Microbiological and histopathological study of E. Coli infection in African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erythracus)

Abstract

In the field of avian medicine, enteric bacteria are regarded as important potential pathogens capable of causing either primary or opportunistic infections. This study is focused on evaluating the microbiological and histological aspects of E. coli infection in Psittacus erythracus. Within this research, a postmortem examination of an eleven-month-old grey parrot with a history of relocation was conducted. The heart blood smear and impression smear examination from the liver and lungs revealed clumps of numerous coccobacilli. Gross changes observed include pulmonary congestion with oedema, air sacculitis, pneumonia, severe hepatic and renal congestion, diffuse haemorrhages in the proventriculus, haemorrhagic enteritis and engorgement of meningeal blood vessels. Histopathological Severe interstitial haemorrhage with mild inflammatory infiltrates in the lungs. The heart exhibited Severe haemorrhage in between cardiac muscle fibers of epicardium with myocardial degeneration. Congestion, hemmorage, infiltration of mono-nuclear cells was also noted in liver and spleen. The kidneys exhibited Cell swellings with tubular epithelial degeneration. The case was identified as E. coli based on isolation studies.