Not Again!!

[WendyN]

Will you have to treat Mickey as well?
Saying a prayer for Murphy.

 

[Lady Jane]

Ampho is hard on the systems of a bird as it is on humans. So Mickey will not get treatment unless she shows symptoms. I have been advised that giving budgies ACV in the water for one week out of the month will help in not making AGY worse should it be activated in the bird. Murphy was always a highly stressed bird sort of like an African Grey. He was very nervous if I put anything new in the cage and most recently night frights. It is my gut feeling that this is what caused him to show the symptoms. And @Macawnutz it is possible that there is an underlying infection so that is why he is also getting Baytril. It is true Budgies can be carriers and not show any symptoms. You are correct in that ACV is not effective for AGY.
With Chipper my former EB who died I utilized everything possible that was noted to helpful with yeast cells and it may have impleaded the basic medications. Not doing that this time. Could not sleep last night so I am up before dawn and Mickey was still sleeping. Now it is just after 6 am and she is awake, chirping and eating. Murphy's weight in the office was 46 gm. I anticipate he will weight less because he is on a food that he never had before and probable unhappy that he is not with Mickey.

Vet did say he did not see candida yeast cells that he saw AGY cells and they respond better to treatment that candida yeast.

 

[Lady Jane]

Some information on AGY from Texas University:


Megabacteriosis is a disease condition that we have been diagnosing at our practice quite often. It is difficult to say if it has become more common or if the means of diagnosis and recognition of the condition have improved. There are many aviculturists who have the organism in their collection of their birds and are totally unaware of its presence. Another consideration is that birds purchased from various sources could be carrying the organism with the resultant risk of transfer to birds in your collection. Megabacteriosis is a poorly understood infection believed to be caused by megabacteria, a large gram-positive rod.

Megabacteria are found in the proventriculus (acid stomach) and ventriculus(gizzard), particularly in the transitional zone between the two stomach portions in symptomatic and asymptomatic psittacine and non-psittacine birds.

Although originally thought by most researchers to be a bacterium, recent studies suggest that this organism is actually yeast. As fungi, the megabacteria are unusual because they mimic bacteria. Their fungal nature had been suspected because fungal medications appear to be more effective than antibiotics in treatment of megabacteriosis. Due to the evidence of its fungal nature, it has been suggested that megabacteria is a misnomer and it should be referred to as avian gastric yeast (AGY).

The question of pathogenicity is not clear. Megabacteria have low invasiveness and elicit a poor inflammatory reaction. Megabacteria have been detected in birds, particularly budgerigars, which fail to demonstrate any clinical signs of disease. The vast majority of birds in the collection at Texas A&M University that were diagnosed with megabacteriosis failed to display any clinical signs of ill health, nor any gross lesions on necropsy. It is suspected that either the organism is immunosuppressive or the host hasbeen immunosuppressed at the time of exposure, by factors such as breeding, molting, infectious and non-infectious disease, transport, malnutrition, and other stressors.

An important factor in the pathogenicity might be the decrease in the acidity of the GI tract. The organisms are thought to reduce acid production in the proventriculus, which changes the pH levels, making the environment less acidic and interfering with normal digestion. The megabacteria altered the pH of the proventricular contents from a normal range of .7 - 2.4 in unaffected canaries, to 7.0 - 7.3 in severely affected birds. It remains to be determined if the alkalization is caused by the organism itself or by the mucus production of the host, thus inhibiting the release of acid from the storage form.

In the past, the infection was commonly seen in budgerigars (a chronic wasting condition termed “going light”), cockatiels, lovebirds, finches, and canaries, but it has now been described in many species, including large psittacines. Diseases in chicks are rare, and the average age of affected birds is between 1 to 5 years.

Clinical signs are non-specific and indicative of a chronic, debilitating disease. Commonly reported signs of disease include chronic weight loss, apathy, anorexia, vomiting/regurgitation, and the passage of whole or partial seeds in soft, watery droppings. Digested blood may also be seen in the droppings. In the advanced stages of the disease, there may be vomiting of slimy material. Chronic emaciation occurs over a long period of time. The course of the disease may take months and there may beintermittent periods of recovery and relapse. Differential diagnoses include proventricular dilatation disease, lead, zinc or copper toxicoses, trichomoniasis, bacterial, mycotic or parasitic infections, and neoplasia.

An acute form has been described in budgerigars, where birds in good condition suddenly become severely depressed, show ruffled plumage, and die within 12 to 24 hours. They often regurgitate blood and the cause of sudden death may be excessive bleeding in the proventriculus.

Because of their size, megabacteria can be easily recognized under the microscope so that diagnosis can be made through the identification of megabacteria in wet mounts or stained smears from crop swabs, proventricular scrapings, and droppings. Periodic fecals should be examined, as there may be intermittent shedding of the organism. Because a fecal is negative for the presence of megabacteria, it does not entirely indicate that the bird is free from infection. In severely affected birds, Gram staining of the droppings may reveal the organism. Blood work reflects poor physical condition with anemia and low total protein. Megabacteria can be difficult to isolate on culture.

Radiographs may reveal proventricular dilatation as well as an hourglass-like constriction between the proventriculus and ventriculus. Thickening of the proventricular wall can also be seen with contrast (barium) studies.

Necropsy findings will indicate proventriculitis and proventricular dilatation. The proventricular wall may be thickened with small hemorrhages, and a thick mucus layer may cover the mucosa, particularly in the lower part of the proventriculus. The organism will be apparent in scrapings taken from the proventricular mucosa. The koilin layer of the ventriculus may be loosened, becoming brown in color and have a rough surface In birds with more excessive bleeding, the intestinal loops may contain black ingesta.

Elimination of the disease can be difficult, as no effective treatment is known. Megabacteria have been shown to be resistant to tested antibiotics. In addition, control of the disease has not been adequately described. Treatment protocols that have been described as having some promise attempt to lower the pH of the proventriculus (often with Lactobacillus) to reverse the effects of the disease and make the environment less habitable for the megabacteria. Acidification of the drinking water with hydrochloric acid may help in some cases of megabacteriosis, as well in cases of enteritis that are not responsive to traditional therapy. For this treatment, a 1mol/L solution of HCl is mixed at a rate of 30ml/pint of drinking water.

Acidifying the GI tract with apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, or grapefruit juice has also been suggested. The pH of the water should not fall below 2.5 and should be continued for several weeks. Chlorhexidine (Nolvasan) in the drinking water has been suggested as a treatment, but it has not been shown to be effective.

Fungicides have also been tried and it has been reported that amphotericin B has been effective in treatment. We have great success in our practice treating these cases with oral amphotericin B. Oral amphotericin B at 100mg/kg PO SID for 10 days exhibits the highest rate of success. Periodic fecals are checked over several weeks to be certain that the bird has been cleared of the megabacteria. Amphotericin B is not absorbed systemically from the GI tract after oral administration so higher doses can be given in contrast to the IV dose. Amphotericin B can be difficult to obtain in the oral formulations, but it can be made at certain compounding pharmacies.

All clinically ill birds should be treated; however, there is a debate whether non-clinical birds displaying megabacteria in their droppings should be treated. Factors in making this decision include the difficulty in treating the bird, the exposure to other birds, ability of the owner to recognize signs of disease if they develop and owner compliance.

Megabacteriosis is a controversial condition, to say the least. Although there is agreement presently as to its fungal nature, questions still exist as to whether megabacteria are normal flora or are indicative of disease and the manner of treatment that is most effective.
More research is needed to gain a better understanding of the condition.

Be cautious with your purchases from uncertain sources. If there have been unexplained deaths of birds in your area which have “gone light” and passing undigested food in the droppings, Megabacteriosis may be a consideratio

__________________

 

[Lady Jane]

This article has some good information and all budgie owners should be familiar with this disease.

Avian Gastric Yeast - Illness and Treatment

 

[ode.to.parrots]

Poor Murphy!!!! I hope he gets well soon!!! Sending you lots of hugs.

 

[webchirp]

I will send you some of my sodium benzoate instead of the amp stuff if you want to try Dr. O's prescription. 30 days in their water. The foster flock cheekies have had agy and if stressed they flare but otherwise they were good last check. Chya has had it too and gone.

 

[MommyBird]

@Lady Jane could you post a link to the "AGY info from Texas University". I can't google it up and would like to share it with the source. Thanks!
(when I clicked on the Texas University link in the article I got a dog food ad and now I'm getting dog food spam all over)

 

[Lady Jane]

I will try and find the Texas U. article again.
Chandra that is one of the many things I tried before and it did not work. It just serves to acidify the water they drink so its not much different than ACV. Thanks anyway for the offer. I so appreciate it.

I think this may be the article. I have not checked though, running out of energy.

Old World Aviaries: Avian Gastric Yeast - Phalen

or this one - http://www.nilesanimalhospital.com/files/2012/05/Megabacteriosis-Avian-Gastric-Yeast.pdf

 

[TWR]

I hope Murphy makes a full recovery. I'm so sorry he's not feeling well.

 

[iamwhoiam]

So sorry that Murphy is ill. Hope that he makes a full and fast recovery!

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

I just wanted to send some hugs and get well wishes! I hope he makes a full and quick recovery!

 

[Lady Jane]

I think Mickey is having more fun without him! Today she played and chirped to the music on youtube. She also ate are well as usual. We had some nice one on one time out of cage too. But I know she misses her man as I do.

 

[CeciliaZ]

How is Murphy doing?

 

[Lady Jane]

The only report I got this am from an office person was that he was chirping and eating. Avian vet not in the office today. I have questions for him. Of course tomorrow is Sunday and only get techs into the hospital. Thanks for asking.

 

[Lady Jane]

@Hankmacaw do you know anything about megabac-s, an alternate treatment for AGY?

 

[Lady Jane]

Never mind. The mega..... is water soluble ampho. ladygouldianfinch.com - Avian Gastric Yeast

 

[Featheredfuffs]

Oh I'm so sorry! I hope he'll make a full recovery

 

[Hankmacaw]

Yes, the accepted treatment is Ampho B. The only one. Please don't rely on so called "natural/off brand" remedies - unless your vet recommends it.

Good luck. You are headed in the right direction.

 

[Lady Jane]

Of course when your bird has been diagnosed with AGY many people want to help out which is wonderful. I so appreciate all the suggestions. As stated this time I am just giving him the prescribed medications. My vet just called me and said he does not see any of the beak/jaw movements Murphy had yesterday and at home. He is getting the medications via syringe into his mouth. Of course this is easy for the vet and his techs to do this because they know how. I do know how it is supposed to be given but its one thing to know how and another thing to actually get the liquid in. You may not know that ampho is only stable under refrigeration for 7 days so its back and forth to the vet to get new supplies plus the $ to get it. $33.00 per little vial! So that is my update for Sunday. Mickey enjoyed some natural sun time today since the outdoor temps are in the 70's.

 

[sunnysmom]

Oh no! I am so sorry. I hope he's ok.