Protozoan Diseases of Pet Birds
Protozoan diseases in pet birds are caused by various microscopic single-celled organisms that invade different body systems, leading to a range of health issues.
Protozoan Diseases of Pet Birds can affect the digestive tract, respiratory system, blood, and other organs, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, weight loss, respiratory distress, and lethargy.
Haemoproteus
Haemoproteus is the largest and most commonly encountered blood parasite group, containing nearly 200 species and varieties. Manly transmitted by hippoboscid flies.
Haemoproteus rarely been incriminated as the causal agent of mortality in avian population.
Plasmodium
The canary appears to be highly vulnerable to most malarias under experimental condition. P. gallinaceus, P. lophurae and P. relictum are more virulent.
The clinical signs include listless and anorexia, bird will stop preening and other normal behavioural activities.
Anemia, edema of the eyelids, emaciation, and sudden death are frequently seen. Necropsies frequently reveal serous hemorrhage and hepato and splenomegaly.
Control is best achieved by elimination of mosquito vectors.
Avian malarias such as P. gallinaceum tend to respond to treatments with antimalarial drugs like chloroquine 5mg/kg body weight and proguanil at 7.5mg/kg body weight. However the same drug with other avian malaria species have little or no effect.
Trypanosomiasis
Avian trypanosomes are not incriminated as causing harm to their avian hosts. No symptom are reported.
Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a common disease affecting pigeons and occasionally canaries, finches and other small passerines.
Large psittaciforms appear resistant to the infection. Budgerigars, however, may contract the diseases in epidemic proportions.
Trichomonas gallinae is the most common organisms causing the disease. Adult bird previously infected may be carriers of the disease.
Direct contact via crop milk is a common mode of transmission among pigeon.
The protozoa do not survive long outside of the host and therefore strict sanitation reduces disease incidence.
The disease usually affects young birds, causing high mortality. Two types of lesions may be found, diphtheritic (wet canker) and necrotic (dry caseous necrosis).
In adult birds, the disease is usually chronic, causing few mortalities. Weight loss and weakness may be seen in these birds.
With wet canker ulcerations in the mouth, esophagus, larynx and pharynx.
Bacterial invasion of the lesion acerbates the disease and may produce lesions in the skin muscles or central nervous system.
Young birds are most often affected. Clinical symptoms of disease usually do not appear until after 4 weeks of age.
Less often, similar lesions are seen around the vent and ventral aspects of the squabs, with gross fecal contamination of the plumage.
When esophageal lesions are severe, laboured breathing and respiratory rales may be present. In the necrotic form of the disease, yellow caseous nodules are seen in the respiratory and digestive tract.
Dimetridazole at the rate of 2g/liter in drinking water for 7 days can be given. When the digestive tract is blocked by cankerous lesions, the birds must be treated by using 5 mg metronidazole/100 body weight suspended in a glucose solution and tube fed for 7 days.
