SALMONELLOSIS IN 2 CANARY (SERINUS-CANARIA) FLOCKS

The clinical and pathological findings of two canary flocks (Serinus c anaria) experiencing mortalities due to infections with Salmonella typ himurium are described. Flock 1 was a group of birds that had been shi pped by air to a pet shop in Western Australia and had experienced hig h mortalities. mock 2 was an unrelated aviary flock of 40 canaries wit h high nestling and fledgling mortality. The main clinical feature in affected birds was rapid onset of depression, fluffed plumage and poly uria. Gross abnormalities detected at necropsy in acutely affected can aries which died in good body condition were a moderate to markedly en larged reddish-purple spleen, congested intestinal tract and mild to m oderately swollen liver. The most consistent finding in more chronical ly affected birds in moderate body condition was marked splenomegaly a nd diffusely slightly tanned hepatomegaly. Cytological examinations of liver and splenic impression smears demonstrated abundant Gram negati ve bacilli free and within macrophages. Histological examination demon strated acute to chronic granulomatous splenitis and hepatitis in all birds examined. A severe necrotising heterophilic cloacitis was also d emonstrated in one female bird. Heavy growths of Salmonella typhimuriu m were isolated from the coelomic cavity, liver, spleen and intestinal tracts.