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Avian Diseases 48(2):437-441. 2004
doi: 10.1637/7133

Mycobacteriosis in an American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Mark Hoenerhoff, Matti KiupelB, James Sikarskie, Carole Bolin, Heather Simmons, and Scott Fitzgerald

aDepartment of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

bSmall Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI

BCorresponding author. Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, G300 Veterinary Medical Center, East Lansing, MI 48824

Abstract

Avian mycobacteriosis is an important disease in companion, captive, exotic, and wild birds worldwide. Mycobacterium avium is the most widely distributed and pathogenic organism causing tuberculous lesions in birds. Multiple factors including age, stress, immune status, and preexisting disease determine the pathogenicity of M. avium, and the disease can manifest itself in a variety of forms. Mycobacteriosis can cause severe losses in zoo aviaries, including the loss of rare and endangered bird species. We report a case of systemic avian mycobacteriosis in an adult, free-living male American bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) that presented to the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in November 2003.

Resumen

Reporte de Caso—Micobacteriosis en un águila calva americana (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

La micobacteriosis aviar es una enfermedad importante en aves de compañía, en cautiverio, exóticas y aves silvestres del mundo. El Mycobacterium avium es el organismo patógeno que causa lesiones por tuberculosis en las aves y que está más ampliamente distribuido. Múltiples factores que incluyen edad, condiciones de estrés, estado inmune y enfermedades preexistentes determinan la patogenicidad de M. avium y la enfermedad se pueden manifestar en diferentes formas. La micobacteriosis puede causar pérdidas severas en zoológicos aviarios, incluyendo la pérdida de especies aviarias raras o en peligro de extinción. En este manuscrito se reporta un caso de micobacteriosis aviar sistémica en una águila calva americana (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) adulta, macho que vivía en libertad, que fue remitido al Centro de Diagnóstico en Salud Animal y de Poblaciones en el mes de Noviembre de 2003.

Abbreviations: AIDS = acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, ELISA = enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, PCR = polymerase chain reaction

Received: November 12, 2003

Keywords: avian, bald eagle, granulomas, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, mycobacteriosis, Mycobacterium avium, systemic



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Fig. 1. Large, firm, lobular mass on the right elbow with multifocal ulcerations (bar = 2 cm).Fig. 2. Multiple, randomly scattered, hepatic caseogranulomas (bar = 1 cm).Fig. 3. Photomicrograph of a section of shoulder mass characterized by epithelioid macrophages and multinucleate giant cells encompassing central caseous necrosis and degenerate heterophils. Hematoxylin-eosin stain. Bar = 40 μm.Fig. 4. Photomicrograph of a typical caseogranuloma within the pulmonary parenchyma. Hematoxylin-eosin stain. Bar = 40 μm.Fig. 5. Photomicrograph of a granuloma within the lateral ventricle of the brain composed of macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells, extending into the subjacent neuropil, with associated caseous necrosis. Hematoxylin-eosin stain. Bar = 40 μm.Fig. 6. Numerous acid-fast bacilli present within multinucleate giant cells, macrophages, and free within cellular debris within a typical mesenteric caseogranuloma. Ziehl-Neelson acid-fast stain. Bar = 100 μm.

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