[Avian mycobacteriosis caused by strains not yet identifiable]. / Aviäre Mykobakteriose durch bisher nicht identifizierbare Stämme.

This paper reports on a group of strains of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare recently isolated from various bird species. The strains in question could not be integrated into the known 28 serovars. The host spectrum includes birds of several avian orders. Clinical, serological, pathoanatomical, and histopathological results are being discussed. During observations of the clinical course in some infected birds, it could be shown that the excretion of the agent could cease for several months. The diagnosis of the new group of serovars was possible only by culture. Antibodies of several serovars demonstrated in life birds did not correspond with the isolates. Therefore, these antibodies were interpreted as serological crossreactions.

[Mycobacteriosis in the hermit ibis (Geronticus eremita)]. / Mykobakteriose bei Waldrappen (Geronticus eremita).

The present paper reports on a case of mycobacteriosis in a colony of Hermit-Ibises, in which a so far unknown serovar of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare has been isolated. The serologic findings in the birds disagree with those of the isolate, a fact that has been mentioned in the literature several times. The hematological and clinical-chemical parameters can hardly be interpreted without knowledge of normal values. However, the high numbers of eosinophiles in the differential smears are striking. The autopsy shows the typical picture of a granulomatous inflammation. The small subserous granulomata of the intestinal wall can be found--in contrast to other birds--lying closely together. Histopathological findings indicate a certain weakness of the defense system which, together with the good state of nutrition in some of the Hermit-Ibises, is interpreted as a possible high susceptibility of this bird species to infections with Mycobacterium spp.