1. What are coccidia and where are they found?

Coccidia are microscopic motile parasites. They are found in the small intestine of birds. Their eggs, called oocysts, are passed in the droppings. The two main species are Isospora and Eimeria.

2. What is the route of transmission?

Coccidia are often ingested through food or soil contaminated with infected droppings. The oocyst (egg) has a hard shell and can survive on the ground for a long period of time.

3. What are the clinical signs of Coccidiosis?

• Diarrhoea with or without blood

• Weight loss and depression

• The bird may stop eating

• Poor growth and/or death in young or unwell birds

• Some birds can carry these organisms and may not show signs of illness

4. In which bird species are coccidia seen?

Coccidia are commonly seen in budgerigars, pigeons, doves, chickens, turkeys and geese. They are less frequently seen in canaries, finches and lories. Coccidia can be seen in any species of bird.

5. How are coccidia identified in the live bird?

Fresh warm faecal smears of the droppings will display the eggs (oocysts). Eggs do not show up in every faecal smear. Flotation of a dropping sample may be necessary to find the coccidia if they do not show up in a faecal smear.

6. What is the treatment for Coccidiosis?

Birds can be treated with Baycox (Toltrazuril) in water for 2 days. A repeat treatment may be necessary. The cage should be cleaned thoroughly daily and then disinfected.

Treatment of secondary infections caused by bacteria may also be necessary.

7. How is Coccidiosis prevented?

Frequent cleaning of the aviary or cage

Quarantine all new birds until they are examined for coccidia

Regular droppings checks for coccidia. This maybe performed at the annual health check or, in some cases, every 3 months.

1. What is "bumblefoot"?

“Bumblefoot” is the common term for inflammation or infection of the weight-bearing surface of the foot. “Bumblefoot" is a form of pododermatitis (foot inflammation).

2. What species of bird are affected by “bumblefoot”?

It is very common in budgies, cockatiels, galahs and ducks though it can be seen in any bird.

3. What are the clinical signs of early “bumblefoot”?

Initially there may simply be a loss of the normal scale on the feet and the skin may be red and thin. As the conditions worsens ulcers may form on the pads of the feet.

4. What are the clinical signs of more serious forms of “bumblefoot”?

It becomes very serious when the foot is swollen and there are plugs of necrotic (dead) tissue on the weight bearing foot surface. In the worst cases the bone of the foot becomes infected, the foot becomes swollen and the foot’s digits cannot move. These birds are severely lame and often very difficult to repair.

5. What are the causes of “bumblefoot”?

Hard plastic or dowelling perches and sandpaper around perches, as well as diets of poor nutritional value and high energy will lead to obese birds with vitamin A deficiency. If the perches are unclean, bacteria will build up and can move onto the foot as the foot has lost its protective scales. Any disease that affects birds can make your bird susceptible to “bumblefoot" as the bird will use its energy to fight the other problem.

6. What is the treatment for “bumblefoot”?

In the early stages of “bumblefoot” the best treatment is simply to soften the perches with bandages or strips of cloth wrapped around the perches. At the same time, improve the diet by including, among other changes, more dark green vegetables for vitamin A or, better still, move your birds onto a high quality pellet or crumble food as well. For ducks, put down astroturf or grassed areas and make sure they have a clean deep wading pool.

7. What additional treatment procedures may be needed?

Antibiotics will be needed as well as anti-inflammatories and antibiotics topically on the feet. If the "bumblefoot" is in the very severe category, a ball bandage may need to be adhered to the feet with regular changes necessary. In these severe cases samples of the foot infection to send to the laboratory to find out the type of infection may be needed. Blood samples may also be taken to check for other problems. The severe cases of "bumblefoot" can take weeks to months to improve.

8. What preventative measures are needed?

An avian veterinarian will always check the base of the feet at a bird’s annual health check but the feet should be checked at home at least fortnightly as well.

1. What are the components of a normal dropping?

There are 3 components to the droppings:

• Fecal component (green to dark green solid part of the droppings)

• Urates - the solid urine component (usually white in colour)

• Clear liquid urine

2. What is an abnormal dropping?

• Fewer than normal amount of droppings

• Increase in the number of droppings

• Change in colour or texture of either the fecal component or the urate component

• "Bubbly" looking droppings

3. What causes abnormal droppings?

• Diet e.g blueberries

• Intestinal diseases

• Kidney disease

• Liver diseases

• Bacterial or viral infections

• Parasite infections

• Psittacosis

• Heavy metal poisoning

4. How will my avian vet know what caused the abnormal droppings?

Your avian veterinarian can run a variety of tests, including

• blood tests

• radiographs (X-rays)

• Gram stain on the droppings for yeast and bacteria

• microscopic examination of the faeces to check for parasites,

• Culture the droppings if he suspects a bacterial or yeast infection.

5. Can my bird be treated?

Most birds with abnormal droppings are successfully treated once the cause of the abnormal droppings is detected. As an owner, your cooperation in agreeing to the recommended tests is critical in allowing the veterinarian to correctly diagnose and treat your bird.

1. What are giardia and where are they found?

Giardia are microscopic motile organisms commonly found in birds in Sydney. They have a motile trophozoite and a cyst stage. Giardia attach to the small intestine and are passed in the faeces.

2. What is the route of transmission?

Giardia are often ingested from contaminated water supplies or contaminated faeces. The cyst stage can even survive in chlorinated water. Reinfection from cysts in contaminated water is common.

3. What are the clinical signs of giardiasis?

Loose malodorous stools and mucoid diarrhoea

Weight loss, depression and anorexia

Dry skin and feather picking on the flank and axilla are the most common signs in cockatiels

Poor growth and/or death in young cockatiels and budgerigars

4. In which bird species are giardia seen?

In Sydney, giardia are commonly seen in cockatiels (especially lutino cockatiels) and less frequently in budgerigars. Giardia can occasionally be seen in any species of bird.

5. How are giardia identified in the live bird?

Fresh warm faecal smears will display these highly motile organisms at 400x magnification. False negatives are common. Flotation in zinc sulfate may improve the accuracy of a diagnosis.

6. What is the treatment for giardiasis?

Birds can be treated with Ronidazole (Ronnivet-S) in water for 7 days. Metronidazole (Flagyl) has also been used in the past, orally for 2-10 days.

The cage should be cleaned thoroughly daily and then disinfected. Quarantine all new birds until they are examined for giardia. Treatment of the often present secondary infections may also be necessary.

1. What is Chlamydiosis?

Chlamydiosis is a disease caused by an intracellular bacteria called chlamydia psittaci. It is seen in all species of birds. It is very common in most parrot species and in pigeons.

2. Does chlamydia affect humans?

Yes. The common signs are flu-like with a high fever, severe headaches and a dry cough.

If untreated it can develop into atypical pneumonia and meningitis.

Even birds without clinical signs can pass chlamydia to humans.

3. How is the bird infected with Chlamydia?

The micro-organism is found in feather dust and dried up faeces and is dispersed by air circulation. It will survive for up to several months in the environment. Chlamydia is regularly or intermittently shed in the faeces, urine, nasal and ocular discharges. Many birds with no clinical signs can be shedding chlamydia.

4. What are the clinical signs of acute Chlamydiosis?

“Fluffed up” and lethargic; conjunctivitis and sinusitis; yellowish to greenish droppings; difficulty breathing; weight loss and dehydration; death.

5. What are the clinical signs of low grade or protracted Chlamydiosis?

Progressive emaciation; greenish diarrhoea; conjunctivitis; convulsion and tremors; poor fertility.

6. Do all birds with chlamydia have clinical signs?

No. Many birds are asymptomatic carriers. They will often only show clinical signs if stressed (new surroundings, moulting or breeding).

7. How is Chlamydiosis identified?

It is hard to conclusively identify. Helpful hints are the clinical signs, antibody tests (such as the Immunocomb Chlamydia test) and cytology of the conjunctiva and blood cells. A PCR test is also available.

8. What is the treatment for Chlamydiosis?

Doxycycline is the preferred treatment for Chlamydiosis. The treatment is for 45 days.

The medication is available as an in water or oral medication or preferably by weekly injection.

9. What additional treatment procedures may be needed?

The cage should be cleaned thoroughly daily and then disinfected. Quarantine all new birds until treated for chlamydia. High energy soft-liquid food supplements for emaciated birds.

Fluids intravenously or subcutaneously may be needed in cases of severe vomiting.

A heat source e.g. a 40 watt light globe. Treatment of the often present secondary infections.

10. What preventative measures are needed?

At a bird’s yearly health check it should be examined for any signs of chlamydia and then preferably tested or treated for chlamydia if necessary. Preferably all new birds should be tested/treated for chlamydia.