Other avian patients

Question 1

What are the main clinical signs of avian gastric yeast?

Answer 1

• Fungus - infects canaries / finches
  ◦ Weight loss despite good appetite
  ◦ Passing undigested food on faeces
  ◦ Diarrhoea
  ◦ Sometimes regurgitation or melena

Question 2

How is avian gastric yeast diagnosed? Tx?

Answer 2

• Dx = faecal testing (wet mount, gram stain)
• Necropsy = dilated proventriculus, mucosal ulceration, mucosal scrapings for cytology
• PCR
• Tx = Amphotericin PO, Nystatin PO, Strict hygiene

Question 3

What are feather cysts in canaries? Tx?

Answer 3

• Genetic - new feathers fail to erupt + get retained inside follicles, will get worse after each moult
• Tx =
  1. surgical removal of cysts
  2. cyst marsupialization
  3. euthanasia

Question 4

What are other conditions found in finches?

Answer 4

• GIT SIGNS =
  -Trichomonas
  -E. coli
  -Enterococcus fecalis
  -Coccidiosis
  -Yesiniosis/Pseudotuberculosis
  -Salmonella
  -Cochlosoma
  -Candidiasis
  -Atoxoplasmosis (Atoxoplasma serinii)
• RESPIRATORY SIGNS =
  -Sternostoma/Cytodites mites
  -Mycoplasma
  -Avian pox (wet form)
• SKIN/EXTERNAL SIGNS =
  -Dermanyssus/Ornithonyssus mites
  -Avian pox (dry form)
  -Papillomavirus
  -Polyomavirus
  -Circovirus

Question 5

What are common presentations for soft bills?

Answer 5

• Haemochromatosis - iron storage disease
• Aspergillosis
• GIT foreign bodies
• Heart disease

Question 6

What is haemochromatosis? CS? Dx? Tx?

Answer 6

• Excessive accumulation of iron in tissues = liver necrosis + cirrhosis, vascular disease, 2ary infection
• CS = coelomic distention, dyspnoea
• Dx = transferrin blood levels, serum iron levels, liver biopsy
• Tx = diet, phlebotomy, chelation

Question 7

what are diurnal + nocturnal birds of prey?

Answer 7

• Diurnal = falcons, osprey, buzzards, eagles, hawks
• Nocturnal = owls

Question 8

What problems are seen with WILD birds of prey?

Answer 8

• Trauma = head, fractures + other limb trauma, electric burns
• Toxicity = heavy metal (lead), rat poisoning
• Emaciation
• Fledglings - removed / fall from nest

Question 9

What problems are seen with FALCONRY birds of prey?

Answer 9

• Management - obesity, damaged feathers, trauma, bumblefoot
• Vascular diseases - atherosclerosis + thrombus formation, wing tip oedema + necrosis
• Geriatric disease - osteoarthritis, organ failure, neoplasia

Question 10

What are signs of wing tip oedema? Tx?

Answer 10

• CS = dropped wing, swollen metacarpus, hypothermia, sudden stop of flying
• Tx = isoxsuprine, NSAIDs, ABs, Physio

Question 11

What are infectious diseases of falconry birds?

Answer 11

• Parasites =
• Trichomonas (oropharynx / oesophagus)
• Capillaria (Oropharynx / GIT)
• Serratospiculum (air sacs)
• Other pathogens =
• aspergillosis
• Herpesvirus (owls)
• Paramyxovirus / newcastle (neuro signs)
• Poxvirus (dry form)
• West nile virus

Question 12

What are common problems in pigeons?

Answer 12

• Viral infections =
• avian poxvirus
• avian paramyxovirus (inc. newcastle)
• pigeon herpesvirus
  Parasite infection =
• Trichomonas
• Capillaria
• Ascarids

Question 13

What are common presentations in poultry?

Answer 13

• Sinusitis / URT infections
• Other respiratory disease presentation
• Reproductive disease - egg yolk coelomitis, oviduct impaction, ovarian neoplasia
• Skin + feather problems = mites

Question 14

What are causes of reproductive disease in chickens?

Answer 14

• Ovarian neoplasia / cysts
• Egg-yolk coelomitis
• Metritis / salpingitis
• Oviduct impaction

Question 15

What are clinical signs of reproductive disease in chickens?

Answer 15

◦ Abnormal eggs, suddenly stopped laying
◦ Non-specific signs (anorexia, lethargy)
◦ Crop stasis/distended crop
◦ Distended coelom
◦ Palpable masses during coelomic or cloacal examination

Question 16

How would you diagnose repro disease in chickens?

Answer 16

• Full exam + History
• US scan
• Coelomocentesis + fluid draining - sample for cytology +/- C&S

Question 17

How would you manage reproductive disease?

Answer 17

• Supportive medicine = meloxicam, antibiotics, fluids
• Deslorelin implant
• Draining fluid from coeliomic cavity
• Surgery = ovariectomy if neoplasia/cyst
• Euthanasia

Question 18

What are common conditions seen in waterfowl?

Answer 18

• Lead / Zinc toxicosis
• Botulism
• Trauma
• GIT foreign bodies (inc fish hooks)
• Fishing line wrapped around legs, etc

Question 19

What are common sources of lead?

Answer 19

◦ Old white paint
◦ Old metal cages
◦ Chalk and plaster compounds
◦ Batteries
◦ Solder
◦ Shotgun pellets
◦ Fishing weights
◦ Chandeliers
◦ Linoleum
◦ Some glazed ceramic

Question 20

What are toxic effects of lead?

Answer 20

1. Necrosis of GIT epithelium = Regurgitation + Diarrhoea
2. Haemolysis = Anaemia + Haemoglobinuria
3. Bone marrow suppression (erythrocytic line) = Anaemia
4. Endothelial damage (specially CNS capillaries) = Cerebral oedema + CNS signs

Question 21

What are CS of acute + chronic lead exposure?

Answer 21

• ACUTE EXPOSURE =
• Weakness, lethargy, anorexia
• Crop stasis
• Regurgitation
• Diarrhoea
• Biliverdinuria, hemoglobinuria/hematuria
• Neuro signs (any)
• CHRONIC EXPOSURE =
• Same signs as acute exposure
• Pale mucus membranes
• Weight loss

Question 22

How is lead toxicity diagnosed? Tx?

Answer 22

** Dx** =
* Haematology = mild / moderate anaemia
* Radiographs
* Lead blood levels = >0.2ppm

• Tx = supportive (fluids + midazolam), Chelating therapy + removal of metallic foreign bodies (laxatives, endoscopy, lavage, surgery)

Question 23

What is botulism? Tx?

Answer 23

• Ingestion of type C toxin of Cl. Botulinum
• Progressive flaccid paralysis
• Tx = fluid therapy, activated charcoal