title: Possible human-avian transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a green-winged macaw (Ara chloroptera).
abstract: This report describes a case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a green-winged macaw (Ara chloroptera), confirmed by microbiologic and pathologic diagnostics, and notes a possible human-avian transmission. Clinical signs included cutaneous swellings, profound leukocytosis, and signs of osteomyelitis in the long bones. Proliferation consisted of several nodules with small greenish-caseous foci in cross-section and revealed a severe granulomatous inflammation with intralesional acid-fast rods. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from subcutaneous nodules and biochemically confirmed. The disease in avian species is of zoonotic importance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hanspeter W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rutz
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hoop
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grest
authors.forename: Carla Rohrer
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bley
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hatt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010311:Parrots / Q000382:microbiology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary*