Trichomonas gallinae in budgerigars and columbid birds in Perth, Western Australia

Objective To estimate the prevalence of infection with Trichomonas gallinae and other parasites of the alimentary tract in psittacine and columbid birds in Perth and to determine in vitro the effectiveness of drugs commonly recommended for treating trichomoniasis.
Design and procedures Samples of crop contents were collected from aviary flocks of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and other psittacine and columbid birds in both private and commercial collections in Perth. Similar samples from wild Senegal doves (Streptopelia senegalensis) also were collected. Crop contents were examined and cultured for Trichomonas gallinae and in vitro studies were conducted on the susceptibility of isolates to several drugs used commonly. Other parasites also were detected by faecal examination and/or necropsy.
Results T gallinae was recovered from birds in 1 of 13 private collections of budgerigars (2/289 birds in total). Direct wetmount examination of crop fluid identified 36.4% of samples at four commercial bird dealers which were later determined by culture to contain T gallinae . The prevalence of T gallinae infection ranged from 0 to 11.4% in budgerigars. The prevalence of T gallinae infection in wild Senegal doves was 46% and from one flock of racing pigeons was 59%. The in vitro minimum lethal concentrations of metronidazole, dimetridazole and ronidazole ranged from 40 to 96, 30 to 80 and 40 to 92 μg/mL respectively for six isolates of T gallinae . Other alimentary parasites detected during the survey included Spironucleus sp (syn Hexamita sp), coccidia, Ascaridia platycerci and Raillietina sp.
Conclusions Thirteen budgerigar flocks belonging to members of avicultural societies in Perth had a low prevalence of trichomoniasis and other parasitic infections. The dose rate currently recommended for ronidazole may not result in complete protozoacidal activity against T gallinae infection.     

Susceptibility of Clostridium perfringens of animal origin to fifteen antimicrobial agents

The minimal inhibitory concentrations of fifteen antibacterial agents were determined by agar-dilution method against 121 strains of Clostridium perfringens isolated from pigs, cattle and poultry. All strains, regardless of host of origin, were susceptible to avoparcin, furazolidone, monensin, nitrovin, penicillin G, ronidazole and tiamulin and resistant to flavomycin. Poultry strains were also susceptible to carbadox, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and virginiamycin. Bacitracin-resistant poultry strains were susceptible to all tested antibacterial agents except tetracycline, but the bacitracin-resistant cattle strains were polyresistant. Porcine strains were susceptible to bacitracin and bovine strains to carbadox. Carbadox-resistant porcine strains were resistant to erythromycin, lincomycin and tetracycline and susceptible to chloramphenicol. Resistance to erythromycin was associated with resistance to lincomycin. High level erythromycin-lincomycin-resistant strains were susceptible to virginiamycin, but the intermediate level erythromycin-lincomycin-resistant cattle strains were resistant to virginiamycin. Resistance to chloramphenicol or erythromycin-lincomycin was always associated with resistance to tetracycline but the reverse was not always true.     

Influence of feeding on the bioavailability of ronidazole prolonged-release formulations in pigeons

The influence of feeding on the bioavailability of ronidazole (5 mg per animal) formulated as a hydrophilic-matrix tablet or as lipophilic pellets, was evaluated in pigeons. Administered to fed pigeons, prolonged drug absorption was obtained for both formulations. In non-fed pigeons an immediate grinding of the formulations in the gizzard resulted in rapid drug absorption. This indicates that prolonged residence of the prolonged-release formulations in the crop obtained in the fed condition seemed the only possible means of obtaining prolonged drug release in pigeons.     

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of ronidazole from a prolonged release tablet in the homing pigeon (Columba livid)

The pharmacokinetics of ronidazole and the bioavailability of a prolonged release tablet were studied in the homing pigeon. After intravenous administration of 5 mg ronidazole, the drug plasma concentration profile fitted a one-compartment open model. The mean half-life of the drug was 11 h and the volume of distribution was 0.86 l/kg. Total body clearance was 0.056 l/h/kg. A sustained release matrix tablet exhibited prolonged drug release in vitro. After oral administration of the matrix tablet to pigeons drug absorption was nearly complete. When given on an empty stomach, the tablet failed as a prolonged release system. Administration to previously fed pigeons resulted in an increase in tmax and a decrease in Cpmax.     

卵黄抗体对鸽毛滴虫与白色念珠菌感染的治疗效果

旨在研究鸽毛滴虫与白色念珠菌二联卵黄抗体制备方法和评价其临床效果。利用临床分离的白色念珠菌与毛滴虫制备二联灭活疫苗,免疫产蛋母鸡获得高水平抗体,采取低温冻干技术制备成卵黄抗体粉。建立ELISA抗体检测法测定卵黄抗体水平,确保质量可控;以分离的肉鸽毛滴虫、白色念珠菌制备发病模型,评价卵黄抗体的保护效果。结果表明：二次免疫后,卵黄中毛滴虫抗体和白色念珠菌抗体OD值达到高峰,分别为0.90和0.66,抗体维持时间达到2个月。卵黄抗体按1 g·只^-1口服饲喂5 d后,肉鸽口腔和嗉囊病变评分与感染对照组相比显著降低（P<0.05）,与甲硝唑、制霉菌素无差异;此外,毛滴虫、白色念珠菌病原载量极显著降低（P<0.01）。研制的鸽毛滴虫与白色念珠菌二联卵黄抗体可以替代甲硝唑和制霉菌素,为肉鸽的健康养殖提供一种新的抗菌素替代产品。     

Health status of free-living pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in the city of Ljubljana

In the year 2000 an epidemiological research was undertaken on the health status of free-living pigeons in the city of Ljubljana, Slovenia. A total of 139 pigeons were captured and examined for the most common bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. Serum samples, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs as well as samples of droppings and feathers were taken from the captured birds. Antibodies to paramyxovirus type 1 were found in 84.2% of the sera examined, and 23.7% of birds were serologically positive to Chlamydophila psittaci. Antibodies to avian influenza virus were not detected. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 5.7% of the cloacal swabs. Trichomonas gallinae was clinically suspected and then microscopically confirmed using oropharyngeal swabs in 7.9% of examined birds. Eimeria spp. was identified in 71.9%, Capillaria sp. in 26.6% and Ascaridia columbae in 4.3% of droppings samples examined. Of the ectoparasites, Columbicola columbae and Campanulotes bidentatus compar were found.     

Isolation,identification and antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter strains isolated from domestic and free-living pigeons

1. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in domestic and free-living pigeons and to evaluate the antibiotic resistance profiles.

2. The material consisted of cloacal swabs obtained from 108 homing pigeons and fresh faeces from 72 wild birds from Lublin and its vicinity. The identification of strains isolated on differential/selective media for Campylobacter spp. was carried out by MALDI-TOF and PCR. The susceptibility to antibiotics was evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in Mueller-Hinton broth.

3. A total of 35 strains of Campylobacter spp. were isolated; 27 were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 8 as Campylobacter coli. Over half of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin and streptomycin, 40% of strains were resistant to tetracycline and ampicillin and 37% isolates were resistant to amoxicillin. Resistance to two or more antibiotics was observed in all strains tested.

4. The results indicate that both domestic and free-living pigeons are reservoirs for bacteria of the genus Campylobacter, which are characterised by varied and growing resistance to commonly used antibiotics.     

鸽新城疫病毒分离鉴定及动物感染试验

从发病商品肉鸽组织中分离到3株新城疫病毒,对其基因序列和感染力进行测定和分析。用RT-PCR对3株病毒F基因进行了扩增,测序,3株新城疫病毒的F基因同源性比较及进化分析结果表明,3株病毒均属于Ⅵb亚型,且与2011年比利时分离株亲缘关系较近,F蛋白裂解位点符合强毒特征;肉鸽攻毒试验进一步证实了3株新城疫病毒的高致病性,肉鸽感染新城疫病毒后通过呼吸道及消化道途径排毒,具有高度接触传染性。试验结果证明了鸽感染新城疫病毒后的排毒时间及方式,为鸽新城疫的及早发现与防控提供了依据。     

Dermatophytes in clinically healthy dogs and cats

The hair and skin of 300 clinically healthy animals, 268 dogs and 32 cats, were examined mycologically. The method described by Mariat and Tapia (1966) was used for the examination, along with square pieces of the fitted carpet Kovral. The dermatophytes were isolated in 12 samples, all from the material taken from dogs. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated six times, Microsporum canis four times, Trichophyton gallinae once, Trichophyton rubrum once. The origin of the dermatophyte Trichophyton gallinae, found in a village dog, was not determined. In one case of occurrence of the dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes in a dog the dermatophyte was probably transmitted from man to the dog. Microsporum canis was not proved to be the most frequent dermatophyte in dogs or cats in this country.     

1株信鸽源鼠伤寒沙门氏菌的分离鉴定及其耐药性和毒力分析

本试验旨在鉴定临床疑似沙门氏菌感染致死信鸽的病原菌并确定致病菌的耐药及毒力状况。通过细菌分离培养、菌落形态观察、染色镜检、生化鉴定、血清分型、16S rRNA基因测序分析和康复信鸽血清平板凝集试验进行鉴定,并通过药敏试验、耐药基因和毒力基因检测进行耐药性和毒力分析。结果显示,分离纯化的细菌在BS、XLD、HE培养基上为黑色菌落,镜检为无荚膜、无芽孢的革兰氏阴性短杆菌;分离菌株生化反应结果符合沙门氏菌生化特性;分离菌株血清型为1,4,12：i：1,2;分离菌株16S rRNA基因序列系统进化树分析显示,该分离菌株与鼠伤寒沙门氏菌聚为一支,同源性>99%,康复信鸽血清与分离菌株发生特异性凝集,结合生化反应和血清分型结果该菌株鉴定为鼠伤寒沙门氏菌;分离菌株对氟苯尼考耐药,经耐药基因检测携带floR、cmlA氯霉素类耐药基因,与耐药表型相符;分离菌株mogA等17种毒力基因检测均为阳性。本试验成功分离到1株信鸽源鼠伤寒沙门氏菌,分离菌株对氟苯尼考耐药且具有较强毒力,为下一步信鸽沙门氏菌的防治和研究提供了参考依据。     

Isolation and characterization of a coronavirus from pigeons with pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE: To identify and partially characterize a coronaviruslike virus isolated from naturally infected pigeons. ANIMALS: 50 specific pathogen-free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs, 30 White Leghorn SPF chickens, and 12 clinically normal pigeons. PROCEDURES: Pancreatic tissue specimens from sick pigeons were inoculated into SPF embryonated chicken eggs for viral isolation and investigation of morphologic and hemagglutinating properties of the isolate, called PSH050513. Furthermore, virulence studies in SPF chickens and experimental pigeons were performed. The spike (S) glycoprotein gene of PSH050513 was further sequenced and analyzed. RESULTS: PSH050513 was isolated and identified from the experimentally infected pigeons by a routine method, which was in accordance with Koch's postulates. The complete S protein (1,167 amino acids) was compared with published S protein sequences of other avian and mammalian coronaviruses. A high degree of sequence identity (79.3% to 99.6%) was observed between the S protein sequence of PSH050513 and published sequences of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV); only limited identity (< 37.8%) was observed with turkey coronavirus and mammalian coronaviruses. Furthermore, when the virus was inoculated into SPF chickens, pancreatitis developed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: PSH050513 has been tentatively identified as a novel member of group 3 coronaviruses that have close genetic relationships with IBV strains.     

The use of a new phage set for typing poultry strains of Staphylococcus aureus obtained from seven countries

1. Eighty per cent of poultry strains of Staphylococcus aureus tested from French, Belgian, English, West German, Japanese and Argentinian sources were typable using a set of typing phages isolated in this laboratory. Strains from Bulgaria, however, with few exceptions were not typable with this phage set. 2. Strains isolated from lesions generally resembled those from apparently healthy poultry. 3. The existence of two distinct Staph. aureus biotypes on poultry was confirmed by isolates from six of the countries; one of these biotypes closely resembled Staph. aureus variety gallinae as described by Witte et al. (1977).     

Antimicrobial drug susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine milk

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ten antimicrobial drugs for 287 S. aureus strains recently isolated from bovine mastitic milk in different herds all over Sweden was determined. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of benzylpenicillin for 20 strains was determined. Thirty strains (10%) produced beta-lactamase. All strains were susceptible to oxacillin and neomycin, and more than 90% to streptomycin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole chloramphenicol, erythromycin and tetracycline, whereas all were resistant to sulphamethoxazole. None of 20 strains investigated was tolerant to benzylpenicillin. However, S. aureus strains, isolated from bovine milk, should be tested for beta-lactamase production prior to treating mastitic cases with beta-lactam drugs.     

Epidemiological and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in urban pigeons from the area of Lisbon (Portugal)

Circumstantial evidence suggests that birds may be a good indicator of soil contamination, since they feed from the ground. Therefore a study was conducted to assess the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in urban pigeons (Columba livia) from different areas of the city of Lisbon and to genetically characterize T. gondii strains isolated from infected animals, in order to assess circulating genotypes. Sera from 695 pigeons captured at 33 different localities of the city of Lisbon were assayed by the direct agglutination test (DAT) showing a 4.6% prevalence. One third of flocks sampled revealed to be infected with T. gondii, with prevalence ranging between 5% and 62.5%. T. gondii DNA could be characterized directly from brain tissue from 12 of 23 seropositive pigeons. Microsatellite typing revealed that 9 strains belonged to type II, 2 were type III and one was type I. No recombinant or atypical genotypes were found. Attempts to recover viable T. gondii strains through bioassay in mice resulted in the isolation of 9 strains.     

Identification，Virulence and Drug Resistance Analysis of Escherichia coli from Diarrhea Piglets

In order to clarify the pathogenic characteristics and drug-resistant spectrum of a newborn piglet diarrhea outbroke recently in a large-scale pig farm of Henan province, the study was carried out by the isolation of intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli and system identification. Escherichia coli strains were isolated from the faeces of diarrhea piglets. 13 virulent genes were tested by PCR. The antibiotic susceptibility of the strains was determined. The results showed that the positive rate came up with 34.8% for EAST1 gene. All of the strains were multiple-drug resistance and resistant to at least 5 types of antibiotics. 75.3% strains were resistant to more than 9 types of antibiotics. All of the strains were resistant to ampicillin, piperacillin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin. The result of the phylogenetic background showed that 21.7% E.coli isolates belonged to group B2 and D which were pathogenic. According to the synthesis analysis of virulence factors, resistance and phylogenetic background of the strains isolated from the diarrhea piglets, proper clinical treatment and prevention and control measure could be provided.     

Pharmacokinetics and anti-trichomonal efficacy of a dimetridazole tablet and water-soluble powder in homing pigeons (Columb a livia)

The anti-trichomonal efficacy and pharmacokinetics of dimetridazole were investigated in the homing pigeon (Columba livia) . Dimetridazole was formulated for drinking water medication and as a prolonged-release tablet. To suppress a Trichomonas gallinae infection successfully, medicated drinking water containing dimetridazole (400 mg/L) had to be administered for at least 3 days. A two-day treatment with a dimetridazole tablet (20 mg/tablet) in fasted, as well as in fed, pigeons was shown to be ineffective. After intravenous administration of 20 mg dimetridazole, the drug plasma concentration-time profile fitted a one-compartment open model with a mean half-life of 3.9 h. The absolute bioavailability of the tablet in fasted pigeons was 83.8%. The bioavailability of the tablet administered with food was reduced by 20%. Dimetridazole was rapidly metabolised to (1-methyl-5-nitroimidazol-2-yl)methanol.     

仔猪腹泻大肠杆菌流行株鉴定及毒力与耐药性分析

为明确河南地区一规模化猪场暴发新生仔猪腹泻疫情的病原特性及其耐药谱,本研究对肠道致病大肠杆菌进行了分离鉴定。对腹泻仔猪粪便中分离的大肠杆菌进行13种毒力基因检测和21种抗生素的药敏试验。结果显示,34.8%分离株检出EAST1基因;所获分离株均为多重耐药菌株,且至少对5类抗生素耐药,耐9类以上抗生素的菌株达到75.3%,对氨苄西林、哌拉西林、环丙沙星、左氧氟沙星和莫西沙星耐药率达到100.0%。细菌种系进化分群结果显示,21.7%分离株属于有致病性的B2群和D群。本研究获得了腹泻仔猪大肠杆菌分离株的毒力基因、耐药谱的基本数据和种系进化分群的遗传背景,为制定有针对性的治疗和防控技术方案提供依据。     

鸽致病性大肠杆菌的分离鉴定及耐药基因的检测

江苏省某鸽场鸽群出现呼吸困难,死亡增多现象,剖检病死鸽,呈现气囊炎、腹膜炎和皮下广泛性出血等病变。无菌采集脾脏、肺脏等脏器进行病毒分离,但未分离到病毒。选取健康鸽和病鸽各10只,测定新城疫抗体,其抗体水平均较高。同时,无菌采集病料分离到2株细菌,经分离培养、染色镜检、生化特性鉴定,确定为大肠杆菌,玻板凝集试验表明C株为O163型,D株为O138型。对分离到的细菌做药敏试验,结果表明,C株对链霉素等8种药物产生了耐药性,对氟苯尼考等4种药物敏感;D株对庆大霉素等5种药物产生耐药性,对链霉素等7种药物敏感。分别设计引物对其耐药基因进行PCR检测。