Common conditions in GP practice - birds Flashcards
What preliminary data can we obtain from basic diagnostics in birds?
PCV/TP
Gram stain crop wash and faeces
Blood smear
Faecal float
+/- biochem/haem
+/- radiography
+/- targeted pathogen screening
What condition is caused by a parasite that will lead to hyperkeratosis in birds, particularly budgies?
Knemidokoptic (also Cnemidocoptic) mange
causing crusty beaks, ceres, legs
treated with moxidectin injection and topical ivermectin
Which ectoparasites do we commonly see?
Flat fly, stickfast flea, red poultry mite, lice
How do we diagnose and control ectoparasites in birds?
Dx: sticky tape prep and microscope, sample skin, feathers, housing
Control: topical Rx of affected birds and environment e.g. permethrin, ivermectin
What are 2 common trauma injuries in captive birds?
Poor wing clip -> keel or wing trauma
Crashing into enclosure -> repeated wing tip injury
What are some important points in trauma management?
-> keep warm, dark, quiet
-> control haemorrhage - pressure, haemostatics, bandage
-> wound dressings
-> fracture stabilisation - bandage, splint
-> analgesia - NSAID’s, opioids
-> antibiotics - broad spectrum for cat attacks e.g. amoxycillin/clavulanic acid
-> consider euthanasia in severe cases
Treat specific problems once stable
Which common household items/foods are toxic to birds?
-> heavy metals - lead, zinc
-> Inhaled (smoke/Teflon)
-> Plants and foods (avocado, chocolate) (oleander, foxglove, lilies)
-> Contact/cutaneous (nicotine)
How do we diagnose and manage heavy metal intoxication?
Dx: radiodense material may be visible in GIT on x-ray. Elevated blood lead levels
Tx:
-> supportive care - control neuro signs, fluid, heat, etc
-> lead - chelation - calcium EDTA + fluids (renal damage)
-> removal - scope/Sx for large particles, psyllium for small particles
What are the clinical signs for avocado or chocolate intoxication in birds?
Clinical signs (avocado): respiratory distress, anorexia, ascites, acute death within 12 hours of ingestion
Clinical signs (chocolate): vomiting/regurgitation, arrhythmias, seizures, sudden death, dark faeces
Dx (for both): based on Hx and signs, no testing available
Rx (avocado): symptomatic and supportive
Rx: (chocolate): gastric lavage, activated charcoal, symptomatic and supportive
What ist the treatment for birds that have been in contact with oil?
Treatment:
stabilise the patient in a warm, stress-free environment, supportive treatment such as fluids, nutrition, warmth, decontaminate once stable (wash with warm water, dishwashing liquid, rinse, dry well)
-> rehabilitation required before release as it takes off waterproofing if their feathers
What are the problems with obesity in birds and how do we treat it?
Obesity common due to high fat and seed diet, ad lib feeding, limited exercise
Can predispose to:
-> diabetes
-> fatty liver disease
-> lipomas (cockatoos, budgies)
-> Atherosclerosis, heart disease
Diet changes should be implemented gradually, consider behavioural enrichment to compensate for less time feeding and provide exercise
A testicular tumour in birds can lead to which other 2 problems/clinical signs?
-> Testicular tumour can impinge on the sciatic nerve -> paresis, paralysis, lameness,
-> Sertoli cell tumours can cause feminisation in male budgies
Which neoplasia is common in budgies?
Lipomas
- often over keel, abdomen
- respond to diet modification, surgical excision
How do we diagnose neoplasias in birds?
biopsy (incisional, excisional)
imaging (radiography, CT, MRI)
How is beak and feather disease virus transmitted?
ingestion, inhalation, shed in feathers, skin, dander, faeces, crop, secretions
can spread via fomites - clothing, food, dishes
Is stable in the environment, needs long contact times/specific disinfectants (bleach/Virkon)
What are the clinical signs of BFDV?
feather loss/dystrophy, beak changes, secondary infections, sudden death
How do we diagnose BFDV?
Diagnosis is not straight forward
PCR - blood or feather or both. +PCR does not differentiate transient viraemia vs latent infection. Interpret in conjunction with HA/HI if possible. +PCR but clinically normal - retest in 3 months
Histopathology
HA inhibition (HI) - serum. inhibition of agglutination due to antibodies. High titre = high level of antibodies to virus. +HI = previous exposure. High HI - usually disease free
Haemagglutination (HA) - blood feathers. The higher the titre, the higher the virus excretion (antigen test). - Active infection
-> Birds with chronic BFDV - typically have high HA titre, low HI titre
How do we treat BFDV?
There is no specific antiviral, treat with supportive therapy, treat secondary infections
There is a range of possible outcomes if a bird is infected with BFDV, what are those?
-> Acute infection = rapid death (juveniles or highly susceptible species)
-> Chronic disease (months to years) = slow loss of immunity, feather and beak lesions, eventual death due to secondary infections
-> Carrier or reservoir = no clinical signs, source of virus for population
-> Good host immunity, full recovery = no clinical signs, immunocompetent (usually adults), no further shedding of virus
How is chlamydia transmitted in birds?
Feather dander, body fluids, vertical (inhalation, ingestion)
Is chlamydia zoonotic? and is it a notifiable disease?
yes and yes - contact relevant state human health authority
What is the history/signalment for chlamydia?
Parrot or pigeon (wild or captive) also waterbirds
Systemic illness or sudden death
What are the clinical signs of a bird with chlamydia?
-> May be asymptomatic
-> Anorexia, weight loss, lethargy, green urates, diarrhoea, respiratory signs, conjunctivitis, sudden death
How do we diagnose chlamydia in a bird?
-> Haem: marked leucocytosis/monocytosis
-> Biochem - increased AST, LDH, bile acids
-> Immunofluorescence (conjunctiva, choana, cloacal swabs)
-> PCR - detects AG (conj, choanal swabs)
-> Clearview - detects Ag from cloacal swab or faeces
-> Post mortem/histopath: impression smears of liver, spleen
How do we treat chlamydia in a bird?
-> Risks of consistent shedding!! (they may recover and become a shedder long term)
-> Doxycycline IM once weekly for 7 weeks
-> PO in drinking water for 45 days (compliance and dose risks)
-> Supportive care - e.g. nutrition
If owner is immunocompromised then consider rehoming, treating in hospital or euthanasia
How is aspergillosis transmitted in birds?
Inhalation of spores from environment or opportunistic infection
Which species are particularly affected with aspergillosis?
All birds potentially, particularly water birds (penguins), raptors, some parrot species, high stress species
What is the history/signalment with aspergillosis?
-> High stress (hospitalised, especially from wild)
-> Co morbidity (e.g. BFDV infection)
What are the clinical signs of a bird with aspergillosis?
-> Lower respiratory tract affected usually (airsacs and trachea/airways)
-> Voice change (if involving syrinx), dyspnoea
-> Often non-specific (weight loss, lethargy, anorexia)
How do we diagnose aspergillosis?
-> Hx and clinical signs
-> Radiography - lesions often not obvious until late
-> Endoscopic examination (trachea, airsacs, lungs)
-> Cytology - swab, aspirates from trachea, choana, etc.
-> Bloods: leucocytosis (heterophilia), non-regenerative anaemia, elevated liver enzymes, low albumin, high globulins
-> Post mortem - gross, histopathology
How do we treat a bird with aspergillosis?
-> Debulk focal lesion
-> Systemic antifungals - terbinafine, amphotericin, itraconazole
-> Nebulisation with antifungals
-> Supportive care - warmth, fluids, nutrition
-> Prolonged therapy (months) often required
Which opportunistic yeast infection can be seen in birds?
Candidiasis
What is usually the history with birds infected with candida?
-> Co-morbidities (e.g. BFDV)
-> Age (young) or stressed
-> Prolonged antibiotic use
-> Immunocompromised
-> Poor hygiene
What are the clinical signs seen with candidiasis?
-> Delayed crop emptying, crop stasis, regurgitation
-> Anorexia, maldigestion
-> Oral plaques, diarrhoea
-> Weight loss, poor growth, depression
How do we diagnose candida in a bird?
-> Swab lesion or crop wash
-> Identify organism on wet prep, Gram stain
How do we treat candidiasis?
Nystatin - fungistatic (must come into contact)
“Azoles” e.g. voriconazole
How does botulism in birds occur? What is the transmission?
Ingestion of toxin in carcasses, decaying vegetation, invertebrates - maggots, aquatic insects
What is usually the history with botulism in birds?
-> Multiple birds/species affected
-> Season (summer/autumn)
-> Adjacent to lakes/water bodies with decomposing material, maggots
What are the clinical signs seen with botulism in birds?
-> Progressive flaccid paralysis
-> Floppy necks, struggling to fly
-> Diarrhoea, dyspnoea, gasping, sudden death
How do we diagnose botulism in birds?
Generally by exclusion of other causes (esp. AI, Newcastles disease, other toxins)
Some labs offer PCR/ELISA but care with accuracy
How do we treat a bird with botulism?
Supportive care - support body, neck
Activated charcoal, rehydration, warmth, nutrition - tube feeding
Which notifiable disease have similar clinical signs as botulism?
Newcastle disease virus
Avian influenza
How is trichomonas transmitted between birds?
Contact between infected birds
Or ingestion of water, food, carcass
What are the clinical signs seen with trichomoniasis?
-> White/yellow oral plaques in upper GI
-> Regurgitation, problems eating, weight loss
-> Lethargy, depression
-> Diarrhoea
-> Wetness around head (increased mucous)
-> Generalised disease in pigeons
How do we diagnose trichomonas in birds?
Identify organism in wet mounts of crop fluid, swab of lesion
Warm saline ideal as increases organisms motility
How do we treat trichomoniasis?
-> Ronidazole or metronidazole PO
-> Supportive care
-> Debride severe plaque
-> Treat secondary infection
How do birds get enteritis and what are some examples of causative agents?
Transmission is through poor hygiene, ingestion - faecal contamination of food, water, perches. Often overgrowth of invasion of normal flora
Caused by:
E.coli, Clostridium spp, Salmonella spp, Chlamydia psittaci
What are the clinical signs associated with enteritis in birds?
Can vary with organism - acute or chronic diarrhoea, soiled vent, lethargy, anorexia, weakness, death.
Clostridium - foul smelling, haemorrhagic diarrhoea
Salmonella - septic arthritis and multi organ failure
How do we diagnose and treat enteritis in birds?
Diagnose:
Clostridium spore forming bacteria on gram stain
Salmonella - post mortem hepato/splenomegaly, ulcerative enteritis
Treat with: Antibiotics - ideally based on C&S, supportive therapy
What is “Megabacteria” in birds?
It’s a big yeast, not a bacteria at all
transmitted through ingestion of faecal material, passed from adults to feeding chicks
What are the clinical signs associated with “Megabacteria”?
Vomiting, regurgitation, diarrhoea, chronic weight loss, melena, anaemia, sudden death
How do we diagnose “Megabacteria”?
Faecal smear/wet micro (with saline),
stain poorly - gram+; post mortem - scrape junction of proventriculus and ventriculus
How do we treat “megabacteria”?
Oral amphotericin B via crop tube
What do we include in our ddx list if it is a sick female bird that is at reproductive age?
Include: ovary/oviduct/egg issues
Sick hen, strange, absent, or too many eggs - which diagnostic tests should we do first, second and third?
- Haem and biochem
- Radiography
- Endoscopy or ultrasound (very useful but need equipment and skill)
What is the difference between egg binding (dystocia) and egg retention?
Egg binding (dystocia): slow passage of the egg
Retention: failure to pass the egg
What is the signalment and the causes for egg binding (dystocia)?
Signalment: very young/very old, obesity and nutrition (esp. seed diets), chronic egg layers
Causes: underlying reproductive issues, calcium deficiency, scarring of oviduct from previous disease, malformed/large eggs, generalised illness
How do we treat egg binding (dystocia)?
First: warmth/humidity +/- oxygen, low stress/fluids +/- tube feed
Second: Intra-cloacal PGE2 gel, NOT PGF2a as no relaxation of uterovaginal sphincter
Emergency: collapse the egg with large gauge needle via cloaca - may need anaesthesia for this
What are the causes for behavioural issues in birds?
boredom or attention driven, often unintentional reward by owner
What can behavioural issues look like in birds?
-> Attention demanding
-> Displacement behaviours
-> Territoriality
-> Biting
-> Feather damaging
-> Screaming
-> Reproductive issues
-> Phobias
-> Psychotic behaviour
How can we manage behavioural issues in birds?
-> Treat the owner - stop reinforcing inappropriate behaviours, start basic training
-> Treat the environment - increase foraging activity, improve housing
-> Consider referral
-> Positive/reward based behavioural management
-> Success may not mean behaviour disappears, rather reduces
What is the most important thing to consider when medically treating a backyard chicken?
Backyard chickens are considered food producing animals, whether or not they are used in that way!
Veterinarians MUST use medicines in accordance with legislation and provide withholding periods to owners.
Which diseases of poultry are notifiable and which are zoonotic? Which diseases are NOT notifiable?
Notifiable: Newcastle disease virus, Avian influenza A (HPAI, LPAI), Infectious bursal disease, Salmonella enteriditis/gallinarum/pullorum, Avian TB
Zoonotic: Salmonellosis, but also Avian Influenza if an exotic HPAI entered Australia
Not notifiable: Mareks, Infectious bronchitis, Pox virus, Fowl cholera (Pasteurella multocida)
Which 3 main aspects are important for preventive health care?
Biosecurity - keep rodents/birds (especially water birds)/predators out, clean coop materials feeders and drinkers regularly, use main supply water not tanks that could have wild bird contamination, quarantine all new arrivals.
Vaccination - buy from reliable sources that vaccinate!
Ecto and Endoparasites - check feathers regularly, faecal floats, coccidia
Mareks disease is common in WA - what are some clinical signs?
-> Leg and wing paralysis (classic form)
-> Lymphoma, organ neoplasia (acute form)
-> Transient weakness, paralysis/paresis, death or recovery (encephalitic form)
-> Usually young birds 2-16 weeks
What is bumble foot?
Pododermatitis due to injury, infection or secondary to poor perches and pressure wounds
