Veterinary Services

Reports were received from a number of different locations of immature starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus) showing abnormalities of the central nervous system such as circling, ataxia and torticollis. No significant gross abnormalities were detected in birds submitted for post mortem examination, but encephalitis was found on histopathological examination of the brain of some birds.

This condition has been seen in young starlings and house sparrows in previous years, but no aetiological agent has yet been demonstrated [Pennycott and others (2002), Veterinary Record 151, 213-214]. One exception was an immature starling which developed nervous signs approximately seven days after admission to a wildlife rehabilitation centre – a large area of necrosis was visible grossly in the brain of this bird, and histopathology revealed inflammation and necrosis associated with many fungal hyphae.

The zoonotic implications of handling sick wild birds were underlined by the submission of the carcases of two feral pigeons (Columba livia) that had been found by members of the public and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation centre. One of the pigeons had very fluid intestinal contents, and was positive for Chlamydophila psittaci by the PCR test. The other pigeon had an enlarged liver, epicarditis and purulent airsacculitis, was positive for C. psittaci by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and a heavy growth of Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from the liver.