Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Mycoplasma columbinum found in racing pigeon with arthritis
By Hellebuyck, Tom et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2014·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Mycoplasma columbinum Isolated From a Racing Pigeon ( Columba livia ) With Arthritis.
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A juvenile racing pigeon was brought in because it couldn't fly and had a drooping wing. Upon examination, the vet found that the right shoulder joint was swollen, and unfortunately, the pigeon had to be euthanized for further investigation. A necropsy revealed severe arthritis in the shoulder joint, and tests showed the presence of a bacteria called Mycoplasma columbinum. This case highlights that while other infections are more common in pigeons, Mycoplasma columbinum can also cause arthritis.
People also search for: pigeon arthritis treatment · why is my pigeon not flying · Mycoplasma columbinum in birds
Abstract
A juvenile racing pigeon ( Columba livia ) was presented with drooping of the wing and inability to fly. On physical examination, the right shoulder joint was swollen. The pigeon was euthanatized and submitted for necropsy. An excessive amount of fibrin was present in the canalis triosseus with severe arthritis of the affected shoulder joint. A pure growth of Mycoplasma-like colonies was obtained on microbiological culture of the shoulder joint. A 16S ribosomal RNA gene-specific polymerase chain reaction assay was performed on the isolate and revealed 100% similarity with Mycoplasma columbinum . Although infectious arthritis in homing pigeons is primarily associated with paratyphoid and Streptococcus gallolyticus infection, clinical practitioners should consider the potential role of Mycoplasma columbinum in arthritis in pigeons.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25843324/