Exotic 2 Flashcards
What may cause elevations of eosinophils in birds?
Tissue damage, parasitic disease, possibly some viral infections
Describe the basophils of birds
- Slightly smaller than heterophils
- Clear cytoplasm
- Intensely basophilic granules
- Nucleus non-lobed round to oval, often obscured by cytoplasmic granules
Outline the function of basophils in birds
Function unknown, possibly involved in acute inflammation and hypersensitivity reactions
Describe the lymphocytes of birds
- Similar morphology to mammals
- Basophilic cytoplasm
- Can be confused with thrombocytes
Which species of bird are lymphocytic?
Amazon parrots and canaries (up to 70% lymphocytes)
What do the following indicate in birds?
a: lymphocytosis
b: lymphopaenia
a: lymphocytosis: excitement, leukaemia
b: lymphopaenia: chronic stress
Describe the monocytes of birds
- Rare in healthy birds
- Similar morphology to mammals
- Largest leukocyte in a normal blood smear
What does monocytosis indicate in birds?
- Chronic inflammatory/infectious conditions e.g. Psittacosis, tuberculosis, aspergillosis, egg coelomitis
- Presence raises suspicion and further tests required
Discuss the finding of parasites on avian haematology
- Relatively frequent finding esp. in wild and some captive raptors
- Most common in juveniles
- Significance varies from incidental finding to life-threatening
- Often seem inconsequential
- Wrong parasite in wrong bird e.g. parrot with Uk parasite can cause significant problem
Name common blood parasite birds and birds that are over represented in blood parasites that cause problems
- Parasites: Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leukocytozoon
- Species: snowy owls, Harris hawks, penguins
Describe the haematology of camelids
- RBCs small and thin, elliptical, increased relative surface area
- HIgh RBC with relative low PCV
- Neutrophils much larger than RBCs
Which sites can be used for blood sampling in camelids?
- Jugular
- Saphenous
- Coccygeal
List the important differentials for anaemia in camelids
- GI parasites
- M haemolamae
- Blood loss
- Chronic disease e.g TB
Describe the method for blood sampling from a fish
- General anaesthesia required, mS-222
- Tail vein most useful, use lateral (landmark is lateral line) or ventral approach similar to lizards
Which blood tubes are generally used for fish?
EDTA or heparin
Describe the appearance of blood samples in invertebrates
Haemolymph clear/blue
Describe blood sampling from tarantulas
- Max sample size 0.7% bodyweight
- GA required
- Small samples = ventral joint of limb
- Large samples = dorsal opisthosoma
- Apply tissue glue if leakage
List your differentials for a female ferret presented with tachycardia, lethargy, anorexia, tarry black perianal faecal staining, depressed, pale mucous membranes and a prominent vulva
Differentials for anaemia in ferret:
- Aplastic oestrus induced anaemia
- Gastric ulcers
- Chronic inflammation
- Neoplasia incl. GI and lymphoma
- Adrenocortical neoplasia may lead to oestrogen anaemia
- Insulinoma
Explain how aplastic oestrus induced anaemia develops
- Oestrogen suppresses bone marrow leading to pancytopaenia
- Haemosiderosis of spleen and lymph nodes leads to haemoglobin
- Reduced/absent medullar haematopoiesis in the spleen
- Oestrogen high due to being in oestrus, will stay like this until mating
Ouline the prognosis for a case of aplastic oestrus induced anaemia in a ferret
- Short term guarded (depending on PCV at presentation)
- Long term fairly good, once anaemia is over come
Describe the reatment for aplastic oestrus induced anaemia in a ferret
- RBCs too low for surgery
- Hospitalisation
- Proligestone injection to bring out of oestrus
- Blood transfusions
- Once recovered, either need to spay or inject every year
What are the main risks regarding spaying a ferret as an immediate treatment for asplastic oestrus induced anaemia?
- Need to resolve anaemia first
- If have bone marrow suppression may haemorrhage after (no platelets)
- If in oestrus then blood supply to ovaries is increased
Discuss the options for the prevention of oestrus induced aplastic anaemia in ferres
- Vasectomised hob: may be difficult to integrate into group if not already present, 50% of females will get the condition anyway
- Spay: one time fee, less traumatic than regular injections, life long protection, need to ensure all of ovary is removed
- Injection: only advantages is potential to breed from jill in he future, proligestone/delvosterone can be used
