Bacterial, fungal and thrush infections are a common problem in pet birds. They relate to the environment and food. Immediate treatment is necessary to prevent severe illness and possible death as these infections progress rapidly in birds.

Bacterial, fungal and thrush infections are identified by a microscopic examination of your bird’s droppings (a wet smear and gram stain). These preliminary tests are used to reveal the presence of abnormal organisms but are unable to confirm the exact type of pathogen involved. The results of the dropping test allow Dr Marshall to select an appropriate medicine that is administered immediately. This initial medication should protect your bird whilst the exact type of infection is diagnosed through a culture test from the throat and droppings.
The results of the culture take 24 to 48 hours to process.

Bacterial Infections

What is a bacterial infection?
There are several types of bacteria that affect birds, but the most common are E.coli, Citrobacter, Strep and Staph. These bacteria are usually associated with water, sand, grit, seed, old food, humid areas, dusty spots and wet cages. Bacterial infections also occur in birds that have a poor level of natural resistance or a damaged immune system.

Your bird may show droppings that change colour to green or become watery, because the ingested bacteria may irritate the bowel and damage the kidneys and liver. When bacteria are inhaled on dust it may produce sneezing, eye rubbing, excessive swallowing, yawning or coughing.

Both inhaled and ingested bacterial infections are potentially life threatening when left unattended. The culture test identifies the exact type of bacteria, so that we can determine where it has come from, how best to treat it and how to stop it from recurring.

How is it treated?
The best choice of antibiotic is determined from the culture test. Injections or antibiotic drops administered directly by mouth are recommended for bird species that do not drink much water or are very ill. Others can be treated through the drinking water but it is vital that you watch to see that your pet is actually taking the medicine.

It is best to remove all seed, grit, seed bells and fruit from the cage and disinfect it, along with any utensils, with a Water Cleanser. You should also start your birds on sterile seed at this stage. Do not leave your bird out of the cage unattended. Until a full recovery it must stay on you, in or on the cage and not be allowed to wander around the house. The above recommendations protect your bird from reinfection by killing or removing any harmful bacteria from the environment since your ill bird is more susceptible to infections now than when it was healthy.

Are there any other special instructions?
To accelerate the healing process I recommend that all birds with bacterial infections be given Turbobooster, Energy supplement and Fvite on the sterile seed daily for three weeks and then three times a week after this time (see attached instruction sheet). Following the antibiotic treatment, Dufoplus and Ioford are given twice weekly in the drinking water. Ensure your bird is actually eating and drinking. If not, it will need special force feeding in hospital.

Are there any long term problems?
Certain bacteria can harm the liver and kidneys and leave the bird susceptible to illness in the future. Understand the origin of your bird’s illness. To protect your bird from repeat infections follow the health programme in the accompanying brochure and use a Water Cleanser as part of the weekly health programme.

Is this disease contagious to human or other birds?
Most bacterial infections are contagious from bird to bird by the droppings and water, but there is little chance of bacterial infections spreading from bird to humans. Campylobacter is a bacterial infection that may infect humans.

Can bacterial infections be prevented from recurring?
Bacterial infections are always related to the environment in which the bird is kept or contamination that enters its mouth. Infection does not mean that the bird is not cared for properly, but means that extra care must be taken to prevent recurrence. From the results of the culture tests Dr. Marshall is able to explain the origins of each infection and can advise you on prevention programmes.

GERM TYPE	POSSIBLE CAUSES
E.coli	Contaminated food old fruit, fluctuating temperatures, draught, stress, wet areas, fungus infection, dirty cages
Strep	Cold stress, underlying virus infection (Polyomavirus), dusty environment, poor seed, stress
Staph	Dust, mice, stress, poor seed, contaminated air conditioning or dusty environment
Diplococcus	Mice, stress
Citrobacter	Poor water hygiene
Mucoid	Poor water hygiene (eg. bathroom grout and seal around sink)
Pseudomonas	Poor water hygiene

Fungal & Yeast Infections

What is a fungal infection?
There are several types of fungi that affect birds, but the most common is the Aspergillus fungus. This fungus is usually associated with seed, corn cobs, old food, humid areas, air conditioners, blow heaters and wet cages. It also occurs in birds that have a poor level of natural resistance or a damaged immune system. Your bird may show dropping changes, because the ingested fungus irritates the bowel. This fungus may also produce a toxin which causes liver disease. You may notice a dark green dropping when this occurs. When the fungus is inhaled it produces a squeaky voice, sneezing, coughing or breathing difficulties. Both the inhaled and ingested form are potentially life threatening. The culture test identifies the exact type of fungus, so we can identify where it has come from, how best to treat it and how to prevent it from recurring.

How is it treated?
An anti-fungal treatment must commence immediately, because this is a potentially life threatening disease. Fungilin is the medicine used to treat fungal infections. This should be given directly by mouth, or may sometimes be added to the drinking water. As well, remove all seed, grit, seed bells and fruit, from the cage. Disinfect the cage with a Water Cleanser and start your bird on sterile seed. Dry heat may be advised in the form of a bar heater. The above recommendations protect your bird from reinfection by killing or removing any fungal spores from the environment.

Are there any other special instructions?
Birds with fungal infections are often vitamin, mineral and protein deficient. To accelerate the healing process it is recommended that birds with fungal infections be given Turbobooster, Energy supplement and Fvite on the sterile seed daily for three weeks and then three times a week after this time. Following the fungicide treatment, Water Cleanser is given for 2 days, followed by Dufoplus and Ioford twice weekly in the drinking water. Ensure your bird is actually eating and drinking. If not, it will need special force feeding in hospital.

Are there any long term problems?
Fungal infections can damage the immune system and leave the bird susceptible to illness in the future. To protect your bird from repeat infections follow the health programme in the accompanying brochure and use a Water Cleanser as part of the weekly health programme.

Is this disease contagious to humans or other birds?
Fungal infections are not contagious from bird to bird, nor from bird to humans.

Can fungal infections be prevented from recurring?
Fungal infections are always related to the environment in which the bird is kept. This does not mean that the bird is not cared for properly, but means that extra care must be taken to prevent recurrence.

Thrush (Candida) Infections

Thrush (candida) infections are diagnosed by the microscopic examination of a stained (gram stain) dropping or mouth swab. A culture test will confirm the severity of the infection and help to identify an underlying cause.

What is thrush?
Thrush is a common disease of pet and other birds. It is a condition that distresses the bird, causing it to become depressed and lifeless. A bird with thrush often shows dropping changes because the infection irritates the bowel lining. The dropping of thrush commonly infects the mouth, causing birds to swallow excessively. It may even infect the sinus and cause sneezing. Thrush infections are potentially life threatening when left unattended.

Thrush is always caused by an underlying stress factor. Stress factors include, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, fluctuating temperatures, environmental change, psychological stress and underlying illness.

How is thrush treated?
Thrush infections require a 5-7 day course of Mycostatin treatment. The Mycostatin is best administered directly by mouth. If this is not possible, a drinking water treatment may be effective. Remove all seed, grit, seed bells and fruit, from the cage. Disinfect the cage with a Water Cleanser and start your bird on sterile seed.

Are there any other special instructions?
To accelerate the healing process I recommend that all birds with thrush infections be given Turbobooster, Energy supplement and Fvite on the sterile seed daily for three weeks and then three times a week after this time. Following the antibiotic treatment, Dufoplus and Ioford are given twice weekly in the drinking water. Ensure your bird is actually eating and drinking. If not, it will need special force feeding in hospital.

Are there any long term problems?
Thrush infections may leave your bird susceptible to illness in the future. A Water Cleanser is added to the drinking water for two consecutive days. It is then given two days each week, followed by Dufoplus and Ioford to help control recurrence. To further protect your bird from repeat infections follow the health programme in the accompanying brochure.

Is this disease contagious to humans or other birds?
Although thrush infections are not highly contagious, they may be transmitted from bird to human by close contact, especially kissing. It may also be transmitted from bird to bird via the dropping.

Can thrush infections be prevented from recurring?
Thrush infections are always related to stress factors. Special care must be taken to minimise potential stress on the bird. This may be in the form of environmental changes or nutritional adjustments. By following the ongoing health programme your bird is provided with all minerals and nutrients it needs for ongoing health and vitality.

Psittacosis

After consulting with you, looking at your bird and from the tests I have taken, your bird has been diagnosed with Psittacosis. I have performed a Psittacosis test that has returned positive using a special ELISA test. When this test returns a weak positive result I like to confirm the accuracy. This is achieved by culture testing the throat and droppings. This culture test takes up to 24 hours to process. Please phone me for the results tomorrow evening. I will, however, begin a Psittacosis treatment immediately as a wise precaution.

What is Psittacosis?
Psittacosis is a serious infection of birds and humans which is caused by a virus-like bacteria called Chlamydia psittaci. Veterinarians call the disease Chlamydiosis and doctors call it Psittacosis. I will call it Psittacosis to avoid confusion. Most birds have been exposed to or may carry a disease but in this state it does not cause any problems and they are not contagious. However, Psittacosis may become highly contagious (it is spread by the air or by the droppings) from bird to bird and even from bird to human when stressful conditions arise. Stressful conditions for the bird may be anything which upsets the bird’s normal routine such as overcrowding, poor food quality, fungal and viral infections, a new home and so on.

So why has your bird got this problem? Either it has been under stress or exposed to high levels of the Psittacosis germ. We must understand exactly how and why your bird has got this disease in order to prevent reinfection after the treatment programme has been completed. Unfortunately, birds do not develop immunity to this very serious illness.

How is Psittacosis treated?
Psittacosis is a life threatening disease and the treatment programme includes an initial injection of Chlamydia treatment which renders the bird non contagious within two days. Your ill bird must be hospitalised if it is not eating and crop fed until it is well enough to go home. Birds that are eating well are best treated as outpatients receiving a weekly injection or by medicating the drinking water or a soft food.

The complete treatment takes six weeks. It is a very long course of treatment because the germ lives inside the cell for up to 45 days and the medicine must wait until the germ leaves the cell before it can be fully effective. Of course the treatment will not be effective if the bird does not drink enough of the medicine so you must check the water intake daily. Often the weekly injection course is the best avenue to follow. The germ in the cage or aviary must be killed at the same time as the germ in the bird to prevent reinfection. This is achieved by disinfecting with an appropriate cage cleaner today then once weekly for the six week Chlamydia treatment course.

Are there any other special instructions?
If the medication is given by treating the drinking water or soft food with Chlamydia treatment, Megamix must also be used. The addition of Megamix allows vitamin and mineral supplements to be given during the course of treatment. These supplements are important in accelerating the recovery process as Psittacosis is often related to vitamin, mineral and protein deficiencies.

I recommend birds receive Turbobooster and F-Vite on a sterile seed, each day during treatment. Those receiving injections should also receive Dufoplus/Ioford in the drinking water daily for one week then twice weekly after this time. Following the Chlamydia treatment treatment your bird should revert to Dr. Marshall’s special health programme.
I would advise your bird to return one week after the cessation of the Chlamydia treatment for a repeat ELISA test. This test ensures that your bird has fully recovered from the disease and is no longer contagious to you or other birds.

Are there any long term problems?
When detected early, the treatment for Psittacosis is remarkably successful as long as there are no underlying illnesses. This is why I recommend a culture test. Unfortunately when an underlying illness is left undetected, Psittacosis may become fatal irrespective of our every effort. In long standing but non fatal infections, Psittacosis can damage the immune system permanently making the bird susceptible to illness in the future. Psittacosis is commonly associated with infertility and the deaths of babies in breeding aviaries. In such aviaries we medicate before the breeding season to prevent problems. To protect your bird from stress related diseases like Psittacosis, follow one of Dr. Marshall’s health programmes.

Is this disease contagious to humans and other birds?
Psittacosis causes many different symptoms and is contagious to other birds and humans. All birds in contact with the ill bird must be treated for the full 45 day course. You must consult your doctor for a blood test to see if you have contracted the illness. The treatment in humans is a course of tablets if you have caught the illness and are not very sick with it. Humans can get kidney failure, severe liver disease and may even die if the disease is not identified and treated early enough. Signs of Psittacosis in humans include chronic fatigue, headaches, flu-like symptoms, nausea, chest pain, abdominal cramps and fever.

The following recommendations may help keep your bird Psittacosis-free:

• Quarantine all new birds and Psittacosis test them before mixing with your flock.
• Health check and Psittacosis test any new pet birds within 48 hours of purchase.
• Clean and disinfect the cage or aviary once a week with an appropriate cage cleaner.
• Use a weekly health programme.

Psittacosis Treatment
Chlamydia treatment Instructions for Pet Birds