Occurrence of Mycobacterium in the Faeces of Parrots Kept in Zoological Gardens and Private Aviaries in Poland

The aim of the study was to estimate the occurrence of Mycobacterium infections in psittacine birds kept in zoological gardens as well as in private aviaries in Poland based on the presence of acid-fast bacilli in the faeces of parrots. All samples taken were decontaminated with 5% oxalic acid. The material obtained was cultured onto L-J media and in BACTEC MGIT 960 system. Faecal smears on microscopic slides were stained with the Ziehl-Neelsen method. Altogether 546 faecal samples were examined: 121 (22.2%) from the parrots kept in private aviaries and 425 (78.8%) kept in zoos. The occurrence of Mycobacterium sp. in faecal samples was 13.9% (76/546). Seventy-three positive samples were demonstrated in zoos and three in private aviaries. The majority of Mycobacterium sp. identified was, however, of moderate pathogenicity for humans and animals. Among the isolated strains, the majority was Mycobacterium fortuitum (38 isolates). Mycobacterium avium was present in 16 samples. None isolate was found to be of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. In order to detect the presence of Mycobacterium genavense, the samples were cultured onto Middlebrook 7H11 with Mycobactin J medium and PCR was performed. In total, 326 samples were examined (65 from private aviaries). Although PCR confirmed the presence of Mycobacterim genavense in 31 samples, the results of cultures were negative.