Necrotizing hepatitis in pet birds associated with Pseudomonas fluorescens

Six pet birds, from a flock of 100 birds of various species, died within a 2-day period. Drinking water had recently been changed from potable water to irrigation water. Three birds submitted for necropsy had hepatic necrosis with numerous gram-negative rodshaped bacteria present in necrotic areas and Kuppfer cells. Pseudomonas fluorescens was isolated in pure culture from the livers of all three birds and from other organs. This is the first report of naturally occurring disease in which P. fluorescens was the sole etiologic agent identified.