance in broiler chicken production

“…The clinical signs most associated with Staphylococcus spp. in birds are arthritis, synovitis, chondronecrosis and osteomyelitis, gangrenous dermatitis, pododermatitis, omphalitis, septicemia, blepharitis and mandibular osteomyelitis (Huynh et al, 2014).…”

Systemic staphylococcosis in partridge chicks

“…Macroscopic lesions in brain tissues following the injection of partridges were mostly inapparent, but the histopathological examination of the brain tissue revealed congestion and thrombosis. Experimentally induced staphylococcosis as well as naturally occurring disease have been reported in chickens (Mutalib et al 1983a, McNamee et al 2000, Jiang et al 2015, turkeys (Linares et al 2001, Corrand et al 2012, pet birds (Briscoe et al 2008, Huynh et al 2014, Iverson et al 2015, birds of prey (Poorbaghi et al 2012, Bezjian 2014, waterfowl (Degernes et al 2011, Mondal et al 2014, and other avian species (Lemon et al 2012). The pathogenesis of systemic infection with Staphylococcus aureus in chukar partridge chicks is not clearly defined.…”

Staphylococcus simulans associated with endocarditis in broiler chickens

“…Streptococcus gallolyticus (McNamee et al, 1996;Chadfield et al, 2004;Bisgaard et al, 2007;Hedegaard et al, 2009;Bisgaard et al, 2010;Huynh et al, 2014). Both natural outbreaks and experimental infections have been described (Chadfield et al, 2005).…”

“…It is also known that chronic infections can cause endocarditis in avian species. Translocation of S. aureus skin infection in the bloodstream has led to endocarditis in a hyacinth macaw (Anadorhynchus hyacinthinus) (Huynh et al, 2014).…”

“…However, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have also been reported as pathogens. These bacteria can be associated with arthritis, synovitis, chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis, gangrenous dermatitis, pododermatitis (bumblefoot), omphalitis, septicaemia, unilateral periorbital cellulitis and mandibular osteomyelitis (Devriese, 1990;McNamee et al, 1998;McNamee & Smyth, 2000;Corrand et al, 2012;Huynh et al, 2014). Tate et al (1993) suggested a strong association between S. hyicus and turkey stifle joint osteomyelitis.…”