I thought I'd share one of the consults I saw when I was doing work experience at the bird vet clinic. The vet walked me through every step of the way, interrogating me for what I thought it was and what we should do about it. It was basically 'my' case. Here is a modified version of my case report (easier to read, and to protect client privacy).

 

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Presentation

23/2/08, 2-year-old male budgerigar. Owner history indicated that it had an irritated left eye and had been rubbing it on the perches.

Possible diagnoses: mites, minor trauma, foreign body, eye/sinus infection.

Examination

Patient presented on 23/2/08 weighing 28grams. Cere indicated that she was female. Left eye was weeping with an area of baldness and irritated skin around it. There were also matted feathers on the forehead.

 

The matted head feathers indicate that the bird was vomiting and it is likely that some of it had entered the eye, causing irritation. The underlying cause of vomiting needs to be investigated.

Differential diagnoses: Trichomoniasis, avian gastric yeast, hyperthyroidism, bacteria.

 

Case management

A crop flush was performed. The contents were viewed unstained under a microscope, and then stained with Diffquik, which revealed large rod-like organisms. They were positive under a Gram’s stain.

 

Diagnosis

The microscopic appearance of the organisms suggested Macrorhabda ornithigaster (formally Megabacteria).

 

Treatment

Patient was given Amphotericin B. Owner was informed of importance of hygiene and quarantine, and advice was given regarding the improvement of these. Information about general bird care was given.

 

Discussion

A crop flush is performed by drawing a small volume of saline into a crop needle, ejecting it into the crop and then drawing all the contents back up into the syringe. Passing the needle also helps identify if there is an obstruction of some kind causing the vomiting (eg a foreign body).

 

A drop of the fluid was viewed under a microscope. If the bird had the protozoa Trichomonas gallinae, their swimming motions would have been seen.

 

Another drop was stained and placed on a slide. When viewing under a microscope, stains help visualise certain aspects. Diffquik is a quick way of looking at the slide in general. Gram’s stain categorises bacteria into positive (purple) or negative (pink), which is useful in identifying them.

 

Macrorhabdus was previously thought to be a bacterium (megabacteria) but has now been identified as a yeast. The distinction is important because antibiotics have little use against fungi, and often help he fungi proliferate. It has predilection for the avian proventriculus (stomach), and is now called Avian Gastric Yeast. It causes a chronic disease of weight loss. Regurgitation is a common finding, and birds may eat more due to the inadequate food intake. Mortality is high, although recovery can occur.

 

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So what presented as an eye problem was actually alimentary! As they tell us again and again in class, "examine the whole as well as the hole". I quite enjoy the investigative part of cases, it is like solving a mystery.

I'm glad I got to learn so much about in one sitting. The vet told me everything I wanted to know about megabacteria and more on the drive to an aviary visit. Hope this was informative to you. Feel free to ask about it, I will try my best to answer.

Edited March 2, 200817 yr by maesie
kg-grams

this is very interesting because we just had an itchy eye on here and I have seen it before, we assume it is mites at first but I think the best thing we can do here on the boards is suggest they go to an avian vet because it could be an underlying reason as you just showed.

Examination

Patient presented on 23/2/08 weighing 28kg. Cere indicated that she was female. Left eye was weeping with an area of baldness and irritated skin around it. There were also matted feathers on the forehead.

 

 

That was really interesting! Thanks... BUT are you sure this info is correct??? As this would be one VERY LARGE budgie :hap: :hap: :hap: . (p.s. we can change it if you like)

:hap:

 

Please do! Heheh. My point there was supposed to be that she was underweight! Whoops!

Very interesting, I thought at first it was an ingrown feather. :hap:

very interesting read

thanks for posting your experience.

A very interesting read .