Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp septicemia in a lovebird

Gram-positive cocci were observed within phagocytes in the blood of a psittacine with clinical signs of blindness and CNS disease. A coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp was isolated from blood cultures, and the bird was successfully treated with chloramphenicol. Although the primary route of infection was not determined, the infection spread secondarily via the hematogenous route and localized intraocularly. Usually, only coagulase-positive strains of Staphylococcus are considered pathogenic, and are seldom diagnosed before death.