One major factor in quarrentining the birds for 45 days is that most deseases they get usually show up during that time. Yes there are thise that are carriers and the best method is a vetanarian diognoises but quarrentining for a full period is a lot better than lossing you flock.

Edited April 10, 200916 yr by Daz

Doxy is generally for psittacosis

I personaly am not a great user of antibotics as the breeder I get my birds from has advised me not to use it unless it's the last choice,

My birds have apple cider vinagar with the mother in their water advised by my Vet Doctor Doug Black and since I have been doing this I have never had much trouble with my birds. Back when he advised me to use it I was loosing a lot of babies just going through thier 1st moult and since using it no losses

Edited April 10, 200916 yr by splat

I personaly am not a great user of antibotics as the breeder I get my birds from has advised me not to use it unless it's the last choice,

My birds have apple cider vinagar with the mother in their water advised by my Vet Doctor Doug Black and since I have been doing this I have never had much trouble with my birds. Back when he advised me to use it I was loosing a lot of babies just going through thier 1st moult and since using it no losses

 

 

The thought on Apple Cider Vinagur is to increase the PH of thier gizzard to help prevent Mega. Artical from Dr David Phelan

 

MEGABACTERIA

 

Now know as MACRORHABDUS ORNITHOGASTER

 

(in Greek means Long Rod from a Birds Stomach)

 

Also know as AGY or Avian Gastric Yeast

 

 

Macrorhabdus ornithogaster

 

 

Tomaszewski, Logan, Snowden, Kurtzman & Phalen sp. nov.

We thank Lucio Filippich, Nancy Keller, Pat Holman and JohnRoths for technical assistance and Brian Berridge for supplyingthe bacterial PCR primers. We also thank Jason Millership, LaurieJaeger and Larry Wadsworth for excellent photographic assistance,Christie J. Robnett for rDNA database compilation, ChristophF. Konrad for providing the Latin descriptions and Susan W.Phalen for her assistance with the Greek derivations. This projectwas supported by the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, TexasA&M University, Central California Avian Society, the GeorgiaCage Bird Club, the International Parrotlet Society and thePeninsula Caged Birds Society.

 

 

Dr Phalen showed pictures of slides showing the long narrow rod – and indicated that that is how Macro looks.

 

Macro is found in the Isthmus (Tiny Neuro Zone) between the glandular & grinding stomachs)

 

Species that have been detected with Macro are:

• Canaries
  Finches
  Budgies
  Parrotlets
  Galahs
  
• Other birds – Ostriches & Poultry
  

 

Detection – is done by strapping the Isthmus but

 

Best result was 5 days of regularly checking of the droppings-

 

But tests showed poor correlation and not as effective as they would like.

 

Sick birds shed lots more and easier to detect and these birds are more likely to be infectious to others – possibly best to cull these birds if they do not respond well to treatment.

 

Treatment for more than 10 days is recommended

 

 

Amphotericin B is still the best treatment found for Macro (Mega)

 

When treated the for 10 days the numbers went down but did not go away completely

 

So it best given for more than 10 days for effectiveness.

 

 

To grow the fungus needs:

 

• A Low oxygen environment
  Narrow range of above Ph 3.0 to 4.0 starts to grow & above rapid growth
  
• Needs serum to grow (product from the host bird-feeding each other etc)
  

 

An experiment showed that if the babies were removed from the egg just prior to normal hatching time and reared in an isolation area and hand reared the babies showed no sign of the fungus – so this shows that it is passed on from the parents feeding and that it only grows inside the bird in a strong acid of 3 to 4.0% upward

 

If acid was introduced then the growth will increase.

 

Treatments are:

 

Amphotericin B –is very effective if given for more than 10 days.

 

Fluconazole – is too strong for small birds.

 

Nystatin – also effective in some birds to start but then they build up resistance.

 

 

 

Some tests have been made with the chemicals used on fruit to make them look shiny & keep longer (Only early studies at this stage)

 

They are Simple & inexpensive:

 

Sodium & Potassium Benzonate

 

Sodium Sorbate

 

Gentian Violet (but bird throw up purple)

 

 

As Macro is a yeast fungus it is hard to detect unless the bird is sick.

Edited April 11, 200916 yr by Daz