Isolation of Mycobacterium avium from ringneck pheasants (Phasianus colchicus).

Tuberculous lesions were observed at necropsy in the liver, spleen, and intestine of five 10-month-old ringneck pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) from a flock of birds raised in captivity for breeding. Histological examination of the tissues revealed granulomas with associated acid-fast bacilli. The history and lesions are unusual in that very few bacteria were found in any given lesion, the birds were all in good flesh when necropsied, and five birds from this same group at 6 months of age were observed to have acid-fast bacteria in the small intestine. Mycobacterium avium was isolated and serotyping was attempted, but the colonies were too dry to serotype.