genavense is rare although the possibility could not be excluded entirely. Lung involvement in pet birds suggests inhalation as an additional route of transmission. The environment specially drinking water is an identified source of M. Ingestion is considered as a potential route of transmission of M. Occasionally skin abrasion acts as a route of mycobacterial infection in pet To bird transmission in aviaries may occur through infected faeces or rarely by cannibalism. (8 months at 37 ☌) and water for a long period. avium is excreated through faeces of infected birds and survive in soil (up to 4 years), sawdust MAC is transmitted in birds chiefly by ingestion, inhalation and rarely through arthropods tuberculosis.Īvian tuberculosis is a disease of adult birds although occasionally detected in young (<1 year old) canaries. Occasionally canaries are also infected with M. Was detected in European goldfinch ( Carduelis carduelis). ( Serinus canaria), gouldian finch ( Chloebia gouldiae) and zebra finch ( Poephila guttata castanotis) are commonly infected with M. bovis producing clinical syndrome within 70 days.Īmong non-psittacine group of birds, canary bovis can produce natural infection in parrotsĪre experimentally infected with M. tuberculosis although infection in African grey parrot is reported which was transmitted from human. , Senegal parrot) are not considered as natural host of M. Is detected in blue and yellow macaw ( Ara ararauna) and grey-cheeked parakeet ( Brotogeris pyrrhopterus). avium is reported to cause infection in cockatiels ( Nymphicus hollandicus). ( Cyanoramphus novaezelandieae) are also detected to be infected with M. ( Ara chloroptera), cockatoos ( Cacatua spp.), conures ( Aratinga auricapillus, Cyanoliseus patagonus) and red-crowned parakeet Other psittacines such as green-winged macaws ( Brotogeris pyrrophterus), amazons ( Amazona spp.), budgerigars ( Melopsittacus undulatus) and pinous parrots ( Pionus spp.) are the most commonly affected species with tuberculosis. genavense was first reported from human AIDS patients with disseminated infections (Hirschel et al. genavense can be distinguished from other slow growers by their fastidious growth and preference for liquid medium. This group is characterized by slow growth albeit contains the signature molecule of fast growers (short helix 18). Mycobacterium genavense forms a deep branch of Mycobacterial phylogentic tree with other members such as M. There are total 28 serotypes of MAC and the serotypes 1–6, 8–11 and 21 belonged to M.

MAC is considered as ‘atypical mycobacteria’ and members of this group are highly resistant against environmental changes such as high and low temperatures, dryness, extreme pH and common disinfectants. avium is subdivided into four subspecies (ssp.) i.e. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is comprised of M. The most common species are Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and M. Recent classification reveals that slow growing Mycobacterium is composed of several species. Was sub divided into three types based on their host specificity i.e. Some are pathogenic for man and animals which grow slowly in artificial media in laboratory (slow growers) than the fast growers ( M. The genus Mycobacterium (Actinomycetes family) contains more than 100 species. They can be easily stained by Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) or acid fast staining technique. The stains are relatively impermeable to the bacterial cell. It is difficult to demonstrate their gram positive nature due to high lipid content of the cell wall.

In the tissues, it measures 1–4 µm in length and 0.2–0.3 µm in width. Is gram positive, straight or slightly curved rod with occasional coccobacillary, club and branched form. hominissuis was detected in a female blue-fronted Amazon parrot ( Amazona aestiva). avium mostly infects the birds kept in aviaries. genavense is common in psittacine birds, whereas, M. genavense are the most common cause of tuberculosis in pet birds. Simultaneously in 1993, Mycobacterium genavense was reported from pet birds in Europe (Hoop et al. ( 1992) proposed a new Mycobacterial species ( Mycobacterium genavense) isolated from human patients with AIDS.

( 1974) reported occurrence of tuberculosis in Amazon parrot ( Amazona farinosa). Strauss and Gamaleia (1891) and Maffucci (1892) cited in Cobbett ( 1917) illustrated that the etiological Mycobacterium of avian tuberculosis was different from human or bovine type. Koch described that the same human or bovine type Mycobacterium may cause avian tuberculosis. , stained with alkaline methylene blue and vesuvin and established its etiologic relationship with tuberculosis. ) is an ancient or ‘heritage’ disease which was observed even before the Neolithic age and in Egyptian mummies.

Richard finch illness