There is nothing known about infectious diseases of free-living swifts. However, certain disease patterns occur regularly in swifts in human hands, which are described below. It is not always possible to assign the observed symptoms to a certain disease. Diagnostics and therapy in such cases are often merely empirical.
Aspergillosis
Some bird species, for example parrots, mynahs, various birds of prey and water birds, are extremely susceptible to infections of the respiratory tract with Aspergillus spp. A high susceptibility to infection by mold fungus was also observed in swifts. In particular, immuno-suppressed swifts as well as patients receiving antibiotic therapy are affected. The Aspergillus infections in swifts documented so far proceeded without exception hyperacutely and often led to death by suffocation a few hours after the appearance of the first symptoms. In swifts, the fungal spores appear to have a high affinity to the trachea and especially to the syrinx. An aspergilloma forming there may displace the trachea within hours so dramatically that rescue becomes impossible. Once symptoms like a beeping dyspnea and hectic breathing with open beak occur, medical treatment mostly comes too late. Here, one has to pay attention to the smallest warning signs: frequent panting, breathing with an open beak, increased breathing frequency without an evident reason, even the slightest wheeze. As Itraconazole, which is reliable and quickly effective, is well tolerated by swifts and has shown no adverse reactions so far, treatment should be started immediately at the slightest suspicion of a beginning aspergillosis.
B-Hypovitaminosis
For some years now, a symptom complex which leads to the diagnosis of vitamin B-hypovitaminosis has been observed increasingly often in swifts in human hands. In the beginning relatively unspecific symptoms like anorexia, a transfixed gaze, then compulsive head movements, quickly increase to high-grade ataxia, torticollis and opisthotonus. Commotion and stress may trigger these symptoms in a swift with an undersupply of vitamin B within a few minutes. Untreated, the convulsions develop rapidly and lead eventually to death. The younger the bird, the more dramatic the course. A nine-day-old nestling was dead half an hour after the first symptoms occurred.
In the initial stage of a vitamin B-hypovitaminosis, a subcutaneous application of vitamin B-complex is sufficient to make the symptoms abate within the shortest time (approximately half an hour to one hour). If the convulsions have already progressed, an intramuscular injection is necessary. By regular prophylactic applications of vitamin B-complex as a subcutaneous infusion every 8 to 10 days, this deficiency symptom can be prevented. Oral administration, successful in swallows, is according to our own observations largely ineffective in swifts.
Gastro-intestinal infections
Non-specified gastro-intestinal infections occur particularly in swifts which, after a long period of starving, come into human hands and are immediately fed too generously. Within the shortest period of time this leads to a moderately to severely disturbed general condition and pasty, foul-smelling diarrhea. In mild cases, oral administration of ampicillin ("Ampitab") over 2-3 days is successful. Ampicillin acts purely locally in the gut, not systemically. Therefore, simultaneous prophylactic administration of an antimycotic is not necessary in this case. Furthermore, a preparation that supports the physiological gut flora should be given, for example "Bene-Bac". Feeding a severely emaciated swift should always be done very carefully and cautiously, and supported by infusions with roborantia, not only to avoid gastro-intestinal infections but also to prevent a life-threatening overload of the stomach.
If there is an explosive proliferation of intestinal pathogenic germs, for example an E. coli infection, it may be necessary to administer a systemic antibiotic. Enrofloxacin ("Baytril") or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid ("Augmentan") have proven effective in some cases. Treatment following a cloacal swab and antibiogram is advisable.
Pododermatitis ("Bumble Foot")
The plantar abscesses feared by birds of prey keepers and also known in pet bird medicine (e.g. in budgerigars and cockatiels) occasionally occur in swifts, in various forms. Two forms in particular were observed:
1) Especially in malnourished young swifts, purulent swellings occasionally occurred on one or both feet in the sole area, as well as severe swelling of the toes. When the abscesses were surgically opened, large amounts of hard, whitish, crumbly pus could be removed. Due to the mechanical pressure of the pus foci on the surrounding soft tissue and tendons, a vicious circle presumably develops: the infection sustains itself and worsens progressively. A successful cure was not achieved in any case, as not every pus focus could be removed from the taut, sinewy structures of the foot, either by clearing or flushing. Conservative treatment attempts with antibiotic bandages (e.g. chloramphenicol, tetracycline) in cases where pus had not yet accumulated were also mostly unsuccessful.
2) The second form of pododermatitis manifested as diffuse soft-tissue swelling, especially in adult swifts. No connection to prior malnutrition could be established in these cases; even adult swifts admitted directly without any prior handling were affected. It is not known whether these are inflammatory or oedematous swellings. The swellings affect the claws and sole and spread over the entire tarsometatarsus. This ultimately leads to the formation of monstrous "paws" and secondarily to injuries from the bird's own claws, followed by severe bacterial infections. If swifts affected by this still require a long-term stay in care, euthanasia remains, in the worst case, the only option. If the "bumble foot" is only mildly pronounced and the swift can be released in the foreseeable future, it should be allowed to fly even with swollen feet (but under no circumstances should it be ringed!). Under natural conditions – while flying! – a swift's feet bear hardly any weight; normal movement is likely to promote the resorption of accumulated tissue fluid, and healing can be expected sooner in freedom than through further treatment attempts in human care.
Pharyngeal infections
The throat of a free-living swift is normally sterile. All infections of the pharyngeal mucosa and gullet observed so far were multifactorial diseases occurring in captivity, favored among other things by insufficient hygiene, a weakened immune system, vitamin deficiency, mucous membranes that are too dry, and stress.
The most common form is a smear infection with Candida albicans. Infected animals show mucous whitish coatings in the throat and a sweetish foetor ex ore. Left untreated, these throat coatings can develop into thick brownish crusts, which in the worst case can even hinder the bird's swallowing and breathing. So far, only Candida albicans has been detected in pharyngeal swabs of affected swifts. Yeasts of other genera and species did not occur. Infections with Candida albicans should be treated immediately, as they have repeatedly been observed as a precursor to severe bacterial pharyngeal infections. Pathogenic germs such as Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were not infrequently detected in bacteriological examinations. An antibiogram is essential for successful treatment. However, such pharyngeal infections have often proven resistant to therapy and, due to their dramatic hyperacute course, have repeatedly made euthanasia of the affected swift necessary!
A deficiency in vitamin A, which is not uncommon during prolonged stays in captivity, as well as mucous membranes that are too dry, also favor pharyngeal infections, as micro-lesions occur in the mucous membrane, creating an entry point for pathogenic germs.
