Exotic Bird FAQ
Q. What is a Gram Stain?
When you take your bird to the vet, whether it's a new-bird exam, routine well-bird exam, or an exam for a particular problem, your vet will probably take a Gram stain.
A.
A Gram stain is used to check for various types of bacteria and yeast from the mouth, cloaca (the opening under the tail), or some other site. Usually it's the cloaca, but some vets will take swabs from both the cloaca and the mouth.
Your vet will use a swab (like a Q-tip) to swipe the cloaca or the mouth with a sample. This swab will then be swiped onto a slide that will be sent to a laboratory for testing. The lab will dye the sample in order to identify any bacteria or yeast.
Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria
The lab will look for Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Gram positive bacteria are normal, and some of them are Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., and Lactobacillus (bacteria found in yogurt).
Gram negative bacteria include E. coli, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Citerbacter and Enterbacter sp. and are considered potentially pathogenic. These are disease-causing bacteria.
Yeast
The lab will also look for the presence of Gram positive yeast, such as Candida sp. Candida is fairly common, but if their numbers are high your vet might decide to pursue further tests or treatments. Birds who eat a lot of bread, who have infections in the oral cavity, or who are on antibiotics may have higher levels of yeast show up in their Gram stain.
Based on the results of the Gram stain, your vet may do additional tests, give you some medication to give your bird, or send your bird on her way with a clean bill of health.
