Med. Weter. 72 (4), 237-239, 2016
full text
| Ledwoń A., Szeleszczuk P., Czopowicz M. |
| Assessment of the efficacy of amphotericin B for reduction of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster shedding in budgerigars |
| M. ornithogaster infections are relatively common in budgerigars and other birds from the order Psittaciformes, as well as in species from the order Passeriformes, such as canaries. The treatment of these infections is usually based on the use of amphotericin B (amB). The aim of this study was to reduce M. ornithogaster infection in a colony comprising 25 budgerigars, in which no clinical signs were observed (with the exception of one parakeet) and the amount of fungi in faeces was low. The colony was subjected to a 30-day treatment with amB at a dose of 100 mg/kg, administered into the crop by means of a “ball-tipped” gavage needle every 12h. Additionally, biochemical analyses of blood were performed in order to assess the adverse effects of the drug. The results did not show any significant changes in the biochemical parameters of blood, or in the general health condition of the budgerigars. The therapy did not lead to the complete elimination of the pathogen, although a significant decrease in the degree of infestation was noted. In the case of the one parakeet with clinical symptoms, the termination of treatment resulted in intensification of M. ornithogaster invasion. |
| Key words: amphotericin B, budgerigar, Macrorhabdus ornithogaster, megabacteria |