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Pasteurella anatipestifer-like bacteria associated with respiratory disease in pigeons
1Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97339.
Abstract:
Two cases of respiratory disease in pigeons are described. The first case involved pneumonia and tracheitis, and the second case involved tracheitis. In both cases, unusual gram-negative, non-fermenting, short rod-shaped bacteria were recovered along with other microorganisms. The bacteria produced small, glistening, gray colonies on blood agar, did not grow on MacConkey agar, were unreactive on several biochemical tests, and resembled Pasteurella anatipestifer. Neither pigeon isolate was distinguished from P. anatipestifer by biochemical tests. However, there were morphologic and growth differences between the pigeon isolates and P. anatipestifer. Furthermore, unlike P. anatipestifer, both pigeon isolates were sensitive to aminoglycoside antibiotics and to polymyxin B. Finally, neither isolate was agglutinated by antisera to 15 serotypes of P. anatipestifer. Diagnosticians, especially those who seldom encounter P. anatipestifer, might have difficulty distinguishing the pigeon isolates from P. anatipestifer because of their close resemblance.
Insights
Two pigeon respiratory disease cases revealed unusual bacteria resembling Pasteurella anatipestifer. These novel isolates showed distinct characteristics and antibiotic sensitivities, differentiating them from known P. anatipestifer strains.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Avian Pathology
Background:
- Respiratory diseases in pigeons can be caused by various bacterial pathogens.
- Accurate identification of causative agents is crucial for effective treatment and disease control.
Observation:
- Two cases of pigeon respiratory disease presented with pneumonia and tracheitis.
- Unusual gram-negative, non-fermenting, short rod-shaped bacteria were isolated alongside other microorganisms.
- These isolates exhibited unique colonial morphology and biochemical profiles, closely resembling Pasteurella anatipestifer.
Findings:
- Biochemical tests could not differentiate the pigeon isolates from Pasteurella anatipestifer.
- Morphological and growth differences were noted between the pigeon isolates and P. anatipestifer.
- Pigeon isolates demonstrated sensitivity to aminoglycoside antibiotics and polymyxin B, unlike P. anatipestifer.
- The isolates were not agglutinated by antisera for 15 P. anatipestifer serotypes.
Implications:
- The study highlights potential diagnostic challenges in distinguishing these novel pigeon bacterial isolates from P. anatipestifer.
- Further characterization is needed to fully classify these bacteria and understand their role in avian respiratory disease.
- This research contributes to the understanding of bacterial diversity in pigeon respiratory infections.