AGY (Avian Gastric Yeast) aka mega bacteria

[Koki]

I've been told many different things about the subject organism.

Both of my new p'lets have this. My vet (a very well respected AAV certified vet with published credits) told me the birds may never show any clinical signs, yet it could cause major problems and death down the road.

My web research mostly says it's an issue but only in the presence of other stress factors, inclduding other disease.

I've called several breeders, including P'let Ranch, who told me that all birds have it, even wild ones, and that the health guarantees do not cover birds with AGY, unless there are clinical signs. They said vets do not treat this unless there are other problems.

My vet recommends treatment.

PS-I want to make it clear my birds did not come from P'let Ranch, I did not even know about them when I bought my birds (wish I had). They are not responsible my AGY birds.

-Ronnie

[Pado]

Here are a few articles on AGY:

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/yeast.html

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww64eiv.htm

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/170212.htm

[catfish]

Here's a pic of AGY:



didn't see anything on VIN that would be of any help though... just info on what steps for treatment and some info on how it sometimes in resistant to meds since many vets confuse it with other bacteria. Sorry...

[Koki]

Thanks Pedo and Catfish,

Here are a few more links for anyone who wants to read a bit more. I think the guys at Texas A&M are on the edge of this stuff, as far as I can tell.

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/hygiene-protocols/pubs/avian-gastric-yeast.pdf (http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/hygiene-protocols/pubs/avian-gastric-yeast.pdf)

http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/schubot/research/agy.shtml (http://www.cvm.tamu.edu/schubot/research/agy.shtml)

http://www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/miscellaneous/avian%20gastric%20yeast%20-%20Phalen.htm (http://www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/miscellaneous/avian%20gastric%20yeast%20-%20Phalen.htm)

http://www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/miscellaneous/megabac.htm (http://www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/miscellaneous/megabac.htm)

[Pado]

Here's a pic of AGY:



didn't see anything on VIN that would be of any help though... just info on what steps for treatment and some info on how it sometimes in resistant to meds since many vets confuse it with other bacteria. Sorry...

Catfish - these pics ask for a vin.com password to view :)

[catfish]

I see the picture :confused:

let's see if this is it... it's not a big deal, just a fecal.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j28/miyakko/th_217000.jpg (http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j28/miyakko/217000.jpg)

[Carebear]

Our bird was very ill last year (we'd only had her a month!). She was passing whole seed, was lethargic, and just seemed generally unwell. We took her to the vet and he was a little unsure about exactly what was wrong, so he put her on baytril as a precaution. My husband had done a lot of research and thought the problem might be megabacteria. After doing more research of his own, the vet agreed this might be the problem, so to be safe he treated the p'let with an oral antifungal called Amphotericin B.

I did not think the bird would survive, but she pulled through it. Having to give her the oral medications got her very used to be fully handled and was actually helped with her socialization.

[Koki]

Both of my new p'lets have the AGY, though neither shows any clinical signs. My vet recommends we start treatment with the Amphotericin B.