Phoenicopteriformes Flashcards
What causes the plumage coloration in flamingos?
carotenoids fond in algae, crstaceans and mollusks (F8)
How do flamingos accommodate the excess of salt they ingest?
Salt gland (F8)
How do flamingos feed their young?
Crop milk (F8)
What does pink to orange colored serum indicate in a flamingo?
Normal in this species (F8)
What are the 4 classifications of pododermatitis in flamingos?
Hyperkeratosis, fissures, nodular lesions, papillomatous (F8)
What nutritional deficiency is sspected to weaken the cornified epidermis and predispose flamingos to pododermatitis?
Zinc deficiency F8)
What are some environmental causes of pododermatitis in flamingos?
Low temp (below 15C) and poor substrate are the primary cases (F8)
What condition are flamingos predisposed to when handling?
captre myopathy/exertional rhabdomyolysis (F8)
Ingestion of what substrate material has been shown to cause chronic fatal enteritis?
Erosive Enteritis and Intestinal Obstructions Caused by Decomposed Granite in a Flock of Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor).
Sanchez CR, Pich A, Collinsworth S.
J Avian Med Surg. 2019 Mar 25;33(1):72-81.
Cases:
Three juvenile lesser flamingos with lethargy, poor BCS, and hematochezia died or were euthanized
Radiopaque material throughout GI with dilated intestines
Necropsy found decomposed granite in the GI tract and a caseous-fecal colonic obstruction
Histopathology found chronic erosive colitis, mild erosive proventriculitis, and ulcers in the ventriculus wall
All other flamingos in the collection were radiographed and found to have similar radiopaque material
Supportive treatments provided minimal change
Artificial turf over the exhibit was a mesh that allowed flotation of small particles when water pooled atop
Key Points:
Even though flamingos are commonly housed on crushed granite, ingestion of the material can be fatal
Silica is nontoxic but can cause chronic inflammation, like the enteritis seen in these cases
Decomposed granite or sand is better for flamingo feet than concrete, but it has the risks of ingestion
Conclusions: Ingestion of decomposed granite can cause erosive enteritis, colonic obstruction with caseous plugs, and death in lesser flamingos.
Risk factors for capture myopathy in birds?
Describe a multimodal approach to tx of capture myopathy for a flamingo?
Multimodal Drug Therapy and Physical Rehabilitation in the Successful Treatment of Capture Myopathy in a Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor)
McEntire MS, Sanchez CR.
J Avian Med Surg. 2017 Sep;31(3):232-238.
Background:
Capture myopathy (or exertional rhabdomyolysis) is reported in flamingos, cranes, turkeys, waterfowl, and ratites
Muscle necrosis releases potassium and myoglobin → renal tubular necrosis and heart failure
Lactic acidosis → acidemia → death
Risk factors = stress, fear, overexertion, hyperthermia, and chronic vitamin E or selenium deficiency
Case:
Adult, wild-caught lesser flamingo housed at the Fort Worth Zoo
Developed lameness two days after routine restraint for vaccination
Severely elevated CK (96,019 U/L) and AST (4349 U/L)
Initially treated with IV fluid therapy and sling rest
Initiated physical therapy (assisted standing and swimming)
Anxiety managed with haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg PO q12h)
Osteomyelitis of tarsometatarsal managed with clindamycin PO
Also treated with itraconazole and meloxicam
CK and AST gradually decreased until clinically normal
Conclusions: A multimodal approach to capture myopathy treatment in lesser flamingos, including IV fluid therapy, suspension, physical therapy, and anxiolytic therapy, can result in a positive outcome.
Paired biochemical analysis of pigmented plasma samples from zoo flamingos using a Vetscan vs a standard chem analyzer showed what?
Which analytes were considered accurate on VetScan? Which analyte failed to run?
PAIRED BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF PIGMENTED PLASMA SAMPLES FROM ZOO-KEPT AMERICAN FLAMINGOS (PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER) USING A POINT-OF-CARE AND A STANDARD WET CHEMISTRY ANALYZER
Ady Y. Gancz, David Eshar, Hugues Beaufrère
J. of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 50(3):619-626 (2019)
Background:
Canthaxanthin: carotenoid pigment that makes flamingo plasma bright yellow
This study uses the VetScan
Measures: [TP, Alb, Glu, K, AST,P, CK] not accurate!
BA- all below detection (+/- N),
UA - failed to run, might be yellow plasma related
Ca, Na - accurate
Conclusions: VetScan (and maybe other POC tests) are affected by canthaxanthin-pigmented plasma/serum in flamingos.
General half life of meloxicam in American flamingos?
Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam after intramuscular and oral administration of a single dose to American flamingos (Phoenicopertus ruber)
Boonstra JL, Cox SK, Martin-Jimenez T.
American journal of veterinary research. 2017 Mar;78(3):267-73.
Very short half life in american flamingos (~4h)
Great horned owls (~5h) >flamingos = RTHA (~4h)’
Chickens and pigeons ~3h
Turkeys ~1h
Ducks, ostrich <1h
Meloxicam half life in birds at 0.5mg/kg is negatively correlated with body size (bigger birds = shorter half life)
Half life in dogs ~24hours
Half life in bottlenosed dolphin = 70 hours
Conclusions: Meloxicam has a very short half-life in flamingos.
Effects of SR formulation of meloxicam American flamingos? Was this improvement from regular meloxicam?
PHARMACOKINETICS OF A SUSTAINED-RELEASE FORMULATION OF MELOXICAM AFTER SUBCUTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION TO AMERICAN FLAMINGOS (PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER)
Sim RR, Cox SK.
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 2018 Dec;49(4):839-43.
Recent studies in flamingos shows short elimination half-life
Sustained release formulation has biodegradable liquid polymer matrix to gradually deliver drug over 24-72h
Sustained-release meloxicam in flamingos had:
Short Tmax and half-life
Therapeutic level for 0.5-4h
No detectable drug after 24 h
No adverse effects
Conclusion: Sustained release meloxicam 3 mg/kg SQ once was not better than regular meloxicam in American flamingos.
PK oral mavacoxib in caribbean flamingos?
PHARMACOKINETICS OF ORAL MAVACOXIB IN CARIBBEAN FLAMINGOS (PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER RUBER)`
Gail L. Huckins, James W. Carpenter, Sara Dias, Butch KuKanich
J. of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 51(1):53-58 (2020).
Mavacoxib lasted for 5 days in Caribbean flamingos (7 days in most of them)
No adverse effects
In cockatiels, 4 mg/kg mavacoxib did not reach therapeutic levels but did have a prolonged half life
Protein binding in avian sps is <80% (compared with 95% in mammals)
Conclusions: 6mg/kg Mavacoxib (cox-2 selective NSAID) reached therapeutic concentrations for dogs in flamingos and lasted for 5-7days.
PK oral gabapentin in caribbean flamingos?
Background:
Gabapentin is an analog of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid
PK studies in GHOW, Hispaniolan Amazon parrots
Key Points:
Gabapentin 25 mg/kg PO in flamingos caused:
Therapeutic levels for 12h hours
Higher Cmax and shorter Tmax than GHOWs or Amazons
Conclusions: Gabapentin may reach therapeutic levels at 25mg/kg PO q12h in most flamingos and is eliminated quickly.
PK of oral and SC enrofloxacin in carribean flamingos?
Nau, M. R., Carpenter, J. W., KuKanich, B., & Warner, M. (2017). Pharmacokinetics of a single dose of oral and subcutaneous enrofloxacin in caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 48(1), 72-79.
15 mg/kg PO or SC q24h recommended
Consistently absorbed, no adverse effects.
Ciprofloxacin had low peak plasma concentration.
Only SC achieved the higher Cmax target (higher end of MIC, ideal).
What are some benefits of capillary zone electrophoresis vs agar gel electrophoresis?
What sex differences were present in greater and American flamingos when this method was used?
Leineweber, C., Gohl, C., Lücht, M., & Marschang, R. E. (2021). Comparison of capillary zone electrophoresis in greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) and American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber). Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 35(2), 180-186.
CZE fully automated, less labor intensive, faster, cheaper vs AGE
CZE also has better repeatability and reproducibility, better separation of protein fractions.
Albumin levels measured by BCG falsely high in birds because a portion of globulins, especially alpha globulins, react with the BCG reagent - Not appropriate for correct detemrination of albumin in avian blood samples.
Differences between American and Greater flamingo CZE in this study:
Only c-globulin fraction showed sig differences between spp.
C-globulins in greater flamingos increased with age. Albumin decreased with age.
Males of both spp higher globulin, especially alpha-globulin.
Females higher albumin levels.
A recent study analyzed plasma vitamin and mineral concentrations in greater flamingos as influenced by a diet change.
What are the pigments that give flamingos their color?
What mineral deficiency was identified as a risk factor for pododermatitis in a previous study?
The color of flamingo plasma interferes with what analytes?
Plasma vitamin and mineral concentrations in captive greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) as influenced by diet change.
Leineweber C, Gohl C, Lücht M, Dobenecker B, Marschang RE.
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 2022;53(3):561-572.
Key Points:
- Circulating Vit E correlates with dietary but Vit A does not due to storage in liver and other tissue
- To reduce excess Vit A, provitamin B-carotene is preferred in avian diets such as canthaxanthin
– Birds cannot synthesize carotenoids and must get them from the diet
– Flamingos: canthaxanthin, phoenicoxanthin, and astaxanthin are mainly responsible for plumage color (most astaxanthin is converted from dietary canthaxanthin)
- A study in greater flamingos suggested Zn deficiency predisposes birds to pododermatitis
- Adult greater flamingos require 1% Ca and 0.5% P in diet dry basis
- Diet partly influenced blood concentrations of most analytes
- Detection method significantly affected values for Cu, Fe, Mg, Zn, likely from carotenoids creating a plasma color that interfered with spectrophotometric assays.
A recent study evaluated SDMA as a marker of renal disease in greater flamingos.
What is the scientific name of the greater flamingo?
What biomarkers are traditionally used to evaluate renal function in birds? Why are these not perfect?
What is SDMA? Why is it a more appropriate marker potentially?
How did SDMA perform in birds with renal disease in this study?
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 53(4): 644-653, 2022
EVALUATION OF SYMMETRIC DIMETHYLARGININE AS AN ENDOGENOUS MARKER OF RENAL DISEASE IN GREATER FLAMINGOS (PHOENICOPTERUS ROSEUS)
Trent C. van Zanten, DVM, BSc (Hons) and Shangzhe Xie, BSc/BVMS, MVS (Conservation Medicine), PhD, Dipl ABVP (Avian), Dipl ACCM
Take-Home Message:
- Established SDMA RI for greater flamingos (11.8 – 34.2ug/dL), first of any avian species
- Strong positive correlation between SDMA and UA; moderate positive correlation with CK
- Negative correlations between SDMA and TP, alb, glucose, Ca
- No correlation between SDMA and BCS or pododermatitis score
- Six flamingos with renal disease post-mortem had elevated SDMA outside reference range
Background:
- Renal disease in birds
– Elevated uric acid = waste product of protein metabolism, produced in liver, excreted by kidneys
– Can see elevations postprandial, especially if high protein diet
– Azotemia (elevated BUN and Crea) + hyperuricemia neither sensitive nor specific for renal disease
– Influenced by diet and hydration status
– Compromised renal function – also seen with elevated TP, elevated K, low protein, low Na, and reduction in Ca:Phos
– Tubular markers (NAG) = more sensitive in detection of kidney injury
– Not evaluated in in birds outside experiments to know clinical significance
– Specific to AKI – may not be good marker for CKD
- SDMA = byproduct of cellular proteolysis solely excreted by kidneys; specific to renal tissue
– Increases with CKD; strong positive correlation with BUN and Crea
– Reflection of GFR 🡪 Increases indicate 25% reduction in kidney function
– More sensitive and specific indicator of renal disease
– ELISA = more sensitive and specific compared to conventional liquid chromatography mass spec
