Supplemented material to "Mycobacteriosis in various pet and wild birds from Germany: pathological findings, coinfections, and characterisation of causative Mycobacteria."

This is the supplemented material to the publication "Mycobacteriosis in Various Pet and Wild Birds from Germany: Pathological Findings, Coinfections, and Characterization of Causative Mycobacteria". The causative agents and confounding factors of mycobacteriosis in a set of pet (n=45) and some wild birds (n=5) from Germany were examined in this study. Not only Mycobacterium genavense (Mg), but also M. avium subsp. avium (Maa) and M. avium subsp. hominissuis (Mah), contributed to mycobacteriosis in these birds. The isolates were characterized by a combination of different typing methods. The genetic diversity of isolates belonging to Mg, Maa and Mah differed. Various coinfections by viruses, endoparasites, fungi and other bacterial species did not affect the manifestation of mycobacteriosis. Cross pathological fidings were more often seen in mycobacteriosis caused by Ma compared to Mg suggesting a different pathogenicity of the two species. New genotypes of Mah were identified in these birds that is important for epidemiological studies and for understanding the zoonotic role of this pathogen, as the subsp. hominissuis represents an increasing public health concern. The study provides some evidence of correlation between individual Maa genotypes and virulence which will have to be confirmed by broader studies.