MYCOBACTERIOSIS IN CAPTIVE PSITTACINES: A BRIEF REVIEW AND CASE SERIES IN COMMON COMPANION SPECIES (ECLECTUS RORATUS, AMAZONA ORATRIX, AND PIONITES MELANOCEPHALA)

Bilateral Cubital Lymphoma and Mycobacteriosis in a Salmon-Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis)

A 32-year-old male salmon-crested cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) was diagnosed by cytology with bilateral cubital lymphoma and mycobacteriosis. Polymerase chain reaction assay testing confirmed Mycobacterium genavense. This patient was subsequently humanely euthanized. Postmortem histopathology confirmed both diagnoses with findings of multicentric lymphoma, acid-fast bacilli, and severe degenerative changes in all synovial joints examined. Immunohistochemical staining for paired box protein 5 of the cubital mass was positive for a high percentage of B-cell lymphocytes, consistent with B-cell lymphoma. This unusual case of two major diseases presenting concurrently in one patient raises the question of whether the pathogenesis could have an interdependent relationship. Mycobacteriosis, severe degenerative joint changes, or both may have stimulated lymphocytes, eventually leading to lymphoma. Additional screening and monitoring for comorbidities may be advised if 1 of these diseases are diagnosed in companion avian species.

Histopathological Findings in the Cardiovascular System of Psittacidae in Routine Diagnostics

Samples of 363 Psittacidae were included in this study with a focus on cardiovascular diseases. These were identified in 28.9% of the animals, with pericarditis and/or epicarditis and myocarditis representing approximately half of all lesions and bacteria being the most common infectious cause. Cardiac lymphoma was only seen in 5 birds, whereas degenerative vascular lesions were diagnosed in 26.7% of the cases. Histopathology in the context of clinical findings and complementary examination results is the most useful tool for the evaluation of cardiac diseases.

Outside the Box: Working With Wildlife in Biocontainment

Research with captive wildlife in Animal Biosafety Level 2 (ABSL2) and 3 (ABSL3) facilities is becoming increasingly necessary as emerging and re-emerging diseases involving wildlife have increasing impacts on human, animal, and environmental health. Utilizing wildlife species in a research facility often requires outside the box thinking with specialized knowledge, practices, facilities, and equipment. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) houses an ABSL3 facility dedicated to understanding wildlife diseases and developing tools to mitigate their impacts on animal and human health. This review presents considerations for utilizing captive wildlife for infectious disease studies, including, husbandry, animal welfare, veterinary care, and biosafety. Examples are drawn from primary literature review and collective 40-year experience of the NWHC. Working with wildlife in ABSL2 and ABSL3 facilities differs from laboratory animals in that typical laboratory housing systems, husbandry practices, and biosafety practices are not designed for work with wildlife. This requires thoughtful adaptation of standard equipment and practices, invention of customized solutions and development of appropriate enrichment plans using the natural history of the species and the microbiological characteristics of introduced and native pathogens. Ultimately, this task requires critical risk assessment, understanding of the physical and psychological needs of diverse species, creativity, innovation, and flexibility. Finally, continual reassessment and improvement are imperative in this constantly changing specialty area of infectious disease and environmental hazard research.

Mycobacterial Airsacculitis Caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum in a Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome)

A 21-year-old male southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) was presented with a chronic history of intermittently decreased appetite, lethargy, and regurgitation. On the external physical examination, the bird was determined to be in fair-to-thin body condition with the complete blood count and plasma chemistry panel being largely unremarkable. Full-body radiographic images were considered normal, and gastroscopy showed only mild gastritis and duodenitis. The penguin was euthanatized shortly thereafter due to acute onset of respiratory distress. During the gross necropsy examination, the bird had severe airsacculitis with thick, yellow-to-tan, moist granular plaques adhering to the surface of many air sacs, as well as regional contiguous pneumonia. Intralesional acid-fast bacilli were observed in histologic sections of air sac tissue, and polymerase chain reaction of the affected air sacs was positive for Mycobacterium fortuitum. This clinical case study describes mycobacteriosis in a sub-Antarctic penguin and to the best of the authors' knowledge, the first reported isolation of M fortuitum from a penguin.

Cutaneous Mycobacteriosis Caused by Mycobacterium kansasii in a Yellow-naped Amazon Parrot (Amazona auropalliata)

An approximately 25-year-old, female, yellow-naped Amazon parrot (Amazona auropalliata) was evaluated for a chronic, raised, ulcerative mass on the lateral aspect of the left thigh. Histopathology of an excisional biopsy revealed severe, chronic, multifocal-to-coalescing, ulcerated dermal and subcutaneous granulomas. No infectious organisms were observed on Ziehl-Neelsen or Gomori methenamine silver stains. The parrot was treated with oral sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim and meloxicam. When reexamined 2 weeks later, the biopsy site had healed. Surgical biopsies were resubmitted 14 months after the original presentation due to recurrence of similar ulcerative lesions on the right leg. Histopathology revealed a similar inflammatory pattern, and hematoxylin-eosin, Ziehl-Neelsen, and silver stains on the biopsy samples were all negative. A Fite-Faraco stain revealed rare acid-fast bacilli throughout the lesion. Tissue polymerase chain reaction test was negative for Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium genavense. Mycobacterial culture and subsequent genotyping revealed Mycobacterium kansasii. Mycobacterium kansasii is a significant cause of mycobacteriosis in humans and, therefore, should be considered a potential zoonotic organism. This report describes an unusual primary cutaneous presentation of avian mycobacteriosis.