Systemic Coxiella-like Infection With Myocarditis and Hepatitis in an Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus)

Abstract

A multiorgan infection with a Coxiella-like organism was determined to be the cause of death of a female eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus). The diagnosis was based on gross lesions, histopathology, Gimenez and Gram special stains, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of a bacterial 16s rRNA gene fragment isolated from hepatic and cardiac tissue. Gross postmortem examination revealed multifocal to coalescing foci of hepatic necrosis. The most significant histologic lesions included multifocal lymphohistiocytic necrotizing hepatitis, locally extensive lymphoplasmacytic myocarditis, and myocardial degeneration and necrosis. Intralesional cytoplasmic organisms were identified in cardiomyocytes, biliary epithelium, and pancreatic exocrine cells. This is the first description of a Coxiella-like organism with wide-ranging cellular tropisms in a psittacine bird. In addition, lymphoplasmacytic neuritis, myositis, splenitis, airsacculitis, and enteritis were detected. It is also the first report of a Coxiella-like infection in an eclectus parrot.