Studies of the relationship between bacteria and fungi isolated from clinically healthy psittacines and from birds with clinical signs

The study involved an investigation of the correlation between the clinical histories and clinical signs and the isolation of bacteria and fungi from clinically normal psittacines and birds with clinical signs. The latter bir ds were categorised by the observed clinical manifestation. A total of 713 psittacines were examined, of which 127 were clinically healthy and 586 had clinical signs. Swabs were taken from the pharynx, the crop and the cloaca and in some cases from the skin or nose. Standard microbiological procedur es were used. Gram positive bacteria were most commonly isolated from healt hy birds. Gram negative rods, other than E. coli, were infrequently isolate d from healthy birds and are considered non-physiological. E. coli was isol ated from healthy Amazon and grey parrots and cockatoos as well as well as from unhealthy birds. Fungi were frequently isolated from tropical psittaci nes with dyspnoea.