Macrorhabdus (gastric yeast) in parrots
Other names: Mega، Megabacteria، Going light in budgerigars
Symptoms
- Weight loss (prominent keel bone – "going light")
- Regurgitation
- Undigested seeds in droppings
- Diarrhea, lethargy
- Repeated relapse
How it spreads
Fecal-oral; asymptomatic infection is common and appears with stress and poor husbandry.
Diagnosis
Wet-mount examination of fresh droppings under the microscope (large rods), Gram stain, PCR; a single negative test does not rule it out.
Treatment
Oral amphotericin B for 30 days (highest success); acidifying the proventriculus is adjunctive; sodium benzoate is experimental.
Prevention
Artificial incubation and hand-rearing to establish a clean flock, good husbandry, stress reduction. Note: in Egypt's summer birds drink more → risk with drinking-water medications.
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.