|
By Brown Enrique Ortega
Specialistic veterinarian in birds
The Megabacterias
is present microorganisms in the birds that have attracted in the
last years the attention of the specialistic veterinarians. And
this increase of popularity must, among other reasons, to that they
can be the people in charge of some of the cases of " the badly
dry " denominated one.
They are called megabacterias
to have a size superior to the conventional bacteria. A size that
approximates more to the one of the fungi, with that they share
some characteristics.
This type of bacteria
psitacidos, paseriformes, ostriches, quails, ibis have been located
in, etc. In psitacidos its presence has been demonstrated in:
- Melopsittacus undulatus
- Agaporois spp.
- Alisterus scapularis
- Aprosmictus erythropierus
- galerita Cockatoo
- Cockatoo roseicapilla
- Calyptorhynchus latirostris
- Calyptorhynchus magnifiaus
- Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae
- Neophema bourVii
- splendida Neophema
- Nymphicus hollandicus
- Polytelis alexandrae
- Polylelis swainsonii
- Psephotus several
- Psittacula krameri
- Trichoglossus haematodus
Whereas in paseriformes it has been
seen in:
- canary Serinus
- Serinus leacopygius
- Carduelis chloris
- Carduelis carduelis
- Lonchura domestic servant
- gultata Taeniopygia
- Ficta Emblem
- Erythura gouldiae
- Heteromunia pectoralis
The presence of megabacterias
in the wild populations of the birds is not known, but it seems
to be low. In a study made in Holland on a population of canaries,
it was verified that 30% of the examined birds had megabacterias.
The number of affected
units increases; in an investigation made on periquitos in the United
Kingdom, during years 1985-1986, was east type of bacteria in 5%
of the analyzed units, whereas in 1991 21% of the analyzed ill periquitos
were it by this disease. However, some scientists consider that
megabacteria is a component normal of the digestive flora of the
periquitos, but that stress and the slope of the defenses favors
their multiplication and the appearance of the disease.
I INFECT
Made infections in
laboratory they have shown that, whereas the English periquitos
they were affected, the normal periquitos did not do it. These findings
suggest it susceptibility of the birds to develop the varia disease
considerably, possibly in function of the genetic weakness of the
unit
The way of transmission
of these bacteria between the birds is not known. Experiments made
on periquitos, have shown that free chicks of the disease had less
predisposition to have megabacterias to an age between six and nine
months that those other adoptive chicks whose biological parents
were carrying, but whose parents were free of these bacteria. In
another experiment made, two pairs of positive adult periquitos
stayed next to other two pairs of free periquitos of megabacterias
during 14 months, remaining free of these germs those that already
they were it when beginning the experiment, it is to say it did
not happen I infect some in spite of the long period that remained
all together ones.
SINTOMAS
The disease appears so much in young
people like in adults.
In affected periquitos
it appears at a first moment loss of weight and depression, happening
enough time next to the comedero, but without really ingesting food.
Approximately half of the patients has vomits and diarrea (from
slightly soft lees to very watery) with great variation in the color
of the same ones. The evolution of the disease is very variable:
some birds hold during months (of twelve to eighteen months with
possible periods of improvement) but the majority dies weeks after
beginning the symptoms, generally thin. A 10% of the birds pass
away without previous sintomatologma.
This disease usually
appears with expansion of proventriculo (up to three times its natural
size) and an increase of pH of the same one, as a result of the
diminution in the production of stomach acids. PH of the proventricle
of healthy canary is between 0'7 and 2'4, whereas the one of canary
with megabacterias increases until 7-7'3. This finding has fact
to think about the possibility of acidifying the drink water (by
example with apple vinegar) to fight against the disease.
When the megabacteriosis is outpost
appears regurgitation and elimination of seeds without digesting
in lees.
PROCESSING
Studies made in the
United States and South Africa on periquitos and ostriches respectively
they have shown that megabacterias is sensible to some antibiotics,
although experiments made in Germany showed their resistance all
antibiotics known. In some cases those are the antifzngicos that
they seem to work better
It can turn out effective
to acidify the drink water, to administer to foods of easy digestion
and vitaminic complements, in addition of specific probisticos of
birds. All this will contribute to increase the defenses of the
units and it will favor his it fights against the disease.
In Israel an experiment
was made that consisted of administering lactobacilus oral channel
in order that these reduced pH of the proventricle and thus to be
able to make life most difficult a megabacterias lodged there.
)
Enrique Ortega Colored person
|