Diagnosis of Proteus spp. in wild birds raised under captivity in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

The aim of this work was to relate the occurrence of bacterial illnesses in two wild birds raised under captive conditions in Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, focusing on their clinical and microbiological findings. Clinical exams were performed in both birds in order to collect data and to determine the clinical and pathological outcome. In bird [A1] was diagnosed an infection in the respiratory system, and in bird [A2] the diagnosis was pododermatitis. Samples of shedding were collected using a sterile swab to perform a bacterial culture in blood agar and McConkey agar. An antibiogram was performed as well. The bacterial culture revealed the growing of Proteus sp. and Proteus vulgares, respectively. The antibiogram performed with the samples of bird [A1] showed the resistance to the follow antibiotics: ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, aztreonam, cefepime, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and gentamicin. In bird [A2], strain was resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, aztreonam, cefotoxin, chloramphenicol, tetraciclin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and gentamicina. Proteus spp. appears to be a potencial multiresistant pathogen and causes severe lesions and diseases for wild birds in captivity.