Clinical Survey of Macrorhabdosis (Megabacteriosis) in Budgerigars at a Veterinary Clinic

Abstract

Three hundred ninety-two budgerigars presented to the hospital were epidemiologically surveyed for Macrorhabdus ornithogaster (MO) infection. We also evaluated the clinical symptoms and effects of treatment in MO-positive birds. MO-positive rates were 15.3% for males, 7.5% for females, 16.8% for birds less than 1 year old, 9.5% for birds over 1 year old, and 13.0% overall (51 out of 392 birds). The rate of positivity for MO-positive birds with clinical symptoms was 76.5%. The clinical symptoms were as follows: wasting (54.9%), vomiting/vomiting–like action (33.3%), anorexia/abrosia (27.5%), and undigested feces (11.8%). The average number of days until the disappearance of MO with treatment was 18.4 days for birds less than 1 year old, 34.3 days for birds 1 to 3 years old, 21.0 days for birds 4 to 6 years old and 42.0 days for birds over 7 years old. The treatment response tended to worsen with age. MO has disappeared in all birds; however, three birds (5.9%) show no symptomatic improvement. We concluded that early diagnosis and treatment is important for the treatment of MO infections.