dragon@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Sam Conway) (12/08/89)
(forgive me is this is a repost -- my Distribution hiccuped) The saliva of a cat contains the Pasturella bacterium (Pasturella multocida). It is a VERY potent bacteria against which birds have no natural defense. It is so potent, in fact, that if a cat-bitten songbird is fed to a raptor, the raptor will quickly die. Any puncture wound on a bird caused by a cat should be assumed to be a bite; it means that the bird must be treated FAST. The smaller the bird, the faster the action of the bacteria, so that death is assured within 48 hours for most birds. The chief symptoms are listlessness, depression, and loss of coordination. Once these symptoms set in, it is usually too late. There is no sure-fire way to combat the bacteria. The best bet is to give the bird a dosage of a broad-spectrum antibiotic as quickly as possible. We use amikacin, which though only effective in about 15% of the cat-bite cases we see, is still the most effective drug we've found. Keflex has also been suggested. Amikacin should not be used on raptors unless there is no other drug available, as it can cause liver dysfunction. If anyone out there knows (or knows someone who knows) of any drug that is effective against Pasturella bacteria, the Vermont Raptor Center would very much like to know. Please respond to me via E-mail. (above information supplied by Nancy Read, director, VRC). -- Sam Conway dragon@eleazar.dartmouth.edu Chemistry Dept., Dartmouth College Vermont Raptor Center, VINS Save the Humans!