• 
  Escherichia coli - commonly referred to as E. coli,
• this Gram-negative bacterium is a member of the Entero-bacteriacae species.
   
• While many harmless or beneficial strains of E. coli occur widely in nature,
  • including the intestinal tracts of humans and other vertebrates, birds and reptiles
     
• pathogenic types are a frequent cause of both enteric and urogenital tract infections.
  • Several different types of pathogenic E. coli are capable of causing disease.
  • A particularly dangerous type is referred to as entero-hemorrhagic E. coli or EHEC.
  • The first such strain was identified in the United States in 1982.
  • Since then EHEC strains have been associated with food-borne outbreaks traced to undercooked hamburgers, unpasteurized apple juice or cider, salad, salami, and unpasteurized milk.
  • EHEC strains produce toxins that have effects similar to those produced by bacteria of
    the Shigella genus.
  • These enterotoxins can damage the lining of the intestine, cause anaemia, stomach cramps and bloody diarrhoea, and Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) leading to kidney failure.
  •  In North America, HUS is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in children.
     

• Birds, especially psittacines, are less dependent on E. coli and rely on a more Gram-positive gut flora.
• However, softbills such as the Passerines (finches, jays, songbirds), Columbiforms (pigeons and doves), Galliforms (chicken-like birds), Raptors (hawks, falcons, owls), and Ratites (emus and ostriches), have a high incidence of normal Gram-negative gut flora of many varieties including E. coli.
   
• The distribution of E. coli in psittacines varies one one species to another.
  • It is less common in Amazons and macaws,
  • sometimes found in A Greys, and common in Cockatoos and Eclectus.
  • In fact, E. coli can compose as much as 30 percent of the gut flora of some psittacines and others like cockatiels and budgies carry somewhat less.

• The bacteria is shed from an infected bird in the faecal material as well as nasal and/or ocular (eyes) secretions.
• The organism remains stable outside the host body and may dry into a dusty substance.
• This dust contaminates the air in the form of aerosols.
• These aerosols are then inhaled by another possible host (bird in the same or nearby Aviary).
• Susceptibility, as well as the amount of contamination determine whether or not the new host
  becomes infected with the disease.
•  Other forms of transmission include infected hen birds feeding their young with contaminated crop contents, as well as contaminated feed and drinking water.
• Vertical transmission
  • (transmission of the bacteria to an egg) can occur
  • subsequently chicks hatch and spread salmonella by direct contact.
  • The embryo may die if bacteria levels become to high.
     
• The disease has a greater chance of spreading in overcrowded conditions, stale air environments, nest-boxes, and brooders.
• Pet shops, bird marts, and quarantine stations are also high risk areas.

• Ruffled feathers - diarrhoea - listlessness - weakness - shivering - vent picking
• The severity of the illness can depend on the age of the bird, the virulence of the bacteria,
  the immune system, stress and the degree of contamination.
• Affected birds can also become "Carriers" showing no disease symptoms.
• These "Carriers" can spread the disease to their offspring and may later become ill as a result of stress.
• Baby birds, with less developed immune systems, are more susceptible to disease and frequently die.
• Chronic infections in adult birds may form abscesses, fail to hatch eggs, have changes in eating habits and may intermittently pass contaminating bacteria.

• Keep water and feed bowls free of faecal material (droppings)
• Identify "carrier" birds and properly treat them.
• Careful disposal of contaminated materials.
• Minimize Stress in the aviary. 

• Broad spectrum antibiotics should only be started when a sample for culturing has been taken.
  • And the condition has been confirmed by the Avian Vet with the results of the samples.
     
• Oral and injected antibiotics should be given simultaneously in severe cases.
• The sulfa drugs are good to use orally.
• Kanamycin and Gentamycin are usually effective by injection.
• When Gentamycin is used do not allow dehydration - make sure the bird is drinking sufficiently.
• Dehydration may cause toxicity to occur.
• If necessary, the antibiotics can be changed after sensitivity results are known.
• If diarrhoea is severe Kaopectate or Pepto Bismal may be given orally with 2 to 3 drops in mouth
  three times per day.
• Water consumption should be monitored to prevent dehydration.
• Maintain a stress free environment.
• An Incubator, Brooder, Gardener's propagator, Infra Red Heat Lamp or a heating pad under the cage should be used to maintain the temperature between 85 and 90 degrees.
• If you don't have access to any of the above - a heating pad alone won't maintain the temperature,
  • place the cage in a box and the box on the heating pad with a thermometer in the back of the box in order to monitor temperature.

ANTIBIOTICS:

• Kanamycin: Dosage: .01 mg to one gram of body weight intramuscularly twice daily.
• Gentamycin: Dosage: .01 mg to one gram of body weight intramuscularly once daily
  • or 25 mg. to 120 ml of drinking water orally.
• Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole Suspension: Dosage .002 ml to one gram of body weight
  - orally twice daily.
• Sodium Sulfachiorpridazine Powder: Dosage ¼ tsp to 120 ml drinking water
   

ANTIDIARRHEALS:

• Pepto Bismol: Coats the intestinal tract.
  • Helps to form a firmer stool.
  • Dosage 2-3 drops in the mouth - 3 times daily.
     
• Kaopectate: Daolin and pectin coat the intestinal tract and form a firmer stool.
  • Dosage 3 drops in the mouth 3 times daily.
     
• Please check with the manufacturer of the specific antibiotic for additional information before treatment is started.
• Always consult with your local Avian Vet for additional information before treating individuals.

• For best cultures are taken directly from the cloaca (Vent area) rather than from a faecal sample.
• If the bird dies, intestinal material, liver, blood and spleen can also be cultured.
   
• Anytime E. coli is found in an internal culture other than the gastrointestinal tract, it should be considered pathogenic.
• E. coli can proliferate uncontrollably outside its normal home in the gut.
• However, some strains of E. coli can cause gastrointestinal disease.
• So, even in the gut, the bacterium may be pathogenic.
   
• Sensitivity testing should be performed since enteric bacteria are often resistant to several antibiotics.

• E. coli is usually detected from a cloacal (vent) culture.
• It is best to take the culture directly from the cloaca rather than from a faecal (droppings) sample.
• A faecal sample may be contaminated by another bird or animal, such as a rodent.