A survey of tuberculosis in birds in the Regent's Park gardens of the Zoological Society of London.
A total of 5,177 avian post mortem examinations was carried out at the Regent's Park gardens of the Zoological Society of London between 1966 and 1978 inclusive. Avian tuberculosis was found in 13 different avian orders. A total of 112 birds (2.2%) was affected; 2.1% from Regent's Park Zoo and 2.4% from other sources. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was based on the demonstration of acid-fast bacilli in association with lesions in fresh or fixed tissues stained by Ziehl-Neelsen's procedure and by cultural methods. Mycobacterium avium (including M. intracellulare) was isolated from 12 specimens, unidentified Mycobacterium spp. from 12, and M. fortuitum from one. The overall occurrence during the 13-year period of observation did not appear to decline although seasonal and yearly fluctuations were noted. No sex predilection was found and the disease generally occurred in birds that had been in captivity for many years. Avian tuberculosis was diagnosed in three free-living wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) trapped in the Zoo grounds. These birds may contribute to the transmission of the disease to other species. A high incidence of tuberculosis was found in the Anseriformes, Gruiformes and Columbiformes, but the disease appeared to be rare in the Psittaciformes, Passeriformes, Spherdsciformes and Strigiformes.
Keymer
I F
IF
Zoological Society of London, London.
Jones
D M
DM
Pugsley
S L
SL
Wadsworth
P F
PF