Veterinary Services

A house sparrow (Passer domesticus) that had been caught by a domestic cat was found to be suffering from salmonellosis. Both shoulder joints were distended by yellow caseous material and Salmonella Typhimurium DT40 was isolated from the caseous material.

Salmonellosis was also initially suspected in a greenfinch (Carduelus chloris) that had a thickened oesophagus and crop with areas of necrosis and ulceration. Cultures for salmonella were negative, but wet preparations from the affected areas demonstrated large numbers of motile protozoa, possibly trichomonads. Necrotic ingluvitis in wild finches is described more fully in The Veterinary Record, September 17th 2005, page 360.

A necrotic enteritis was found in a jackdaw (Corvus monedula) found dying in a garden. Areas of ulceration and necrosis extended from the duodenum to the large intestine, and Clostridium perfringens was isolated. No underlying precipitating factor could be identified.

Two mute swan (Cygnus olor) cygnets from the same brood were found dead. Both were thin and had heavy burdens of internal parasites. Large numbers of gizzard worms (Amidostomum anseris) and thorny-headed worms were present in both birds, and one bird also had many unidentified tapeworms.