Avian Dermatology

Question 1

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease

Answer 1

• Circovirus of parrots, songbirds
• brittle beak; folliculitis
• malformed/mishaped feathers
• tx = palliative abx; die within 6-9 months

Question 2

Pox Viruses

Answer 2

• virus strain dependent on species
• direct contact with other birds; mosquito = vector
• lesions on non-feathered skin (crusts, vesicles, papules)
• lesions can spread over cornea -> impairs vision! (starvation b/c bird can’t see)
• • systemic signs like liver damage (canary pox)
• tx = vaccine

Question 3

Pododermatitis

Answer 3

• Staphylococcus aureus (Bumble Foot)
• wet flooring / litter conditions; inadequate perching
• footpad swelling, granulomatous inflammation

Question 4

Knemidocoptic Mange

Answer 4

• knemidocoptes = scaly leg mite
• brittle, misshapen beak
• dx = skin scrape to visualize mite
  affects immunocompromised birds (similar to demodex)

Question 5

Feather Picking

Answer 5

• psittacines (parrots), colony birds
• symmetrical feather loss
• obsessive complsive disorder (boredom, changes in routine, stress)
• behavioral disorder

Question 6

Blood Feathers

Answer 6

• new, growing primary feathers have substantial arteriole supply to the pulp
• can break off when handling, flying, etc. -> bleeds profusely
• tx = pull feather our @ root with forceps -> arteriole will clot / stop bleeding

Question 7

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Answer 7

Should be on ddx for budgies >5 years old

Budgie > 5 y/o

Question 8

Fatty Liver Disease

Answer 8

Nutritional disorder
- diet too high in fat (e.g., seed/grain)
- increased body fat causes stretching of the skin -> separation of feather follicle tracts
- dx = elevated liver enzymes, bile acids
- prevent with pelleted ration, vegetables and fruit diet

Question 9

Structures of avian integumentary

Answer 9

Flight feathers -> contour feathers -> down feathers -> scales

No hair!

Question 10

Proper avian dermatologic work-up
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3

Answer 10

Level 1
- history / PE; fecal gram stain pre-abx (abx changes GIT microflora), response to therapy

Level 2
- skin/feather C&S
- bloodwork; viral PCR

Level 3
- exhaustive history (e.g., behavioral/OCD self mutilation)
- biopsy, rads, T4 test