NECROTIZING HEPATITIS IN PET BIRDS ASSOCIATED WITH PSEUDOMONAS-FLUORESCENS

Six pet birds, from a flock of 100 birds of various species, died with in a 2-day period. Drinking water had recently been changed from potab le water to irrigation water. Three birds submitted for necropsy had h epatic necrosis with numerous gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria presen t in necrotic areas and Kuppfer cells. Pseudomonas fluorescens was iso lated in pure culture from the livers of all three birds and from othe r organs. This is the first report of naturally occurring disease in w hich P. fluorescens was the sole etiologic agent identified.