Birds Flashcards
What is Marek’s Disease? When do signs first appear and what are common signs?
Lymphomatous infiltration of nerves leading to paresis/paralysis. Signs first appear at 3-5 months
What are the different forms of Marek’s Disease?
Classical, acute (4-8 wks), eye, skin, inflammatory, transient paralysis
What cell type is responsible for Marek’s Disease?
What type of virus is it? How many serotypes are there?
What type of infiltration?
T cells
Herpesvirus (3 serotypes. II is apathogenic)
Pleomorphic lymphoid infiltrations
What factors affect the development of Marek’s Disease? How is disease spread? Can it be treated? How might it be controlled?
Pathogenicity of virus, environment/ degree of exposure and host (age, sex, genetic resistance and susceptibility)
Infection occurs via inhalation (no vertical transmission)
No treatment- cull
Control: Hygiene, vacc (1 day old chick), selection for genetic resistance
What is lymphoid leucosis? How are avian leucosis viruses transmitted?
Disease of chickens associated with neoplastic lymphoid tissue infiltrating visceral organs including the spleen, liver and bursa of fab* (occurs first).
Exogenous viruses may spread vertically and horizontally; endogenous viruses are transmitted genetically in germ cells of both sexes.
What factors affect the development of disease caused by avian leucosis viruses?
Age at first exposure, dose, virulence, starin, immune status, genetic status
Infection “in ovo” or very early in life with avian leucosis virus leads to dvpt of disease/ death at…. of age. How might this disease be controlled?
4-5 months
Genetic selection, detection of carrier hens with vaginal swabs/ egg/ albumen tests
What is infectious bursal disease?
Virus affecting chickens, turkeys and ducks (but only chickens show symptoms). Virus has a tropism for lymphoid cells (especially those of B cell origin).
Disease has 3 forms:
1. immunosuppression (clinically inapparent)
2. acute clinical form at 3-6 wks of age
3. very severe form
How is IBD transmitted? How can you confirm dx? Is it treatable?
oral route.
histopath or demonstration of Ag by ELISA
PCR
No treatment (rely on passive Ab)
Briefly describe the different forms of IBD.
Immunosuppressive form: prematurely atrophied bursa in dead birds. inadequate response to vacc
Acute: lesions due to necrosis of lymphoid tissue in bursa and B-cell derivatives in peripheral lymphoid tissues. Rapid onset and rapid course (7d). Sick, debilitated birds with watery diarrhoea and swollen blood stained vent.
Very severe form in Asia and Europe
What is chicken infectious anaemia caused by? What does it cause?
Gyrovirus.
mortality, anaemia, pale aplastic bone marrow, premature atrophy of the thymus and bursa of fab, small spleen and haemorrhage in subcutis, muscles and other tissues.
Sometimes see gangrenous dermatitis
How is Chicken Infectious anaemia spread? What are some diagnostic signs?
vertical transmission
HCT less than 27%
How might CIA be controlled?
Vaccination of breeder flocks with a live vaccine prior to the point of lay.
Why is it recommended not to fast a bird beyond 2-3 hours?
Bc of bird’s high. Metabolic rate and low liver glycogen storage
What are the different life stages of a parrot?
Neonate (hatching-> eye open)
Nestling (pin feathers develop-> chick tries to fly)
Fledgling (bird learns to fly, forage, eat, interact)
Weanling (bird learns to eat on its own)
Juvenile (weaning-> puberty)
Adolescent (hormonal change)
Adult (maturity)
Natural bird behaviour can be broken up into 3-4 key areas. What are they?
Social interaction Foraging Maintenance behaviour Reproductive behaviours (in breeding season)
Which nut has the highest calcium levels? Which have the highest fat content?
almonds
Walnuts
What are some potential causes of feather plucking?
Medical:
- allergies
- mites/ parasites
- low humidity
- skin infections
- psittacosis
- malnutrition and cancer
- chronic pain
Pyschological:
- boredom
- overcrowding
- environmental change
- poor wing clip
- sexual frustration
In which type of birds is insoluble grit essential?
Birds that swallow seed whole (pigeons, quail, poultry, pheasants)
What drugs may be used as premed in birds?
What about as anaesthetic agent?
Butorphenol plus midazolam
Ketamine plus medetomidine
What air sacs are commonly used in air sac cannulation?
Abdominal
Why should you avoid taping the beak closed with an ET tube in anseriformes?
Will stimulate diving reflex and bird will keep waking up
What can be assessed during anaesthesia to monitor the central nervous system and depth of anaesthesia?
Jaw tone, cloacal reflex, corneal reflex, pedal reflex, muscle relaxation
What structures can be investigated by scoping the left and right sides of the bird respectively?
Right side: pancreas, right testis, right liver lobe, right kidney, right lung
Left side: spleen, ovary, oviduct, gizzard, pancreas, left testis, left liver lobe, kidney and lung
How might you euthanase a bird?
Halothane gas for small birds. Can use IM pentobarbital if bird is sedated with midazolam or butorphanol
What are some signs of a sick bird?
- fluffed up feathers
- inactivity
- not calling
- dirty vent
- slow hed movements
- on bottom of cage
- soiled vent
- not eating
- decreased body weight
- discharge from nares
What is on the “put it down” list for parrots?
- rapid breathing/ doesn’t turn to bite when grip is released
- doesn’t bite when something presented to corner of mouth
- doesn’t grasp/ weak grasp
- closed eyes
What is the normal temp for small fiches and canaries?
41 degrees celsius
What are some conditions needed at home to nurse a sick bird?
Warmth, darkness, food and water, isolation, exercise, monitor droppings
Which ovary is normally present in the bird?
Left
Where should a bird be microchipped?
SHALLOW MUSCLE OF LEFT BREAST
How should you clip a birds feathers?
Clip primaries 1-10 up to the level of the primary covers. Always make sure the bird is balanced.
What are the primary and secondary lymphoid tissues of the bird?
Primary: Thymus and bursa of fabricius
Secondary: spleen, harderian glands, caecal tonsils BALT, GALT, CALT and lymphoid follicles in other organs (NO LNs except in waterfowl)
Passive Abs in a chick usually persist for how long?
3-6 weeks
When vaccinating chickens with a spray/mist, how big do the droplets need to be?
15 micron (otherwise they go LRS)
How do mycoplasma vaccines need to be administered?
eyedrops
On a VD view of a parrot, where should the lover fall?
Between lines drawn from the shoulder to the hip joints
Where do you take blood from in a bird?
Right jugular. Can also take it from toe via toe nail clip or needle prick, tarsal vein (ducks, juvenile ratites), ulnar vein
How long does it take for barium to get through a bird for imaging?
60 mins entire GIT. In 4 hours crop will be empty
What parameters are useful for identifying liver and kidney disease in birds?
Liver: Bile acids (inc.), AST, GLDH
How many lobes in the kidneys of birds?
3
Where are the kidneys positioned in a bird?
Ventral aspect of the lumbosacral vertebra in close association with the origin of the sciatic nerve
Why can diseases of the air sac extend into the kidney?
Bc ventral surface of kidney forms part of the dorsal wall of the air sac.
What is the blood supply for each kidney in a bird?
3 renal arteries and 1 renal portal vein
Avian kidneys have both reptilian type and mammalian type nephrons. Where can the different types be found?
Reptilian outer cortical regions (no loop of henle- uric acid secretion via tubular excretion)
Mammalian: inner cortical areas- formation of urine
What are the three functions of the avian kidney?
- Water resorption by renal tubules
- Ecretion of uric acid, control of electrolytes
- Antiperistaltic movement of renal excreta into rectum/ colon helps with water resoprtion
recent injections of B-complex vitamins may cause the urate colour to change to what?
yellow/ orange/ brown
What might heavy metal poisoning in birds lead to?
Haematuria
Haemoglobinuria
Porphorinuria
Nephropathy
What are the three different types of gout?
- Visceral gout; urate deposition on epicardium, liver capsule and peritoneum (usually acute renal failure)
- Articular gout: joint and synovial sheaths (usually chronic renal failure)
- Renal gout: uric acid crystals in interstitium of kidneys
What may cause toxic nephropathy in avians?
Acute heavy metal toxicity Mycotoxins Medications Excess dietary calcium Hypervitaminosis D
(may then lead to visceral gout and urolithiasis)
What are some viral infections of birds that may affect the kidneys?
- Infectious bronchitis virus
- Infectious bursal disease
- Avian nephritis virus
- Polyomaviruses (budgies)
