Staphylococcus aureus infections in psittacine birds

Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from internal organs of 13 different psi ttacine birds submitted for necropsy over a period of 6 years. The birds al l had lesions consistent with septicaemia. S. aureus isolates included thre e different phage types. In seven of the 13 birds, concurrent infections wi th Chlamydophila species, Enterococcus hirae, Candida species, unidentified streptococci and coagulase-negative staphylococci were detected. One bird also had lesions of lymphoid leucosis. Few indications mere found that stap hylococcosis associated problems may spread epidemically. The present studi es suggest that S. aureus is pathogenic for psittacine birds, although it d oes not seem to be a frequent cause of disease.