title: [Tuberculosis in raptorial birds (II). Review of the literature and suggestions for clinical diagnosis and vaccination].
abstract: Although avian tuberculosis is a common disease in raptors, the diagnosis is not often established in vivo. Mycobacterium avium, serotype 2, is the aetiological agent most commonly involved. As the disease may become apparent in a variety of clinical forms and as it is so common, routine screening for avian tuberculosis is advocated in any diseased raptor. X-ray examination should be a routine diagnostic procedure in diseased raptors. Laparoscopy is an important diagnostic tool in raptors. Laparoscopy followed by liver biopsy may be essential in the diagnosis of generalized avian tuberculosis. The usefulness of haematological examination in the diagnosis of avian tuberculosis in raptors should be studied. A diagnosis may be established by identifying acid-fast rods in a smear, followed by cultures of the organism on specific media. Of the immunological methods, tuberculination in conjunction with a rapid whole blood agglutination test would seem to be the most practical technique. However, closer examination of the practicability of the rapid whole blood agglutination test in the diagnosis of avian tuberculosis in raptors is desirable. Other immunological methods referred to in the literature are haemagglutination tests, an enzyme-labeled antibody test and a lymphocyte transformation test. Vaccination of birds against avian tuberculosis would appear to be possible, judging by the literature on the subject. Further study of this subject, however, is indicated to investigate the use of vaccinating birds of prey against this disease.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001717:Birds; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014379:Tuberculosis, Avian / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary*
vernacular_title: Tuberculose bij roofvogels (II). Literatuuroverzicht en suggesties voor klinische diagnostiek en vaccinatie.