Distribution of Malassezia organisms on the skin of unaffected psittacine birds and psittacine birds with feather-destructive behavior.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain whether Malassezia organisms can be detected via cytologic examination and fungal culture of samples from the skin surface of psittacine birds and determine whether the number of those organisms differs between unaffected psittacines and those that have chronic feather-destructive behavior or differs by body region.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
50 unaffected psittacines and 53 psittacines that had feather-destructive behavior.


METHODS
Samples were collected by use of acetate tape strips from the skin of the head, neck, proventer, propatagium, inguinal region, and preen gland area of each bird; 0.5-cm(2) sample areas were examined microscopically for yeast, and samples were also incubated on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Polymerase chain reaction assays specific for Malassezia spp, saprophytic fungi, and Candida albicans were performed on DNA prepared from cultured colonies; nested PCR evaluation for Malassezia pachydermatis was then performed.


RESULTS
Microscopically, 63 of 618 (10%) tape-strip samples contained yeast. Thirty cultured colonies were assessed via PCR assays, and all yielded negative results for Malassezia spp; C albicans was identified in 2 colony samples. The numbers of yeast identified microscopically in psittacines with feather-destructive behavior and in unaffected birds did not differ significantly, and numbers did not differ by body region.


CONCLUSIONS
Yeast were identified infrequently via cytologic examination of samples from the skin surface of unaffected psittacine birds or those that had chronic feather-destructive behavior. If yeast are identified on the skin of birds with feather-destructive behaviors, fungal culture of skin samples should be performed to identify the organism.
Preziosi
Diane E
DE
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Morris
Daniel O
DO
Johnston
Matthew S
MS
Rosenthal
Karen L
KL
O'Shea
Kathleen
K
Rankin
Shelley C
SC
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000662:veterinary; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005241:Feathers / Q000382:microbiology*; D008290:Malassezia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011563:Psittaciformes; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D004271:DNA, Fungal