Candidiasis in cockatiel nestlings and mucormycosis in a pigeon

Deaths of cockatiel nestlings caused by Candida albicans, and of a pigeon caused by air-sac infection with Absidia corymbifera, are described. Lesions in the cockatiels were pseudomembranes and ulcers in the mouth, esophagus, and crop. In the pigeon the air sacs were thickened and contained a grayish gelatinous exudate.

Heat-selected mutants of pigeon pox virus

Two mutants of pigeon pox virus were derived from virus isolated from naturally infected pigeons. One (S 39) was obtained by cultivation of the original virus in chick embryo chorioallantoic membranes at 39 degrees C, and the second (S m) by heating the original virus at 56 degrees C for 30 min. The mutants were less pathogenic to pigeons than the original virus. The original virus and the mutant S 39, but not the mutant S m produced plaques in primary chick embryo cell cultures. Pigeons inoculated with the mutants were resistant to challenge with the field virus.

Observations on Salmonella infections of birds

During the period 1961 to 1976, 29 species of Salmonella other than Salmonella pullorum were isolated from 180 accessions of birds examined at the Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly. These birds were submitted to the laboratory from flocks with disease or production problems. S. typhimurium was the most frequently isolated serotype being obtained from 63% of accessions. Outbreaks of systemic salmonellosis occurred most frequently in young birds and although pathological changes were most commonly observed in visceral organs they were also seen in eyes, joints and the brain. Diseases other than salmonellosis were identified in many accessions of birds with systemic or enteric salmonella infections.

Chlamydia shedding by four species of wild birds

Four wild bird species--great-tailed grackle (Cassidix mexicanus), common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), and mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura)--were either inoculated intratracheally with Chlamydia psittaci or exposed indirectly as uninoculated cagemates. Shedding of chlamydiae was monitored by inoculating mice with suspensions of material eluted from cloacal swabs collected from all birds, usually at 3-day intervals. Sporadic shedding of chlamydiae was demonstrated in three species (great-tailed grackle, brown-headed cowbird, and mourning dove) that were inoculated, and also in uninoculated grackles of both species exposed to inoculated great-tailed grackles. All inoculated birds except one mourning dove developed antibody detectable by complement-fixation (CF). Of the exposed birds, only grackles had antibody. However, two great-tailed grackles which did shed chlamydiae did not develop CF antibody. The modified direct CF (MDCF) method was slightly more sensitive than the direct CF method. The agar-gel precipitin method was not entirely reliable for antibody detection, for it did not correlate with CF serology and shedding of chlamydiae. It is concluded that: 1) grackles are potential reservoir hosts that could be important in the transmission cycle of C. psittaci in nature; and 2) epidemiologic studies of chlamydiosis in wild birds should include both serologic testing (preferably by the MDCF method) and attempts to isolate chlamydiae from cloacal swabs.

Distribution of alpha and alpha mating types of Cryptococcus neoformans among natural and clinical isolates

Survey revealed that the mating type alpha is predominant among natural and clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans regardless of the serotype. The ratio of alpha and a type was about 40:1 among 105 natural isolates and 30:1 in 233 clinical isolates.

Isolation of citrate-positive variants of Escherichia coli from domestic pigeons, pigs, cattle, and horses

Twenty-seven isolates of citrate-positive variants of Escherichia coli were obtained from domestic pigeons, pigs, cattle, and horses. With the exception of citrate utilization, all isolates closely resembled typical E. coli in their biochemical reactions. These isolates were multiply resistant to antibiotics in in vitro susceptibility tests. Transfer experiments of multiple-drug resistance to the E. coli K-12 strain showed that all citrate-positive isolates from domestic pigeons, pigs, and cattle, resistant to three or more drugs, carried R plasmids showing temperature-sensitive transfer.

Carriage of Cryptococcus neoformans in the crops of pigeons

Cryptococcus neoformans was found in the crops of four (1.3%) of 319 pigeons in the Charity Bird Hospital and the University Campus, Delhi. It was demonstrated repeatedly at the Bird Hospital in old pigeon excreta as well as in the air. The findings substantiate the current view that the pigeon itself is not a reservoir of C. neoformans although it may serve as a carrier of the fungus.

Study of the role of pigeons in the dissemination of Cryptococcus neoformans in nature

Cryptococcus neoformans was recovered from droppings collected within the first 24 h from pigeons experimentally fed with a dose of 5 X 10(6) cells. The fungus proved to multiply well though differently in the sterilized pigeon and chicken excreta seeded with the organism. In both unsterile types of droppings no viable cells of C. neoformans were detected after 4 weeks incubation. Isolated bacterial flora from the intestinal contents of apparently healthy pigeons showed a complete inhibitory effect on the growth of C. neoforms in vitro. It has been concluded that pigeons do not favor multiplication of the fungus in their gut and consequently they do not seem to play an active biological role in dissemination of C. neoformans in nature.

Epidemiologic differences among serotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans

In the USA, the most prevalent serotype of the fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, was serotype A. The serotype constituted 203 of 272 isolates from infections and 85 of 89 isolates from the environment. Serotype B or C isolates were infrequent causes of infection, except in Southern California, and were infrequent causes of infecand were not isolated at all from environmental sources. In Southern California, the absence of serotypes B and C in 67 soil and pigeon dropping isolates was striking, considering that 25 of 49 isolates from infections were serotypes B or C. The site in nature where serotypes B and C exist is currently unknown but differs from that of serotypes A and D. Serotype D may be unusually prevalent in both environmental and patient isolates from Denmark and Italy. Of 24 isolates from those countries, 21 were serotype D.

Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from different animal species

Staphylococcus aureus strains originating from humans, cows, poultry, pigs, dogs and pigeons were characterised according to the biotyping scheme of Hájek and Marsálek (1971). All strains obtained from poultry, dogs and pigeons and the majority of bovine, human and porcine strains were classifiable as belonging to different biotypes. Two types were found to be present among poultry strains isolated in Europe and Japan. The porcine strains formed a heterogenic collection. One biotype predominated in the other host species. The characteristic S aureus wall teichoic acid (beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl ribitol teichoic acid) was present in nearly all poultry and pig strains. Strains from dogs and pigeons were found to present several properties which were not in agreement with the species description given for S aureus. They did not produce acetoin from glucose and their capacity to produce acid from mannitol in anaerobic conditions was very weak or absent. They were often negative in the clumping factor (slide coagulase) test and usually did not produce hyaluronidase. The production of acid from glucose in anaerobic conditions was slower and less intensive in these strains than in the S aureus strains from other origins. The results of this study support the concept of subdividing the species S aureus into biotypes or ecotypes.

Cryptococcus neoformans in the crops of pigeons following its experimental administration

Cryptococcus neoformans (5 X 10(6) yeast cells) was given per os to 10 pigeons (Columba livia) proved to be free (crops and excreta) of C. neoformans prior to experimentation. The yeast was recovered from the droppings of 9 pigeons the day after ingestion but was still present in the droppings of 1 pigeon on the 22nd day after ingestion. The crop was much more constantly positive than the droppings and for a much longer time since positive in 9 pigeons on the first day it was still positive in 2 pigeons on the 86th day at the end of the observation period. The results of the experiment presented here and the results of previous work, indicate that C. neoformans can survive and could so be carried in the crop of pigeons.

Isolation of adenoviruses and reoviruses from avian species other than domestic fowl

Adenoviruses and reoviruses were isolated from pigeons and mallard ducks. In addition, adenoviruses were isolated from budgerigars and a bantam and a reovirus was isolated from a turkey. Primary identification of these viruses was by electron-microscope examination. It was further possible to assign the 4 adenoviruses to recognized fowl serotypes, and the reoviruses shared a common antigen with fowl reoviruses. These viruses were isolated from a variety of clinical conditions.

Inactivation of hemolytic complement in human serum by an acylated polysaccharide from a gram-positive rod: possible significance in pigeon-breeder's disease

In an attempt to identify the major complement-consuming heteropolysaccharides in pigeon excreta, a number of teichoic acids and lipoteichoic acids from gram-positive bacteria were examined as possible substitutes. Teichoic acids from the cell wall and membrane of Lactobacillus buchnerii were found suitable. Samples of freshly voided pigeon droppings were cultured under anaerobic conditions and the bacteria were identified, subcultured, and extracted with phenol-water. Cell wall and membrane antigens from isolated Lactobacillus species could replace pigeon excreta antigens in diagnostic complement consumption tests. Purification and chemical characterization indicated the major antigen from Lactobacillus in this respect to be an acylated heteropolysaccharide.

[The presence of antibodies inhibiting hemagglutination of rubeola virus in urban biset pigeons]

In 88 cases out of 126 (70%), antibodies to rubella were found by inhibition of viral hemagglutination in wild pigeons collected in the area of Nice. When experimentally infected with live virus, the rubella negative pigeons develop HI antibodies, thus showing that the virus replicates in these birds. The epidemiological meanings of these findings are considered.

Mycotic flora in the lower digestive tract of feral pigeons (Columba livia) in the El Paso, Texas area

Fourteen species of fungus were isolated from the lower digestive tract of 39 of 80 pigeons. Sixteen pigeons had concurrent isolations while two harbored three species. Fungi isolated were Allescheria boydii, Aspergillus spp., Candida krusei, Chrysosporium spp., Geotrichum candidum, Mucor spp., Paeciliomyces spp., Penicillium spp., Rhizopus spp., Rhodotorula spp., Scopulariopsis spp., Streptomyces spp., and Trichosporon cutaneum. There was no apparent evidence that these fungi were associated with clinical disease in any of the pigeons.

Electron scanning microscope studies in pigeon pox virus

It is evident that the five so-called pigeon pox viruses manifest differences in growth patterns. All produced some interruption in the secretory activity of the allantoic membrane. All produced cytoplasmic bridges and distorted the cellular membranes with protoplasmic loops. Only the Amdal virus strain actively ejected virus particles outside the cell membrane. The other virus strains exhibited this tendency to a lesser degree.

Immunity to fowlpox

Protection against fowlpox develops following vaccination or natural infection. The immune response can be measured for variable times either by challenging immunity of vaccinated birds for protection or by various serologic tests, e.g., viral neutralization, agar gel precipitation, complement fixation, passive hemagglutination, fluorescent antibody, and immunoperoxidase methods. Variation in the antibody response measured by these tests may be due to concentration of antibody present and sensitivity of the test employed. Available information suggests that both humoral and cellular immunity are involved in protection. There is a possibility of persistence of virus in latent infections which also might be responsible for protection.

Candid albicans associated with the gastrointestinal tract of the common pigeon (Columbia livia)

Candida albicans was cultured from the upper gastrointestinal tract of 44% and from the lower alimentary tract in 6% of 50 common pigeons (Columba livia). Thirty per cent of samples of pigeon droppings collected from different locations were positive for the yeast. The colony forming units for positive samples ranged from 2 times 10-2-2-8times 10-6 per g dry feces. The percentage of antigenic Groups A and B for the strains of C. albicans isolated was approximately the same as for strains isolated from human sources.