Aerossacolitis and pneumonia in an indian peafowl caused by Lactobacillus agilis

Background: The peafowl is an ornamental bird that has the habit of eating directly from the earthy soil, which makes this bird more susceptible to endoparasites. One important endoparasite is Eucoleus contortus, which leads to inflammatory processes that alter the local microbiota, potentializing disease. By the other way, a member of the bird’s microbiota there is the genus Lactobacillus, but when occurs some imbalance, these bacteria can overgrowth and even cause some infection. This report describes the pathological and microbiological findings of chronic necrotizing pneumonia and aerossacolitis caused by Lactobacillus agilis in a peafowl, associated with parasitism by E. contortus. Case: A peafowl (Pavo cristatus), adult, male, who lived on a farm with contact with other species of animal, was submitted to post-mortem examination due to sudden death. This animal lived in an extensive system on the property and was the only one of its species. During the gross evaluation, the air sacs were filled with solid yellowish crumbly material. The same material was observed forming well-defined nodules that occupied > 50% of the lung parenchyma. Histological analysis showed multiple parabronchi dilated and filled with caseous necrosis, characterized by abundant cellular debris and fibrin deposition. These areas were surrounded by the proliferation of fibrous connective tissue and inflammatory infiltrate of macrophages, giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. The air sacs parenchyma showed fibrin deposition and mixed inflammatory infiltrate. Multiple gram-positive bacilli were observed within the caseous foci in Gram-stained slides. In the crop and esophageal mucosa, cross-sections of filiform nematodes morphologically compatible with E. contortus were associated with chronic inflammatory infiltrate and epidermal hyperkeratosis. A lung section was submitted to Gram-Brown-Hopps and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stains for bacterial investigation, and Grocott’s methenamine silver (GMS) stain for fungal investigation. Short gram-positive bacilli bacteria are observed within the caseous foci in Gram-stained slides. By the other way, no agents were identified on the ZN and GMS stains. Following the analysis, lung fragments were cultivated at aerobic and microaerophilic conditions on sheep blood agar and McConkey agar. All the microbial cultures were incubated at 37°C to 48 h. Pure culture, in microaerophilic condition, of Gram-positive bacilli, was observed. The isolated bacterium was identified by MALDI-TOF MS as L. agilis. Discussion: Although uncommon, L. agilis was the single bacterium identified and therefore, associated as a primary cause of necrotic pneumonia and aerossacolitis in the studied peafowl. The presence of E. contortus could induce the aspiration of regurgitated of little amount of material from the gastrointestinal tract with sufficient bacterial load to initiate an infection, but not enough to smother the animal. The gradual aspiration can induce a chronic inflammatory condition. Infections by bacteria from the host microbiota have been observed in animals and humans with immunodeficiency. In summary, both the parasitosis and the inflammation could be resulted by the parasite and the aspiration of gastric product, which probably interfered in the immune response and allowed the overgrowth of L. agilis. In the current case report, based on macroscopic, microscopic and bacteriological results, we have provided insights to understand how the parasitosis made possible a pneumonia from a bacterium from the host’s microbiota. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Lactobacillus agilis as causal agent of fatal necrotic pneumonia and aerossacolitis in peafowl

Aerossacolitis and Pneumonia in an Indian Peafowl Caused by Lactobacillus agilis

Background: The peafowl is an ornamental bird that has the habit of eating directly from the earthy soil, which makes this bird more susceptible to endoparasites. One important endoparasite is Eucoleus contortus, which leads to inflammatory processes that alter the local microbiota, potentializing disease. By the other way, a member of the bird’s microbiota there is the genus Lactobacillus, but when occurs some imbalance, these bacteria can overgrowth and even cause some infection. This report describes the pathological and microbiological findings of chronic necrotizing pneumonia and aerossacolitis caused by Lactobacillus agilis in a peafowl, associated with parasitism by E. contortus. Case: A peafowl (Pavo cristatus), adult, male, who lived on a farm with contact with other species of animal, was submitted to post-mortem examination due to sudden death. This animal lived in an extensive system on the property and was the only one of its species. During the gross evaluation, the air sacs were filled with solid yellowish crumbly material. The same material was observed forming well-defined nodules that occupied > 50% of the lung parenchyma. Histological analysis showed multiple parabronchi dilated and filled with caseous necrosis, characterized by abundant cellular debris and fibrin deposition. These areas were surrounded by the proliferation of fibrous connective tissue and inflammatory infiltrate of macrophages, giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. The air sacs parenchyma showed fibrin deposition and mixed inflammatory infiltrate. Multiple gram-positive bacilli were observed within the caseous foci in Gram-stained slides. In the crop and esophageal mucosa, cross-sections of filiform nematodes morphologically compatible with E. contortus were associated with chronic inflammatory infiltrate and epidermal hyperkeratosis. A lung section was submitted to Gram-Brown-Hopps and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stains for bacterial investigation, and Grocott's methenamine silver (GMS) stain for fungal investigation. Short gram-positive bacilli bacteria are observed within the caseous foci in Gram-stained slides. By the other way, no agents were identified on the ZN and GMS stains. Following the analysis, lung fragments were cultivated at aerobic and microaerophilic conditions on sheep blood agar and McConkey agar. All the microbial cultures were incubated at 37°C to 48 h. Pure culture, in microaerophilic condition, of Gram-positive bacilli, was observed. The isolated bacterium was identified by MALDI-TOF MS as L. agilis.Discussion: Although uncommon, L. agilis was the single bacterium identified and therefore, associated as a primary cause of necrotic pneumonia and aerossacolitis in the studied peafowl. The presence of E. contortus could induce the aspiration of regurgitated of little amount of material from the gastrointestinal tract with sufficient bacterial load to initiate an infection, but not enough to smother the animal. The gradual aspiration can induce a chronic inflammatory condition. Infections by bacteria from the host microbiota have been observed in animals and humans with immunodeficiency. In summary, both the parasitosis and the inflammation could be resulted by the parasite and the aspiration of gastric product, which probably interfered in the immune response and allowed the overgrowth of L. agilis. In the current case report, based on macroscopic, microscopic and bacteriological results, we have provided insights to understand how the parasitosis made possible a pneumonia from a bacterium from the host's microbiota. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of L. agilis as causal agent of fatal necrotic pneumonia and aerossacolitis in peafowl.Keywords: respiratory infection, ornamental birds, secondary infection, parasitosis

Caso sugestivo de hemoplasmose aguda em ratão-do-banhado (Myocastor coypus): Relato de caso

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo relatar um caso sugestivo de infecção por Mycoplasma spp. em ratão-do-banhado no município de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, atendido no Núcleo de Reabilitação da Fauna Silvestre e Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (NURFS/CETAS - UFPel). Foi encaminhado ao NURFS/CETAS – UFPel um ratão-do-banhado (Myocastor coypus), macho, adulto, com peso aproximado de 4,8 kg, resgatado na Praia do Laranjal, município de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Durante o atendimento clínico do animal foi observado que o mesmo apresentava incoordenação motora e prostração, além de dificuldade de ingestão alimentar. Foram coletadas amostras sanguíneas do animal, acondicionadas em tubo contendo anticoagulante ácido etilenodiamino tetra-acético (EDTA), para a realização de hemograma. O hemograma foi realizada através de contagem celular, utilizando automação veterinária pocH-100iV Diff - Sysmex®; avaliação de esfregaço sanguíneo, previamente corado com Panotico Rápido®, através de microscopia óptica; e mensuração de proteínas plasmáticas totais (PPT) e fibrinogênio plasmático através de refratometria. Através da contagem celular e mensuração de PPT e fibrinogênio plasmático foi possível observar que o animal apresentava anemia, leucocitose e uma possível hiperfibrinogenemia. Na observação do esfregaço sanguíneo foram observadas estruturas basofílicas extracelulares ligadas à membrana das hemácias, compatíveis com a descrição morfológica de Mycoplasma spp., sugerindo um quadro de hemoplasmose aguda. Diante do quadro clínico, foi instituída antibioticoterapia com enrofloxacina 2,5% (7 mg/kg). Após 15 dias de protocolo terapêutico foi possível observar melhora clínica e dos parâmetros eritrocitários do animal, sugerindo que o sucesso do protocolo terapêutico corrobora com o provável quadro infeccioso

Aerossacolitis and Pneumonia in an Indian Peafowl Caused by Lactobacillus agilis

Background: The peafowl is an ornamental bird that has the habit of eating directly from the earthy soil, which makes this bird more susceptible to endoparasites. One important endoparasite is Eucoleus contortus, which leads to inflammatory processes that alter the local microbiota, potentializing disease. By the other way, a member of the bird’s microbiota there is the genus Lactobacillus, but when occurs some imbalance, these bacteria can overgrowth and even cause some infection. This report describes the pathological and microbiological findings of chronic necrotizing pneumonia and aerossacolitis caused by Lactobacillus agilis in a peafowl, associated with parasitism by E. contortus. Case: A peafowl (Pavo cristatus), adult, male, who lived on a farm with contact with other species of animal, was submitted to post-mortem examination due to sudden death. This animal lived in an extensive system on the property and was the only one of its species. During the gross evaluation, the air sacs were filled with solid yellowish crumbly material. The same material was observed forming well-defined nodules that occupied > 50% of the lung parenchyma. Histological analysis showed multiple parabronchi dilated and filled with caseous necrosis, characterized by abundant cellular debris and fibrin deposition. These areas were surrounded by the proliferation of fibrous connective tissue and inflammatory infiltrate of macrophages, giant cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. The air sacs parenchyma showed fibrin deposition and mixed inflammatory infiltrate. Multiple gram-positive bacilli were observed within the caseous foci in Gram-stained slides. In the crop and esophageal mucosa, cross-sections of filiform nematodes morphologically compatible with E. contortus were associated with chronic inflammatory infiltrate and epidermal hyperkeratosis. A lung section was submitted to Gram-Brown-Hopps and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stains for bacterial investigation, and Grocott's methenamine silver (GMS) stain for fungal investigation. Short gram-positive bacilli bacteria are observed within the caseous foci in Gram-stained slides. By the other way, no agents were identified on the ZN and GMS stains. Following the analysis, lung fragments were cultivated at aerobic and microaerophilic conditions on sheep blood agar and McConkey agar. All the microbial cultures were incubated at 37°C to 48 h. Pure culture, in microaerophilic condition, of Gram-positive bacilli, was observed. The isolated bacterium was identified by MALDI-TOF MS as L. agilis.Discussion: Although uncommon, L. agilis was the single bacterium identified and therefore, associated as a primary cause of necrotic pneumonia and aerossacolitis in the studied peafowl. The presence of E. contortus could induce the aspiration of regurgitated of little amount of material from the gastrointestinal tract with sufficient bacterial load to initiate an infection, but not enough to smother the animal. The gradual aspiration can induce a chronic inflammatory condition. Infections by bacteria from the host microbiota have been observed in animals and humans with immunodeficiency. In summary, both the parasitosis and the inflammation could be resulted by the parasite and the aspiration of gastric product, which probably interfered in the immune response and allowed the overgrowth of L. agilis. In the current case report, based on macroscopic, microscopic and bacteriological results, we have provided insights to understand how the parasitosis made possible a pneumonia from a bacterium from the host's microbiota. Finally, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of L. agilis as causal agent of fatal necrotic pneumonia and aerossacolitis in peafowl.Keywords: respiratory infection, ornamental birds, secondary infection, parasitosis