Alongside salmonellae, Escherichia coli are among the most frequent causes of bacterial
enteropathies in pigeons.
Pathogen:
E.coli is part of the normal gut flora of humans and warm-blooded animals. Coli
bacteria excreted in the faeces can survive in the environment for many months,
maintaining their ability to multiply. Coli bacteria enter the digestive tract or
respiratory organs - and even the air sacs - with contaminated feed or water, or
alternatively with respiratory air, enveloped in dust particles.
Course of the disease:
Profuse multiplication of pathogenic E.coli bacteria rapidly results in severe enteritis,
which in turn leads to considerable loss of water and electrolytes. Pathogenic coli
bacteria can also enter the bloodstream and colonise individual organs. The result is a
systemic disorder, known as colisepticaemia, which after an acute course can end in
death either within a few hours or only after several days.
Symptoms of the disease:
The clinical picture is characterised by typical signs of a systemic disorder, such as
listlessness, refusal of feed, increased water uptake and onset of emaciation. The
respiratory tract may also be involved, especially the air sacs. Recognition of the
disease: Bacteriological examination of organ samples. Examination must take place
within 24 hours of the pigeon dying, since normal enteric coli bacteria can rapidly
colonise the organs of the dead bird and thus make it difficult to demonstrate the
actual causative organism. The appropriate medication for treatment is determined with
the aid of an antibiogram.
Similar conditions:
Salmonellosis, Hexamitiasis, Coccidiosis.
| E.coli infection |
