Mycoplasmal Conjunctivitis in a European Starling - BioOne

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Mycoplasmal

Conjunctivitis

in a European

:336-339

A’.su(IatI,,n

1997

Starling

S. Frasca Jr.,1-2 Lynn Hinckley,2 Mark H. Forsyth,3 Timothy S. Gorton,2 Steven J. Geary,2 and Herbert J. Van Kruiningen,12 1 Northeastern Research Center for Wildlife Diseases and 2 Department of Pathobiology, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, U-89, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3089, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2605, USA

Bilateral

ABSTRA(:T: sclentis

were

conjunctivitis

identified

in

and

an

adult

epi-

1980)

European

left

starling (Sturnus vulgarzs). A novel ma species, Mycoplasma sturni, was

mycoplasisolated in from the conjunctiva of both eyes. presentation was similar to that of in house finches (Carpodacus caused by Mycoplasma gallisepti-

pure culture The clinical conjunctivitis inexicanus)

However, the histologic lesions were distinct, by the presence of ulceration and epithehal hyperplasia and lacking a lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. Mycoplasma sturni ferments

or hemagglutinate grows rapidly at 37 C in comparison to other Mycoplasma spp. The role of M. sturni in conjunctivitis in other passerine species is presently unknown. Key words: Conjunctivitis, European starling, eye, Mycoplasma sturni, Sturnus vulgaris.

live

adult

(Sturnus

male

European

vulgaris)

Connecticut study

from

(USA)

to

the

was

presented

Northeastern

for

Research

Cen-

ter for Wildlife Diseases (University Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA) 23

December

ated, vere

1994.

lethargic, bilateral

blepharitis exudates

conjunctival tival sacs

sacs. and the

ing mini-tip Microbiology land, USA). cervical

lected performed tissue

with

(Freundt

evident.

The to

and sorb

failed chicken

to

of

the

grow

testing.

immediately of

heart,

agus,

ventriculus,

after

the

skeletal

brain,

death, trachea,

muscle,

fixed

and in

10%

eyes neutral

Serum

Commercial

broth

RNA

was

gene

the

left

choana

and

also

right

were

agar

(MG)

tested

and

con-

used

plates

agglutination 1989), performed States guidelines

was

antigen

and

tervet,

were

culture,

ob-

and nary

States

1994) SR

120

MS

USA) also were Formalin-fixed

(Macy, 336

(MS).

Seand to

Agriculture

Serotype

MG

antigen (InDelaware,

Hemag,glutination Department

using

Services

of

(Kleven according of

S-6

negative.

(United

USA) C; no

presence

and 5-Serotype MS N obilis, Millsboro,

USA),

buffered

tests

Department using

to

(Difco

gallisepticum

synoviae

Mycoplasma

(1994)

in-

the

Mycoplasma

United

tests

for

that of

subsequently (Forsyth et al.,

sturni

to

rum-plate Yoder,

formalin.

Fortified

was

antibodies

esophwere

DNA

serum,

hemadsequence

demonstrated a new species

blood

col-

small

of or

ribosomal

from

was

glucose,

absence

which

the

1979)

Laboratories, Detroit, Michigan, that were incubated for 48 hr at 37 other organism was recovered.

lung,

kidney,

proventriculus,

conjunctivae and

Necropsy

the

165

ma,

bovine

and muthe lower

was

Mycoplasma

streak

colony

catabolized

in

a hu-

for 38 hr. mycoplas-

Edward,

hemagglutinate erythrocvtes.

mycoplas named

in

C of

fried-egg and

isolate

failed

and

blind. Semoderate

blood

incubated

at 37 growth

typical

phology

Swabs

and right conjuncwere cultured us-

and

plates

environment 48 hr heavy

1996).

emaci-

for 10 through

were

and

junctiva

(Becton Dickinson Cockeysville, Marywas humanely killed

serologic

liver,

tained

Left choana

culturettes Systems, The bird

samples

testine,

was

was evident, distended

dislocation,

for

bird

and apparently conjunctivitis with

bilateral cocaseous

by

The

of on

the

choana.

1980),

(Forsyth et al., 1996) this isolate represented

southwestern

from

the

(Gelman Sciences, Ann USA). Broths were platCommercial agar (Macy,

mas

starling

swabs

and

a 0.45 p.m filter Arbor, Michigan, ed onto Fortified

analysis

A

with

conjunctiva

broths were incubated C and then were passed

midified Within

does not hernadsorb erythrocytes, and

glucose,

inoculated

right

Inoculated hr at 37

cum.

chicken

was

and

SR

antigen

100

Veteri-

Ames, were

Agri-

antigen

(National

Laboratories, negative. tissues

of MG

Iowa,

processed

SHORT

FIGURE

2.

FIGuRE of

the

1. palpebral

hensnorrhage.

stnbepitlnelial connective

conjmnnc’tiva H&E.

routinely,

Bar

embedded

at 3 p.m eosin

Deep

and

(HE).

were

stained Tissue

stained

Wolbach’s Brown

Giemsa,

locally

extensive

lOt) p.nsn.

=

with

sectioned

hematoxylin of

the

periodic

eye

and

cumulations clear

interstitial of heterophils

1968). Based on histologic examian acute conjunctivitis with focal

vere rior

hemorrhage and posterior

tissue

Gram

Marked

of

the

hemorrhage

tunica along

media seg-

of

was

ac-

mononu-

myofibers

of

present,

hemorrhage and

.n.ns.

with

and

Necrosis

muscles

50

=

present

heterophils

gates

infiltrations 3).

of

epi-

innflltrates

stnbepithelial

tine

Bar

was

starlinng

nsmncosal and

its

1l&E.

episciera

with

Hopps

and

nnacroplsages

stronsia.

leukocytes.

extraocular

aggregates of lymphocytes, macrophages and heterophils (Figs. 1, 2). Arterioles in subepithelial connective tissue had heter(Fig.

of the

also

acid-Schiff,

Warthin-Starry,

tissmne

337

Emnropean

of tine

by hensiorrinage

and

Iseterophils

ments

mucosal ulceration was present. Congestion and locally extensive hemorrhage were present in subepithelial connective tissue of the conjunctiva, accompanied by

ophilic

of

a

nnec’rosis

acc’onnipanied

connnnective

in paraffin, sections

tlneliunnn

of

with

stain

and

(Luna, nation,

with

witln

tissue

Conjunnctiva

vulgaris)

(Sturnus

COMMUNICATIONS

along

and

aggre-

macrophages.

was evident chambers

Se-

in the anteand vitreous

body.

Upper

respiratory

tract

infection

of

chickens and turkeys by M. gallisepticum characteristically results in epithelial hyperplasia with mycoplasmas adherent cell surfaces, nective tissue filtrates phocytes

of

edema and

of subepithelial initial subepithelial

heterophils and

lymphoid

followed germinal

cell to conin-

by

lym-

centers

338

JOURNAL

OF WILDLIFE

DISEASES,

VOL.

33, NO. 2, APRIL

1997

bird

included

coccidiosis

ventricular The

and

emaciation ill. were

the

that

However, acute

histologic

had

to

hal

been and

pigeons

of this that

be

not

of M. evaluated

at

by

lated We 3.

1 ligher

of

thse

ann arteriole

of tine

lnennsorrhage 20

1975;

clinical

stronsna.

arteriole.

Riddell,

FI&E.

the Bar

conjunctivitis

sociated

conjunctivitis

different,

possessing

erophilic

vasculitis

hyperplasia

ti()n

and

reported Luttrell ular tially

the

in

finches

and

fected changes thelium Along

the of

lyrnphoplasmacytic

and stroma (Nunoya with conjunctivitis necropsy

wild is

has

not

been

iso-

(Mimus

pol-

of

of

Environmental

to

the

for

of

passerine

J.

Wrzesien

Con-

coordibirds, of

Diagnostic the serologic #1708 of the

Experiment

the

Labotests. Storrs

Station.

LITERATURE

In

het-

epithe-

MG

infec-

differ substanin chickens inocular epi-

et al., 1995). and episcierifindings

in

Diseases

this

of

J. Barnes,

CITED

Jr.

Ames,

Iowa,

sp.

AND

(Stunnus E.

A.,

JORDAN,

TII.LY.

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aisd

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II.

II.

NV

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(;owro\,

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additional

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Division,

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M. stu ni i-as-

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mexican

stunii

Dickson

submissions

are

The

in Connecticut.

J.

Wildlife

we

an-

attempts

starlings

Department

Agricultural

that

Al.

Connecticut Veterinary ratory for performing This is contribution

Although

mimicked

since

conjunctivitis

the

by

cannot

infection.

of

Protection, and

bird

identified

experimental

European

as

of

would

acknowledge

nating

Note

1987).

presentation

(Ca rpodacus

tis,

this

2

Fignnre

infiltration

inn.

epizootic

hal

of

iseterophilic

smnh)epithnehial

smnrromnnndinng

(Jordan, the

nsnagisificatiois

segnsienstal

such

conjunctivitis

of

necticut

epithe-

isolation.

prevalence

with

glottos)

con-

possibility

However, M. sturni from a mockingbird

known.

Fnet:Iu.:

not

virus

in

populations

(iennnonnstratinsg

The

especially

made

sturni best

The

with

debilitated

was

dismissed,

were

the

in birds

1991).

other

on

that

is a common lediseases of poultry viruses such as herassociated

co-infection agent

based

acquired

ulceration

(Calnek,

was

suggesting

recently

have

necrosis

bird

conjunctival

subacute

junctivitis. Conjunctivitis sion of viral respiratory (Riddell, 1987), and pesvirus

this

the

interpretation,

bird

esophageal,

nematodiases.

indicates

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anal New

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