Abstract A 5‐year‐old, male, fancy pigeon ( Columba livia f. domestica , 380 g), found dead without prior clinical signs, was submitted for diagnostic postmortem examination. Histologically, the animal exhibited heterophilic to mononuclear hepatitis consistent with avian chlamydiosis; however, Chlamydia psittaci ‐specific real‐time polymerase chain reaction was negative. Subsequent broad‐range Chlamydiaceae polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing, and immunohistochemical examination was then performed, confirming an infection with Chlamydia avium as the likely cause of the hepatitis and death; a finding that underscored the importance of an expanded diagnostic panel in suspected avian chlamydial infections.
Dervas et al. (Fri,) studied this question.