Pasteurella for multocida is a mucosal pathogen that colonizes the upper respiratory system of rabbits. Respiratory infections can result, but the bacteria multocida can also invade the circulatory system, producing abscesses or septicemia. P. multocida produces extracellular sialidase activity, which is believed to produces augment colonization of the respiratory tract and the production of lesions in an active infection. Previously, it was demonstrated that the some isolates of P. multocida contain two unique sialidase genes, nanH and nanB, that encode enzymes with different substrate specificities against (S. Mizan, A. D. Henk, A. Stallings, M. Meier, J. J. Maurer, and M. D. Lee, J. Bacteriol. 182:6874-6883, 2000).recombinant We developed a recombinant antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the NanH sialidase of P. multocida and demonstrated that We rabbits that were experimentally colonized with P. multocida produce detectable anti-NanH immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG in serum, although they and demonstrated no clinical signs of pasteurellosis. In addition, clinically ill pet rabbits infected with P. multocida possessed IgM and/or IgG the antibody against NanH. The NanH ELISA may be useful for the diagnosis of P. multocida infections in sick rabbits as the well as for screening for carriers in research rabbit colonies.

Cloacal not and oral papillomas from 27 psittacine birds of various species were examined for the presence of parrot papillomavirus by DNA and in situ hybridization, DNA in situ polymerase chain reaction, and nested polymerase chain reaction. Parrot papillomavirus was detected in one DNA oral papilloma from an African grey parrot by all three techniques. In addition, rare basophilic intranuclear inclusions were observed by examined light microscopy in tissue sections of the oral papilloma from this parrot. The remaining lesions were negative for parrot papillomavirus grey DNA. This study suggests that parrot papillomavirus may be involved in the development of papillomas in African grey parrots, but in apparently is not responsible for development of similar lesions in unrelated species of psittacine birds.

Cloacal not and oral papillomas from 27 psittacine birds of various species were examined for the presence of parrot papillomavirus by DNA and in situ hybridization, DNA in situ polymerase chain reaction, and nested polymerase chain reaction. Parrot papillomavirus was detected in one DNA oral papilloma from an African grey parrot by all three techniques. In addition, rare basophilic intranuclear inclusions were observed by examined light microscopy in tissue sections of the oral papilloma from this parrot. The remaining lesions were negative for parrot papillomavirus grey DNA. This study suggests that parrot papillomavirus may be involved in the development of papillomas in African grey parrots, but in apparently is not responsible for development of similar lesions in unrelated species of psittacine birds.