Experimental infection of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with five Mycobacterium species

The aim of the present study was to determine the susceptibility of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) to infections with different Mycobacterium species. For inoculations the following Mycobacterium species were used: Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium, Mycobacterium bovis subsp. bovis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis subsp. tuberculosis, Mycobacterium intracellulare and M. fortuitum subsp. fortuitum. The bacterial suspension was administrated intramuscularly and all the birds were monitored for 70 days starting from the day of inoculation. During the experiment clinical examination, X-ray scans, plate agglutination tests, tuberculin tests, faeces smear preparations and culture of mycobacteria were performed. The study showed that M. bovis subsp. bovis was the most pathogenic Mycobacterium species for budgerigars. After inoculation, the bacilli induced tuberculosis-typical, clinical signs and necropsy findings. In two out of six birds infected with M. bovis subsp. bovis radiological changes were also visible. Birds inoculated with other Mycobacterium species did not show any typical symptoms of infection, and only the results of histopathological and bacteriological examinations indicated the presence of infection.