OCCURRENCE OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN CLIN ICALLY HEALTHY PSITTACINES

426 clinically healthy psittacines (71 species from 31 general were ex amined for the occurrence of pathogenic bacteria; 80 fecal, 316 cloaca l and 226 choanal swabs were taken for bacteriological examination, in addition 146 of the cloacal and fecal swabs were also checked for Cam pylobacter. In 50 (62.6 %) fecal swabs, 47 (15.3 %) cloacal swabs and 50 (22.1 %) choanal swabs pathogenous or potentially pathogenous organ isms like Pseudomonas sp., Pasteurella sp., Staphylococcus sp., Strept ococcus sp. as well as enterobacteriaceae, especial ly E. coli and col iforms, and Salmonella typhimurium could be detected. Campylobacter co uld not be isolated in any swab sample. The results of fecal, cloacal, and choanal swabs are compared, advantages and disadvantages-and thei r importance are discussed. The results lead to the conclusion that cl oacal swabs are more appropriate for bacteriological examinations of b irds than fecal swabs and the collection of choanal swabs is recommend able. As carriers of bacterial zoonotic diseases, examined in this stu dy, psittaciformes do not seem to play an important role, as far as th e examined bacteria are concerned.