Coliforms, Salmonella, E. Coli Bacterial Enteritis Diseases

Copyright © 1989 by Lynn Hawkins, DVM
former NCS Veterinarian Consultant

Etiology

Bacterial enteritis (an irritation of the intestinal tract) is one of several causes of diarrhea in cockatiels. The bacteria that cause illness are gram negative, classified according to gram staining results. Gram negative bacteria are not normal on fecal cultures. Of these, coliforms, salmonella, and E coli, are the most frequent cause of diseases.

Symptoms and Signs

Affected cockatiels may be carriers not showing disease symptoms, and not acutely or chronically ill. Carriers may spread the infectious bacteria such as salmonella or E coli to their offspring. The babies are usually acutely ill and frequently die. This is related to the baby cockatiels immature immune system. Stressful situations may cause overgrowth of salmonella in carriers. Subsequently, under stress carriers may begin to show signs of acute illness.

Acutely ill birds often have ruffled feathers, diarrhea, listlessness, weakness, shivering, or vent picking. The degree of illness depends on the age of the bird, the virulence (the ability to infect) of the bacteria, stress, the degree of contamination and other factors. Cockatiels with chronic salmonella infections may pass contaminating bacteria intermittently, form abcesses, fail to hatch eggs, or have changes in eating habits. Cockatiels most frequently become infected from contaminated feed or water dishes. The salmonella bacteria may survive long periods of time in warm areas on wood, feces, or dirt. Carriers, as well as clinically ill birds, may cause this contamination.

Laboratory Findings and Diagnosis

The diagnosis of such bacterial enteritis is based on clinical signs and bacterial cultures. Fecal material or blood is cultured in live cockatiels. Because the bacteria may be shed intermittently, several cultures should be taken over a period of days. If a bird dies, intestinal material, liver, blood, and spleen, are cultured. On necropsy, the small intestine will show signs of enteritis.

Treatment

Treatment of salmonellosis, E coli, or other gram negative infections is usually started at once based on clinical signs. Parenteral (by injection) and oral fluid replacement is often necessary. Lactated Ringer's solution is best for rehydration. Cultures and sensitivity testing should be performed because enteric bacteria are often resistant to several antibiotics. Broad spectrum oral antibiotics should be started when the culture is taken. Oral and parenteral antibiotics should be given simultaneously in severe cases.

The sulfa drugs are good to use orally. Kanamycin and Gentamycin are usually effective parenterally. When Gentamycin is chosen the cockatiel must not be dehydrated or toxicity may occur. If necessary the antibiotic can be changed after the culture and sensitivity test results are known.

The testing takes 24-48 hours and the patient's condition could worsen, or the bird could even die in this length of time. If the cockatiel is not eating, the antibiotic is given by gavage mixed with food and vitamin supplements. If the diarrhea is severe, Kaopectate may be given. Water consumption should be monitored to be sure the sick cockatiel is drinking enough to prevent dehydration. As with any sick bird, the environment should be as stress free as possible. An incubator or heating pad under the cage should be used to keep the temperature between 85º-90º Fahrenheit.

If you do not have an incubator and the heating pad alone will not raise the temperature, a box may be used to made a simple incubator.

Illustrated by Candy

Place the cage in the box and the box on the heating pad. A thermometer should be placed in the back of the box in order to monitor the temperature. There should be no other animals or birds close by to irritate the sick cockatiel.

Prevention

Bacterial enteritis may be prevented by several methods:

1. Keeping water and feed dishes free of fecal material.
   
2. Identifying and culling carrier birds.
   
3. Controlling contact of the aviary or bird with outside birds.
   
4. Careful disposal of contaminated material.
   
5. Minimizing stress.

People working with contaminated material should be careful and practice good hygiene. Salmonellosis is a disease common to humans and birds, although the disease does not seem to transmit easily to humans from cockatiels.

Medications