Passeriformes Journal Article Quick Review Flashcards
Describe effects of alfaxalone anesthesia in the Bengalese finch.
ALFAXALONE ANESTHESIA IN THE BENGALESE FINCH (LONCHURA DOMESTICA)
Perrin KL, Nielsen JB, Thomsen AF, Bertelsen MF.
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 48(4): 1146–1153, 2017
Alfaxalone-midaz resulted in significantly faster induction.
AM and AB longer duration/recovery times (slower return of righting reflex).
AM significantly lower pulse rate vs A alone.
Addition of midazolam reduced responses to noxious stimuli (not butorphanol).
Alfaxalone was effective, no complications, SC route was reliable.
Alfax at the lowest dose (10 mg/kg) did not reliably reduce recumbency; dose-dependent.
Apnea NOT observed in any groups.
What lesions were associated with heat exposure in Aus desert birds?
Xie, S., Woolford, L., & McWhorter, T. J. (2020). Organ histopathology and hematological changes associated with heat exposure in Australian desert birds. Journal of avian medicine and surgery, 34(1), 41-51.
Heat stress typically causes congestion, hemorrhage, thrombosis.
Lung congestion was most common overall.
Budgies - Increased heterophils, decreased PCV.
Doves decreased eos.
Most common hepatic pathology was hepatocellular vacuolation.
What was the outcome following a retrospective of inhalation anesthesia in birds at a veterinary referral hospital?
Seamon, A. B., Hofmeister, E. H., & Divers, S. J. (2017). Outcome following inhalation anesthesia in birds at a veterinary referral hospital: 352 cases (2004–2014). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 251(7), 814-817.
None of the variables studied were associated with survival to discharge vs death.
Mortality rates within 48h higher in parrots and other birds vs cats, dogs, people.
Most died or were euthanized after anesthesia. Some died during.
Describe the clinical and pathological aspects of systemic isospora in Blue-crowned laughing thrushes (Garrulax courtoisi). How does it differ from other birds?
CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SYSTEMIC ISOSPORA INFECTION IN BLUE-CROWNED LAUGHING THRUSHES (GARRULAX COURTOISI) AT JERSEY ZOO
Barbón AR, López J, Jamriška J, Thomasson A, Braun J, Stidworthy MF.
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery. 2019 Sep;33(3):265-77.
Systemic Isospora (AKA atoxoplasmosis) = most common cause of death in blue-crowned laughing thrushes at a zoo.
Most common months of death: Aug to Dec (autumn and winter when molting is happening and might immunosuppress).
Most common age: 1-2 years old.
Signs: hepatomegaly and pectoral muscle myositis; DIFFERENT from typical clinical signs of avian isospora (wt loss, diarrhea).
Necropsy: splenomegaly (100%) > hepatomegaly > foci in pectoral m. and heart.
Histo: Lymphohistiocytic inflammation with merozoites.
Fecals were not consistently positive in affected birds.
Parasites were seen in lymphocytes.
Gastrointestinal signs were NOT common (but they are in other passerines)
Conclusions: Systemic isosporiasis causes splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and pectoral muscle myositis in blue-crowned laughing thrushes, which is different from other passerines who typically have gastrointestinal signs.
Why is fecal exam not sensitive for systemic isosporosis in passerines?
What treatment was effective in stopping shedding temporarily in asymptomatic adult birds?
INVESTIGATION OF THE PRESENCE OF ATOXOPLASMA SPP. IN BLUE-CROWNED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (DRYONASTES COURTOISI) ADULTS AND NEONATES
Mohr F, Betson M, Quintard B.
J Zoo Wildl Med. 2017 Mar;48(1):1-6.
All of the blue-crowned laughing thrush born a the Mulhouse zoo died within a year.
High suspicion that the adults may have atoxoplasmosis.
Atoxoplasmosis is a coccidian infection with nonspecific clinical signs.
Host ingests sporulated oocysts in feces.
Asexual reproduction occurs in intestinal cells, lymphocytes, and monocytes.
Sexual reproduction in duodenal enterocytes.
High mortality in young birds; infected adults are typically asymptomatic.
Diagnosis via histopathology, buffy coat smears, impression smears, electron microscopy, and PCR.
Fecal exam is not sensitive due to intermittent shedding and similar appearance of Atoxoplasma spp. from Isospora spp.
Both contain two sporocysts with four sporozoites each.
Toltrazuril affects intestinal stages of the parasite but does not eliminate infection.
Key Points:
50% of chicks had PCR evidence of Atoxoplasma spp.
Some of whom did not have contact with parents, suggesting vertical transmission.
Adult birds who had high levels of fecal isosporiasis.
Negative fecals within one week of starting treatment with toltrazuril, negative at 7 weeks post-treatment.
Also had positive serum PCR.
Conclusions: Atoxoplasma spp. was shown to cause high mortality in young blue-crowned laughing thrushes. Toltrazuril was effective in stopping shedding in asymptomatic adult birds.
What are the recommended sample collection guidelines for qPCR of feces for systemic isosporosis in passerines?
A QPCR ASSAY AND TESTING GUIDELINES FOR THE MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF SYSTEMIC ISOSPOROSIS (FORMERLY ATOXPLASMOSIS) IN PASSERINE BIRDS
Landolfi JA, Adkesson MJ, Ahmed N, Smith CR, Smith RL, Snyder T, Terio KA.
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 2020 Jun;51(2):391-7.
Unsporulated oocysts shed in feces.
With systemic isosporiasis, extraintestinal life cycle occurs in mononuclear cells.
Definitive diagnosis: detection of intracytoplasmic protozoa (merozoites) in mononuclear cells but not sensitive
Possible detection in feces, but shedding is intermittent
Key Points:
qPCR can detect Isospora in blood and feces
Also can cross react with Eimeria
All positive fecals need sequencing. (but not blood because Eimeria is not known to be systemic)
Ideal sampling protocol: collect 5-6 consecutive days of fecal samples
Conclusions: New qPCR assay for the molecular detection of systemic Isospora spp is best when five consecutive daily fecal samples are collected.
Describe differences found in a retrospective eval of clinical sign and gross lesions in birds infected with Mycobacterium genavense (passerines vs psittacines).
Schmitz, A., Rinder, M., Thiel, S., Peschel, A., Moser, K., Reese, S., & Korbel, R. (2018). Retrospective evaluation of clinical signs and gross pathologic findings in birds infected with Mycobacterium genavense. Journal of avian medicine and surgery, 32(3), 194-204.
Mycobacterium genavense - primary cause of mycobacteriosis in psittacines and passerines.
Enlarged liver with lack of macroscopically visible foci is characteristic in pet birds.
Budgies common in this study.
Most common clinical signs overall - feather disorders, dyspnea, ocular manifestations, falling from perch. Coinfections with circovirus, polyomavirus, M ornithogaster assoc with greater risk of several pathologic lesions and clinical signs (birds with polyoma more likely to have feather disorders).
Most common rads findings - loss of hepatic silouette hourglass and shadowing of lungs/enlarged liver shadow.
Hepatomegaly main gross pathologic finding followed by dilated intestines.
Passerines overall presented with better body condition.
Hepatomegaly and granulomas more common in psittacines; Dilated intestines most common in passerines.
What is the treatment of choice for closed unilateral coracoid fx?
Cracknell, J. M., Lawrie, A. M., Yon, L., Hopper, J. S., Pereira, Y. M., Smaller, E., & Pizzi, R. (2018). Outcomes of conservatively managed coracoid fractures in wild birds in the United Kingdom. Journal of avian medicine and surgery, 32(1), 19-24.
Closed unilateral coracoid fractures.
Conservative management high success rate.
Proportion of raptors highest.
No sig correlation between severity grade of fracture and outcome, no correlation with wing droop or not.
Heavier birds slightly lower success rate but still recommended overall.
What risk factors were associated with negative outcomes for passerines with tape splint tx of tibiotarsal fx?
Wright, L., Mans, C., Olsen, G., Doss, G., Amene, E. W., Britsch, G., … & Heatley, J. (2018). Retrospective evaluation of tibiotarsal fractures treated with tape splints in birds: 86 cases (2006–2015). Journal of avian medicine and surgery, 32(3), 205-209.
Most fractures were open, did NOT impact outcome.
Absence of deep pain assoc with increased risk of unsuccessful outcome.
Dog or cat attack as cause of fracture poor outcome.
Splint removal before 14 days poor outcome.
What virus was correlated with avian keratin disorder (break deformity/overgrowth) in passerines?
Zylberberg, M., Van Hemert, C., Handel, C. M., Liu, R. M., & DeRisi, J. L. (2021). Poecivirus is present in individuals with beak deformities in seven species of North American birds. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 57(2), 273-281.
Avian keratin disorder AKD.
Poecivirus - Novel picornavirus identified in beak tissues of black capped chickadees with AKD.
This study - Found in several other species with clinical signs via PCR of cloacal swab and beak tissue.
Describe the relationship observed between gut parasite levels and severity of response to immune challenge in wild songbirds.
GUT PARASITE LEVELS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERITY OF RESPONSE TO IMMUNE CHALLENGE IN A WILD SONGBIRD
Vaziri GJ, Muñoz SA, Martinsen ES, Adelman JS.
J Wildl Dis. 2019 Jan;55(1):64-73.
Clinical signs of acute phase response (APR): fever, lethargy, and anorexia.
Helminths can alter the host immune response positively or negatively.
Key Points:
The probability of malaria infection did not vary with helminth burdens.
Birds in Washington had higher rates of helminth infection and less severe APR compared to California birds.
In Washington, song sparrows with higher helminth burdens exhibited less pronounced APRs to simulated bacterial infection and population.
Fever was less pronounced in individuals with higher numbers of gut helminths and more pronounced in individuals with higher BCS.
Conclusions: Helminth coinfection burdens in song sparrows may decrease febrile response.
What cells are infected by haemoproteus? Plasmodium? What are recommendations for diagnosis?
Rhim, H., Bae, J., Kim, H., & Han, J. I. (2018). Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of avian haemosporidia in wild birds in the republic of korea. Journal of wildlife diseases, 54(4), 772-781.
Plasmodium and haemoproteus are transmitted by biting arthropods of genera Culex, Aedes, Hippobosca, and Culicoides.
Haemoproteus only infects erythrocytes.
Plasmodium can penetrate erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets.
This paper majority Haemoproteus spp. Dx - recommended both blood smear evaluation and PCR (PCR more sensitive for low parasitemia).
What are the three clades of avian poxvirus?
NOVEL POXVIRAL INFECTION IN THREE FINCH SPECIES ILLEGALLY IMPORTED INTO TRINIDAD, WEST INDIES, WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIVE BIRDS
Mohr F, Betson M, Quintard B.
J Zoo Wildl Med. 2017 Mar;48(1):1-6.
South American finches are illegally imported to Trinidad and are released to the wild when confiscated.
May transmit diseases to native finch species.
Avian poxviruses (Avipoxvirus, Poxviridae) has two forms:
Cutaneous: nodular lesions on unfeathered skin
Diphtheritic: necrotic caseous membrane in the upper respiratory tract, mouth, and pharynx
+/- viremic form with high mortality.
Divided into clade A (fowlpox), clade B (canarypox), and clade C (Psittacine virus clade)
Classic histologic lesions: Bollinger bodies (intracytoplasmic eosinophilic), epithelial hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and ballooning degeneration
More severe disease in juveniles
Key Points:
All affected birds had cutaneous form and poor body condition.
Phylogeny consistent with canarypox clade and similar to a genotype from a Brazilian penguin.
Conclusions: Avian pox was detected in native finches in Trinidad that likely was introduced by nonnative birds.
Describe use of ELISA for detection of avian influenza in zoo birds and sensitivity/specificity based on different taxa.
Jensen, T. H., Andersen, J. H., Hjulsager, C. K., Chriél, M., & Bertelsen, M. F. (2017). Evaluation of a commercial competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of avian influenza virus subtype h5 antibodies in zoo birds. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 48(3), 882-885.
Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) is the current gold standard for detecting antibodies to AIV.
Commercial ELISA showed no sig difference in serum samples from zoo birds, excellent correlation. Can be used as an alternative to HI test for preliminary screening for AIV subtype H5.
Galliformes = Best sensitivity and specificity.
Sphenisciformes lowest followed by phoenicopteriformes.
Poor vx response in penguins, pelicans, guinea fowl, inca terns.
What was observed in a stufy of abx resistant enterococcus faecalis in birds in Poland?
Stępień-Pyśniak, D., Hauschild, T., Nowaczek, A., Marek, A., & Dec, M. (2018). Wild birds as a potential source of known and novel multilocus sequence types of antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecalis. Journal of wildlife diseases, 54(2), 219-228.
All E. faecalis isolated resistant to lincomycin, many resistant to erythromycin, tetracycline, doxy.
All isolates susceptible to gentamicin and chloramphenicol.
