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Gram Stain |
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This is a simple test used to check for the presence and quantities of various type of bacteria and yeast from the oral cavity, cloaca, or some other site. To perform the test, a sterile cotton-tipped applicator stick is used to swab the collection site. The sample is smeared on to a microscope slide and transported back to the laboratory. The slide is then stained with several dyes in order to "color" the bacteria and yeast for identification. There are four steps to the Gram Stain technique:
When the process is complete those bacteria (with larger pores) which stain pink are known as Gram negative bacteria while those bacteria with small pores are called Gram positive bacteria. Bacteria occur in several shapes. The two primary shapes are cocci (round or oval) and bacilli (rod-shaped). Other less common shapes are coccobacillic (rounded, slightly rod-shaped) and spirochetes (curved spirals). All cocci are Gram positive bacteria. These include Streptococcus sp. And Staphylococcus sp. which make up the majority of the normal bacteria flora seen in healthy psittacine birds. Lactobacillus is an example of this type of bacteria which we are all familiar with in yogurt or in a number of commercial products used to inoculate a bird's GI tract with "normal" bacteria. Gram negative rods consist of most of the bacteria considered "potentially pathogenic" or disease producing in birds. Examples include E. coli, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Citerbacter and Enterbacter sp. Coccobacillic shaped bacteria (CB) are Gram negative and the most common that is disease producing is Klebsiella sp. Spirochetes are also Gram negative. These are rare but they have been associated with disease in the respiratory tract of cockatiels. It is useful to estimate the number of bacteria and general proportions of Gram positives to Gram negatives present on each slide. Estimates are classified as follows
By determining an estimate of the number and types of bacteria present, the veterinarian can better determine if specific cultures or other tests, treatments, or management changes should be carried out. In general, most healthy psittacines have primarily Gram positive bacteria in their GI tract. Gram negative bacteria may be found in smaller numbers or percentages than Gram positive bacteria. Thus in a potentially sick bird, we are looking for increased numbers and proportions of Gram negative bacteria compared to Gram positive bacteria. Yeasts are types of fungi. The most common is Candida sp. Spores of this fungi are ubiquitous, however, they may become pathogenic in debilitated or immuno-suppressed individuals. Their presence and in what numbers and forms help determine if treatment is necessary. Yeast appear in three forms - single, budding, or pseudohyphae (chains). These all stain Gram positive and are up to four times larger than bacteria. Small numbers of single yeast cells are common in normal healthy psittacines. A lot may be present if the bird has been eating bread. Larger numbers of budding yeast or the presence of pseudohyphae indicates the yeast are multiplying in the GI tact and that a disease state may exist. Examples include young birds with sour crop or infection in the oral cavity or birds on long term antibiotics which kill normal bacteria causing a yeast overgrowth. Gram Stain
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