sick bird??

[ruben]

Hi everyone!
I have a sick bird on my hands but can't figure out what the problem is. If there is anybody that can help me I'd be very glad

the bird is a Bourke and is kept in my outside aviary together with a pair of turgs, zebra finches and button Quails. Since I know that the finches is carriers of worms i regularly treat them accordingly. the last few weeks I've noticed the male Bourke appearing all fluffed up and inactive. As time has moved on it became worse although it appears that he is feeding well. Then I noticed that he became extremely thin and he is eating like a mad bird while still losing weight. I have quarantined the since then and is keeping it on antibiotics for last 3 days and feeding it chick weaning food. Still he keeps on pecking and eating like a chicken.
If there is anybody with some idea of what I am dealing with it will be appreciated . thanks Ruben

[avinet]

Jul 26, 2012 20:45:42 GMT 10 ruben said:

Hi everyone!

the bird is a Bourke and is kept in my outside aviary together with a pair of turgs, zebra finches and button Quails. Since I know that the finches is carriers of worms i regularly treat them accordingly. the last few weeks I've noticed the male Bourke appearing all fluffed up and inactive. As time has moved on it became worse although it appears that he is feeding well. Then I noticed that he became extremely thin and he is eating like a mad bird while still losing weight. I have quarantined the since then and is keeping it on antibiotics for last 3 days and feeding it chick weaning food. Still he keeps on pecking and eating like a chicken.
If there is anybody with some idea of what I am dealing with it will be appreciated . thanks Ruben

Hi Ruben,



The symptoms you describe - losing weight and eating ravenously - are typical of Megabacteria, which, in spite of it's name is actually a fungal yeast and more properly called Avian Gatric Fungus.

There is a good article about it at www.westtoowoombavetsurgery.com/site/view/68474_Megabacteria.pml while another good link is at www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/miscellaneous/megabac.htm

To positively diagnose the presence of Megabacteria you would need to get some droppings stained and examined under a microscope to identify the organism.

Treatment is difficult - Amphotericin-B is the drug of choice but it is hard to get - at least in Australia - maybe your local vet has a South African source for it.

cheers,

Mike

[ruben]

Hi Mike.
Thanks 4 the response and advice. i have done research on the mega bact and it looks like you hit the right spot. Apparently here in SA we also doesn't have efficient medicine available and there is still a lot of debate going on in the bird circle about the right treatment. The only thing you can do is watch it die.
So far I've managed to keep it alive with the chick rearing food and the bird has remarkably improved still it does that ferocious feeding thing in between meals. Do you think that he will survive or is this feeding thing a sure sign that the battle is already lost??

[avinet]

Jul 31, 2012 17:39:32 GMT 10 ruben said:

Hi Mike.
Thanks 4 the response and advice. i have done research on the mega bact and it looks like you hit the right spot. Apparently here in SA we also doesn't have efficient medicine available and there is still a lot of debate going on in the bird circle about the right treatment. The only thing you can do is watch it die.
So far I've managed to keep it alive with the chick rearing food and the bird has remarkably improved still it does that ferocious feeding thing in between meals. Do you think that he will survive or is this feeding thing a sure sign that the battle is already lost??

As you have probably read, Amphotericin B is the drug of choice for treating Megabacteria. When it was avaialbe in Australia I used it very successfully as long as the disease wan't too far advanced. It may be available under the name Fungilin - available in lozenges. If this is not available in South Africa it may be possible to order from elsewhere but you would have to check South Africa's import laws for such drugs.

Failing access to Amphtericin B there is little you can do apart from what you are currently doing. He may or may not recover. You might also give probiotics, although I confess I have used probiotics more in hope than expectation. However perhaps the good bacteria will take nutrition away from the Megabacteria and starve it.

As the disease advances the droppings start to get blood in them, from bleeding in the gut, and this shows up as a rather slimy black dropping. Whole seed may also be seen in the droppings. Once this stage has been reached there is very little chance of recovery and euthanasing is the only option.

Hope you can save the Bourke

cheers,

Mike