Pigeons, Doves, And Passerines Flashcards
Columbiformes dietary category
Herbivores
T or F: Columbiformes are diurnal. What does that mean?
True; spend a lot of time on land, perching, or in flight
What type of young do columbiformes have
Altricial
Pigeons (columbiformes) have an extensive…
Plexus venosus subcutaneus collaris
T or F: pigeons have small crops
False; they are large
Male and female pigeons have crops that…
Produce “crop milk” to feed young squabs
Ideal housing for pigeons
Sunny, dry, well ventilated and insulated loft
What should be included in the housing of pigeons to minimize feather damage
Perches and boxes, but they should be able to accommodate pecking order
Pecking order
- dominant birds= highest perches
Why should an enclosed area beneath the loft be included?
To exclude feral birds
What feed should pigeons get & what should also be offered
- pelleted feed
- offer grit and mineral salts
How long should newly purchased birds be quarantined?
30 days
How should wild pigeons be housed from owned pigeons
Individually and separately
Major virus that causes head and neck problems
Paramyxovirus type 1
Clinical signs of paramyxovirus type 1
PU/PD (can last 6-8 wks), normal uric acid lvls, torticollis, ataxia, trembling wings, paresis, paralysis
What type of clinical signs are not developed during paramyxovirus type 1 infections
GI and respiratory
Morbidity and mortality of paramyxovirus type 1 infections
- morbidity usually 100%
- mortality <5%
- 70% birds recover
Transmission and incubation pd of paramyxovirus type 1
- orally or aerosol transmission
- incubation pd 5-35 days
Where does the paramyxovirus type 1 spread
Kidneys and/or CNS
Dx of paramyxovirus type 1 (4)
- clinical signs
- hemagglutination inhibition tests w/ paired sera of multiple pigeons
- histopath
- viral isolation
Dx & control of paramyxovirus type 1
- supportive care
- vx w/ killed adjuvated products w/ pigeon PVM strain or poultry LaSota strain
- cull affected pigeons
Zoonotic and other types of paramyxovirus type 1 concerns
- potential spread to poultry farms
- linked to human deaths in immunocompromised individuals
Pox virus that causes skin problems
Pigeon pox
Incubation pd of pox virus
10 to 20 days
Pox viruses mostly affect ________ pigeons
Young
Most pox virus infections occur in
Late summer and fall
Pox virus is transmitted via
- shedding of infected epithelial cells (direct)
- vectors (indirect)
Where does the pox virus spread to from initial skin lesions
Internal organs then distant skin/mucosa
2 forms of pox virus
Cutaneous & diptheritic
Atypical pox virus
- wart like lesions on body/wings
- contain black/bloody material
Dx for pox virus
- characteristic lesions
- histological exam (intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies)
Tx for pox virus
- supportive
- prevent 2ndary infection
- DO NOT SX REMOVE
- Vx w/ live, attenuated, homologous pox virus
Chlamydiosis
- endemic
- transmitted via adult to squab via feeding
- low virulence
- signs: respiratory and gi
- recovered birds can be carriers
Is pigeon chlamydia zoonotic?
YES
Trichomonas
- pigeon= primary host
- occurs in birds that feed on pigeons (frounce)
- very common
- severe lesions in nestlings and young birds
- protozoan parasites colonize crop and esophagus
Trichomonas lesions
- Dependent on virulence and pigeon age
- small, yellow, circumscribed lesions (can grow into caseous masses)
- smaller lesions don’t bleed when removed
- leads to maluntrition and starvation
Trichomonas Dx
- crop swab/cytology
Tx of trichomonas
- metronidazole (ends in “-azole”)
- removal of infected birds
- prevent feed contamination
Upper GI signs of trichomonas
Candida
Turkish towel is
Candida albicans
Candida albicans
- transmitted in food and water
- yeast-like
- not normally pathogenic in GI
- clinical signs: listless, stunted, rough feathering
Dx for candida albicans
- turkish towel on crop mucose
- cytology
Tx for candida albicans
- nystatin
- copper sulfate in h2o
3 GI abnormalities
- salmonella
- chlamydia
- coccidia
Pathognmonic sign of salmonellosis in pigeons
Extensive swelling of the elbow
Specific strain of salmonellosis for pigeons
S. Typhimurium
- gram -ve, facultative, intracellular
Spread of salmonellosis
- GIT -> rest of body
- fecal/orally transmitted (vertically)
Clinical signs of salmonellosis
- start w/ inappetance, bloody diarrhea, PU, green tinged urates
- can cause focal necrosis w/ formation of abscesses and granulomas
Dx salmonellosis
- isolation from internal organs
- isolation from feces (pool samples over 5 days)
- slide agglutination tests
Control of salmonellosis
- sanitation
- euthanize infected birds
- antimicrobial tx (enrofloxacin, trimethoprim sulfa)
- vx
In pigeons and doves, which 2 drugs cause a toxicosis assc. w/ capillaria obsignata
- fenbendazole
- albendazole
2 common spp of coccidiosis
E. Labbeana and columbarum
Transmission and incidence/pathogenicity of coccidiosis
- high incidence/low pathogenicity
- fecal/oral transmission
Clinical signs of coccidiosis
- enteritis
- wt loss (esp. young birds)
Are pigeons continuous carriers of coccidia after they develop immunity
No
Dx and tx of coccidiosis
- fecal flotation
- heavy infest. Tx w/ sulfa drugs
Passerine anatomic info
- small land birds
- beak conformation varies by species feeding habits
Passerines have high _____ _____ rates
Basal metabolic
Passerine nestlings are…
Altricial
What type of passerines have a crop and large muscular ventriculus
Seed-eating
What nutrients are highly digested by passerines
Fat and starch
The ____ ability in passerines is highly developed and related to ________ anatomy
Singing; syringeal
What is special about the passerine respiratory system
Its highly efficient
Mixed ornamental aviary housing
- outside w/ a sheltered area
- different species housed together
- species specific diseases restricted to few individuals
- usually planted
Breeding aviary housing
- inside
- same spp housed together
- birds kept in couples & produce 2-3 clutches/season then separated in winter
- fledglings kept in communal flight pens
Handling & restraint
- capture in dark cage/room
- don’t restrict movement of sternum!!!!!!
- keep handling short!!!!!
Name of toxic gas from nonstick cookware
Poluytetrafluoroethylene
Mycoplasma conjunctivits in wild finches signs
- mildly swollen eyelids to severe conjunctivitis w/ mucoid discharge
- may have visual impairment-> starvation and vulnerability to attacks
Wild finch mycoplasma conjunctivitis tx
- tetracycline drops/ointment for eye for 5 days
- oral tylosin as drinking water source for 21 days min.
Can wild finches be subclinical carriers of mycoplasma conjunctivitis after tx?
Yes
Mycoplasma conjunctivitis spread
- contact between infected birds & between infected surfaces
- higher incidence in cold months
Syngamus trachea
- in outdoor aviaries
- srs problem in mynahs, corvids, and starlings
Transport hosts of syngamus trachea
Earthworms
Clinical signs of syngamus trachea
Gasping for breath, death by tracheal occlusion
Dx of syngamus trachea
Tracheal transillumination or fecal exam
Tx of syngamus trachea
Low dose of antihelminthic (fenbendazole) or ivermectin over several days
