Avian Tuberculosis in Kayseri Zoo

Summary: In this study, wild birds died at Kayseri Beştepeler Zoo then presented for necropsy to Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Erciyes University were investigated for pathological, bacteriological and mycological aspects from October 2004 to March 2005. Of 12 wild birds four were pigeons (Columba domestica), three were long-legged buzzards (Buteo rufinus), two were mandarin ducks (Aix galericulato), two were turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), and one was pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). On postmortem examinations, tuberculosis lesions on the liver, lungs, spleen, and small intestine were observed. Histopathological examinations of lesions revealed granulomas with acid-fast bacilli within typical multinucleated giant cells of the granulomas. Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium was isolated and identified by bacteriological culture and BACTEC rapid radiometric technique, respectively. In conclusion, the incidence of avian tuberculosis is high among wild birds in Kayseri zoo