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 in Pet Birds

A Review of the Disease
Psittacosis is a serious infection of birds and humans which is caused by a virus-like bacterium called Chlamydia psittaci. It infects many species of birds and may be transmitted to humans. Other names for the disease are Chlamydiosis, Ornithosis and "Parrot Fever".

Psittacosis may be present in apparently healthy birds or infected birds may display a range of clinical signs including nasal discharge, eye redness, respiratory tract inflammation, diarrhea and a "fluffed up" appearance. The disease occurs in an "active" (symptomatic) state and in a "latent" (non-symptomatic) state. Symptoms of illness are only present in birds with an active infection although any "Psittacosis carrier" is capable of shedding and spreading the Chlamydophila organism to other birds and to humans. Stressful conditions or other diseases often activate a latent Psittacosis infection and cause acute illness in birds.

Diagnosis of Psittacosis
Psittacosis is spread via the air or in faeces when Chlamydophila organisms are shed in the droppings or in oral, ocular and respiratory secretions. This shedding is often intermittent and only occurs when the disease is active. As such, droppings testing (ELISA) which only detects active Chlamydophila organism does not always rule out the possibility that a bird may be infected. The benefit of the ELISA test is that it only takes 30 minutes to process and can quickly identify a bird with an acute Psittacosis infection. This allows for the swift implementation of treatment and provides the best possible outlook for seriously ill birds infected with Psittacosis.

A blood test (Immunocomb) is now available that evaluates the presence of anti-Chlamydophila antibodies in the bird's blood. This method offers the advantage of being able to identify an infected bird that may not be shedding Chlamydophila organisms. It also offers the advantage of providing a "scale of infection" (i.e. a numerical reading) that can be used as a reference when retesting following treatment. The Immunocomb blood test takes 2 hours to process and involves collecting a small sample of blood from the birds toenail and incubating it in a series of diluents. It is more complex than the ELISA faecal method but provides a definitive diagnosis of whether or not a bird is a Psittacosis carrier.

At Carlingford Animal Hospital we offer both tests and select the most appropriate according to each bird's circumstance. For routine health checks, boarding checks and non-symptomatic birds the Immunocomb blood test is recommended. This will identify if the bird is a carrier even when no symptoms have been recognised. The ability to detect carrier birds that are otherwise healthy allows us to help control bird to bird transmission and prevent potential human infection.

Birds displaying overt signs of Psittacosis are tested using the ELISA faecal test. This test will return a positive result when the disease is in its active state and Chlamydophila organisms have been shed. It provides a rapid diagnosis and allows immediate implementation of Psittacosis treatment in seriously ill birds.

IMMUNOCOMB Blood Test	ELISA Faecal Test
Routine Health Checks Boarding Health Checks Non-symptomatic birds	Symptomatic birds Acutely ill birds