CONJUNCTIVAL MYCOBACTERIOSIS IN 2 EMUS (DROMAIUS-NOVAEHOLLANDIAE)

Avian tuberculosis was diagnosed in two young adult female commercial emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) with granulomatous conjunctivitis. His tologically, the granulomas appeared typical of avian tuberculosis. Ca seonecrotic cores were surrounded by a broad ring of palisading epithe lioid macrophages and multinucleate giant cells with a moderate admixt ure of heterophils, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. One conjunctival gr anuloma had multifocal mineralization. At necropsy, granulomas were al so found in visceral organs of both birds. Acid-fast bacilli were demo nstrated in all lesions using Ziehl-Neelsen or Fite's stains. Culture confirmed the bacilli to be Mycobacterium avium (complex).