Serological evidence and risk factors ofexposure in trafficked parrots and macaws in Colombia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Avian mycoplasmosis is a significant disease affecting animal health and various bird species. Although it has been widely studied in poultry, there is limited research on wild species such as parrots and macaws in Colombia. In particular, molecular and serological evidence regarding the presence ofandin birds rescued from illegal trafficking is lacking. AIM: To establish the serological and molecular positivity toandin parrots and macaws housed in Wildlife Care and Assessment Centers (CAVs, for their acronym in Spanish) in three regions of Colombia and to identify potential risk factors associated with the infection. METHODS: Eighty-eight plasma samples and 65 oropharyngeal swabs from parrots (spp.) and macaws (spp.) from the CAVs of Barbosa (Antioquia), Valledupar (Cesar), and Palmira (Valle del Cauca) were analyzed. The samples were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibody detection and real-time polymerase chain reaction for pathogen molecular detection. Data on clinical history and region of origin were collected, and 2 &#xd7; 2 contingency tables were used to evaluate the association betweensp. infection and the variables analyzed. Furthermore, logistic regression was performed to assess the effect ofsp. infection and other variables on clinical signs. RESULTS: Seropositivities of 10.2% and 2.3% were obtained forand, respectively, with no molecular DNA detection. No statistically significant associations (< 0.05) were found between infection and the evaluated variables. Logistic regression analysis indicated that weight and region of origin influenced the clinical sign onset. Birds weighing between 300 and 400 g and >500 g were at higher risk (= 0.028 and= 0.041, respectively), whereas birds from Valle del Cauca were at lower risk compared with those from Antioquia (= 0.004). CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of seropositivity toandin psittacines from Colombia. Seropositivity in the absence of DNA detection indicates prior exposure without evidence of active infection. The onset of clinical signs was influenced by weight and region, but there was no direct association with Mycoplasma sp. infection.