Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
African grey parrot with MRSA skin infection and tail feather loss
By Briscoe, Jeleen A et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2008·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-associated dermatitis in a Congo African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female Congo African grey parrot was brought in for severe feather loss and skin damage at the base of her tail, which had been ongoing for over a year. The parrot had thickened, ulcerated skin and a swollen gland, and tests revealed she had a bacterial skin infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). She was treated with a combination of medications, including antibiotics and pain relief, and showed some improvement with tail feather regrowth after a month. However, over the next two years, she continued to harm herself despite negative tests for bacteria, leaving the cause of her behavior unclear.
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Abstract
A 2-year-old DNA-sexed female Congo African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) was evaluated for self-trauma of the feathers and skin of the tail base for a duration of more than 1 year. All rectrices and tail coverts were missing, the skin of the tail base was thickened and ulcerated, and the uropygial gland was swollen. Results of a complete blood cell count revealed relative monocytosis and basophilia. Survey radiographs showed truncation and lysis of the caudal vertebrae and pygostyle. Results of biopsy and bacterial culture of the tail base lesions revealed an ulcerative bacterial dermatitis positive for staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IV (community-acquired) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The bird was treated with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, meloxicam, fluoxetine, topical lidocaine gel, and hydrotherapy. One month later, tail feather regrowth was evident; however, follow-up over 2 years found continued self-trauma to the rectrices in spite of repeated skin biopsies negative for MRSA or other bacteria. It is unknown if the MRSA cultured from this bird was commensal or acquired from either the environment or humans to which the bird was exposed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19216263/