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Croatian veterinary report, Vol. 32 No. 1, 2024.

Professional paper

Avian macrorhabdiosis - a well-known disease with a new name

Danijela Horvatek-Tomić orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-0431-4878 ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Lukač ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Liča Lozica orcid id orcid.org/0000-0001-6627-1944 ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Emanuel Budicin orcid id orcid.org/0009-0003-9234-8900 ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Željko Gottstein ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Full text: croatian pdf 302 Kb

page 28-33

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Abstract

Megabacteriosis is a well-known disease of birds all over the world, especially parrots, canaries, finches and other songbirds. The disease is known in older literature as megabacteriosis because for many years it was thought to be caused by bacteria. More recent research proves the fungal etiology, the causative agent Macrorhabdus ornithogaster, an anamorphic ascomycetous fungus. Clinical signs can vary, from chronic weight loss, undigested seeds in feces, to sudden death. Pathoanatomical changes are visible in the proventriculus and muscular stomach, and include edema or bleeding, with excessive production of thick, sticky mucus. The proventriculus can be enlarged and with thinned wall, with or without ulceration. Pathohistologically, most fungi are found in the ventriculus. In sick birds, the disease can be confirmed by detection of fungi in feces, stained by Gram, radiological examination (native or with contrast), and postmortally by necropsy, cytology (Gram stained imprints of proventriculus) and pathohistological examination. Treatment is difficult, long and often unsuccessful. Amphotericin B has proven to be the drug of choice, along with probiotics, acidification of drinking water and other alternative preparations. Macrorhabdiosis is a common disease in pet birds, and complicated diagnosis and rarely successful treatment represent a significant challenge in the daily work of doctors of veterinary medicine.

Keywords

macrorhabdiosis; M. ornithogaster; birds; megabacteriosis; fungus

Hrčak ID:

315463

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/315463

Publication date:

25.3.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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