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Giardia infection in budgerigars
Author(s) -
FILIPPICH LJ,
McDONNELL PA,
MUNOZ E.,
UPCROFT JA
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1998.tb10148.x
Subject(s) - melopsittacus , giardia , feces , biology , metronidazole , budgerigar , parasite hosting , microbiology and biotechnology , zoology , veterinary medicine , medicine , antibiotics , world wide web , computer science
Budgerigars ( Melopsittacus undulatus ) from two different breeding colonies were found to have Giardia infection. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and in‐vitro and in‐vivo studies confirmed the species was G psittaci . Chicks were clinically affected and showed signs of retarded growth, dehydration and diarrhoea. The faeces of adult birds treated with metronidazole in drinking water were negative for Giardia 5 days after treatment. Megabacteria were also found in adult birds but were not treated. This study extends the known host range for Giardia in Australia to include budgerigars.