Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-associated dermatitis in a Congo African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus).
- Journal:
- Journal of avian medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Briscoe, Jeleen A et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Studies · United States
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female Congo African grey parrot was seen for problems with her feathers and skin around her tail, which she had been damaging for over a year. She had lost all her tail feathers, and the skin at the base of her tail was thickened and had sores, with a swollen gland nearby. Blood tests showed some unusual white blood cell counts, and X-rays revealed damage to her tail bones. A biopsy and bacterial culture confirmed she had a skin infection caused by a type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). She was treated with several medications and therapies, and while her tail feathers started to grow back after a month, she continued to harm her feathers over the next two years, even though follow-up tests showed no signs of the bacteria.
Abstract
A 2-year-old DNA-sexed female Congo African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) was evaluated for self-trauma of the feathers and skin of the tail base for a duration of more than 1 year. All rectrices and tail coverts were missing, the skin of the tail base was thickened and ulcerated, and the uropygial gland was swollen. Results of a complete blood cell count revealed relative monocytosis and basophilia. Survey radiographs showed truncation and lysis of the caudal vertebrae and pygostyle. Results of biopsy and bacterial culture of the tail base lesions revealed an ulcerative bacterial dermatitis positive for staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IV (community-acquired) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The bird was treated with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, meloxicam, fluoxetine, topical lidocaine gel, and hydrotherapy. One month later, tail feather regrowth was evident; however, follow-up over 2 years found continued self-trauma to the rectrices in spite of repeated skin biopsies negative for MRSA or other bacteria. It is unknown if the MRSA cultured from this bird was commensal or acquired from either the environment or humans to which the bird was exposed.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19216263/