Exotics Flashcards
How many times per year do psittacines molt
Every 2 years or poorly defined
How many times per year do migratory birds molt
2x/year
How many times per year do most species of birds molt
1x/year
5 causes of abnormal molts in birds
1) Nutritional defects
2) Stress/fear
3) Reduction of light period
4) Ectoparasites
5) Hypothyroidism: retardation of feather growth
Which nutritional deficits can lead to abnormal molting in birds
Inadequate protein
Vitamin A (all seed diets)
Beta carotene
Riboflavin
Which type of diet commonly leads to deficits in vitamin A in birds
All seed diets
What occurs secondary to any change /diminishment in feather quality in birds
Plucking behavior to remove the inferior feathers
What are 2 risk factors for feather destructive behavior in African Greys
1) Increasing sleep hours
2) Length of ownership
What are 3 risk feators for feather destructive behaviros in cockatoos
1) Pet shop origin
2) Cage location against 1+ walls
3) 1+ owner vacations per year
Why do birds have linear featherless regions during molt
Naturally, there areas with no feathers between feather tracts
BUT only visible during molt
T or F: Birds are likely to feather pluck MORE if you have food readily available for them
TRUE!
Make it harder for them to get food to mimic foraging behavior
Put food in slightly challenging-to-open containiners
Medications for separation anxiety in birds
Clomipramine or fluoxetine
Combine with behavioral modification training
T or F: A dominant bird may pluck a subordinate
True
T or F: Hand reared birds may feather pluck due to sexual frustration
True. Can start as early as 6 months old
Cockatoos, lovebirds, African Greys
Only biting louse that affects birds
Mallophaga
Sign of poor husbandry
Easy to see on plumage
Causative agent of “scaly leg” in canaries and “scaly face” in budgerigars (beak malformations)
Knemidocoptes
Affect non-feathered areas (legs, beak)
Life cycle ENTIRELY ON BIRD
Chicken parasite that can attack mammals (like humans)
Darmanyssus
When do Dermanyssus feed on birds
Night
Free-living
Breed in the cage or environment during the day
How to diagnose Dermanyssus
White sheet over cage – see red mites on it in the AM
Feather mite species in Budgerigars (2)
1) Protolichus lunula on wing/tail feathers
2) Dubininia melopsittaci on smaller body feathers
Not usually an issue unless heavy infestation (husbandry problems)
Harpyrhynchid serini affects which species of bird
Canaries
Attach to feather base, can cause hyperkeratotic epidermal cysts
Which ectoparasitocide is TOXIC TO BIRDS
Imidacloprid (Advantage)
Which ectoparasitocide should NOT be given to finches
Ivermectin
What ARE appropriate ecroparasitocides in birds
Fipronyl (Frontline)
Selamectin (Revolution)
Isoxazoline
Do NOT soak bird with spray
Which ENDOparasite has been associated with pruritus in budgerigars, lovebirds, and cockatiels
Giardia
What is the best treatment for atopic dermatitis in large psyttachines
Unknown. AD likely exists, but no tested treatments
Biggest environmental factor that can lead to poor quality feathers –> plucking
Low humidity (central heat turned up)
Psittacines are rain forest birds
Environmental factors that can lead to pruritus or poor feather quality –> plucking
1) Tobacco smoke
2) Aerosols
3) Building dust
4) Low humidity
5) Lack of bathing opportunities
6) Abnormal photoperiods (not enough dark time)
A bird starts feather plucking after getting a new cage or toy. What is the most likely cause
Heavy metal toxicity
Lead, zinc, copper, iron
Cause of liver disease that can lead to pruritus in birds
Chlamydophila infection
2 Bacteria isolated from birds, which cause folliculitis/pulpitis
1) Staphylococcus aureus
2) Staphylococcus intermedius
Body site on birds with broad anti-microbial properties
Uropygial gland secretions
Which antimicrobial medication is toxic to Grey parrots
Itraconazole
Body regions affected by Candida, Dermatophytes, Malassezia
Candida: vent, head
Dermatophytes: patchy feather loss on head, neck, breast
Malassezia: unknown pruritus
Etiology of “feather dusters” and “straw feathers” in Budgerigars
Genetic abnormalities
Curly, overgrown feathers
Also called chrysanthymum feathering
T or F: Birds may pluck feathers over a site of skin cancer
True
DNA virus causing Psittacine Beak and Feather disease
Circovirus
Can persist in environment for 1 year
Which birds are most likely to contract Circovirus
Young birds
Old World Psittacines
Clinical signs of Circovirus in birds
Dystrophic feathers
In chronic form: lack of powder down, pulp cavity hemorrhage, feather fracture, hyperkeratosis, beak overgrowth, oral ulcerations + secondary infections
How to diagnose Circovirus in birds
PCR on blood or pulpy feathers
Severe leukopenia in peracute dz
Treatment = supportive care
Which bird species may have a less severe course of Circovirus
Lorikeets
Full recovery possible
Which DNA virus causes neonatal death in Budgerigars, but reduced down/contour feathers in those that survive (“French moulters”, “Creepers”)
Polyoma virus
LESS COMMON than Psittacine Beak and Feather disease (Circovirus) in non-Budgie birds
Birds that develop polyoma virus
Very young birds only
Budgerigars, psittacines, finches
Passerines - acute death
Diagnosis of polyoma virus
PCR
Psittacine PCR does NOT work in finches
Clinical signs of Poxvirus in birds
Cutaneous form: Nodules, papules, vesicles
Discolored, pruritic, secondary infected
Can also affect oral cavity, trachea –> speticemia
Bird species most likely to get cutaneous form of poxvirus
Songbirds, raptors
Feet, eyes, face
Common sequelae of poxvirus in Canaries and finches
Skin lesions AND severe pulmonary complications
T or F: The cutaneous form of Poxvirus is self limiting in Amazon parrots
True
T or F: The diptheric (oral+tracheal) form of poxvirus is fatal in Amazon parrots
True
Diagnosis of poxvirus in birds
Histopath or cytology
Intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies = Bollinger bodies
Bollinger bodies are associated with what bird infectious disease
Poxvirus
Vector for poxvirus in birds
insect vectors
pest control = important
Which virus causes benign epithelial tumorsin birds
Papilloma virus
Cloaca, oral cavity, skin
Surgery vs possible spontaneous remission
What pigment is present in psittacines
Psittacofulvins
Similar to carotenoids that produce red, yellow, and orange in other bird species
How to perform a punch biopsy in birds
Tape the skin to prevent rolling of your sample
Biopsy THROUGH the tape
Which bird species is prone to high cholesterol, atherosclerosis
Psittacines
DO NOT FEED ALL SEED DIETs (high in fat, low in everything else)
Which plant is poisonous to birds
Avocados
Contain persin (cardiotoxin)
Which reptiles are predisposed to dermatologic lesions
Pythons, boa constrictors
Term for abnormal shedding of skin
Dysecdysis
Causes of dysecdysis (abnormal shedding of skin) (7)
1) Poor husbandry
2) Ectoparasitism (Ophionyssus natricis)
3) Systemic disease
4) Too cold temperature
5) Improper humidity
6) Poor nutrition
7) Owners pulling off their shed for them too early
What causes ischemia and necrosis of lizard digits, sometimes leading to amputation
Retained skin around the digits
Causative agent of “inclusion body disease” in pythons
Arenavirus
Causes dysecdysis
Which virus is associated with dysecdysis in pythons
Arenavirus
Clinical signs of Ophinoyssus natricis
Pruritus
Dysecdysis
Snakes staying in water
Location on body Ophinoyssus natricis are found (snake, lizard)
Snakes: head, cloaca
Lizard: Axilla, groin, ear drum
Ophinoyssus natricis may be a vector for ______
Aeromonas
Treatment for Ophinoyssus natricis
- Ivermectin oral, spray on animal or environmenta
(DO NOT USE IVERMECTIN IN CHELONIANS) - Moxidectin
- Spray towel with fipronil and wipe snake
- Nexgard
Avoid pyrethroids, organophosphates
Which parasiticide should NOT be used in chelonians
Ivermectin
Which mite (related to Ophinoyssus natricis) can be found on lizards
Ophionyssus lacertinus
T or F: Ophinoyssus natricis can be transmitted to humans
True
Causative agent of yellow fungus disease
Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriessi (CANV)
Reptile that gets Chrysosporium guarroi infections (Related to CANV)
Green iguanas
Species that get CANV infections
Bearded dragons, Chameleons
But any lizard can
Diagnostic tests for CANV (yellow fungus disease)
Culture AND histopathology ideal
+/- DNA sequencing
Treatments for CANV (yellow fungus disease)
Posaconazole, voriconazole are best
Itraconazole may work occasionally
Possibly terbinafine, esp if combined with an azole
T or F: CANV (yellow fungus disease) can affect humans
True
How long do reptiles need to be on antibiotics for?
Often many months (abscesses)
Slow immune systems
Best treatment for bacterial abscesses in reptiles
REMOVAL
(not just lance/drain; they are thick/granulomatous rather than liquid)
Which opportunistic pathogenic bacteria are common in GI tract of reptiles
Pseudomonas
Aeromonas
Salmonella
Sign of sepsis in chelonians
Petichiae
Sign of sepsis in snakes
Ventral “flush”
Which species of reptile has reported Dermatophilus congolensis
Bearded dragons
Causative agent of Devrieseasis in lizards
Devriesea agamarum
Gram stain of Devriesea agamarum
Gram positive
Clinical signs of Devriesea agamarum in reptiles
Chronic proliferative dermatitis and septicemia
SQ abscesses
Treatment for Devriesea agamarum
- Adequate basking temperature
- Systemic antibiotic (Ceftiofur)
- Keeping environment dry
- Clean crusts/debris on lesions
Which antibiotic is Devriesea agamarum RESISTANT to
Fluoroquinolones
T or F: Devriesea agamarum can survive for long periods in moist, cool environments
True
T or F: Heat lamps are an excellent means to provide adequate heat to lizards
FALSE
They cause burns. Reptiles do not realize they are too hot
Treatment of burns in reptiles
Container with no substrate
Topical antibiotic (SSD cream)
Topical vitamin A ointment
Bathe only 3-4x/week
3 common cuases of shell problems in chelonians
1) Too high humidity
2) Bacterial or viral infections
3) Poor nutrition (low calcium)