Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery最新文献

A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed to measure the prevalence of avian intertarsal inflammation over a 5-year period, identify risk factors, and discuss treatment options. The authors hypothesized that: 1) long-legged birds would be more affected, 2) participation in a bird show would be a significant risk factor, and 3) young animals would be more frequently affected. Thirty-five clinical cases from 9 avian orders were included in the study. Statistical analysis indicated that the orders Ciconiiformes (9/150; 6%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.2-11), Gruiformes (4/132; 3%, 95% CI: 1.2-7.5), and Pelecaniformes (7/152; 2.8%, 95% CI: 1.4-5.6) were significantly more affected than other orders (P < 0.01). Similarly, long-legged birds (21/35) had 9.8 times greater chance (P < 0.001, 95% CI: 4.7-21) of developing the condition compared with other birds. Participation in a free-flight show (22/35) was a significant risk factor (P < 0.001; odds ratio: 7.0, 95% CI: 3.3-15). Mean age at onset of clinical signs was 5.7 years, and being < 2 years-of-age during the study period was not a significant predictor of disease (P = 0.054). The tibial cartilage, a fragile fibrocartilaginous structure, was frequently affected (34%, 12/35). Treatment protocols included anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesic drugs, or both (94%, 33/35), low-level laser therapy (54%, 19/35), joint immobilization (34%, 12/35), intra-articular corticoid injections (20%, 7/35), surgical stabilization (17%, 6/35), physiotherapy (9%, 3/35), intra-articular hyaluronic acid (6%, 2/35) or platelet-rich plasma (3%, 1/35) injections, and chiropractic care (3%, 1/35). Overall recovery rate was 49% (17/35), and the condition was associated with a poor prognosis in chronic cases.

Nutritional support in malnourished animals is an essential aspect of wildlife rehabilitation; this support is especially relevant when providing lifesaving nutrition to endangered species such as the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus). This study investigated the short-term effects of a commercially available, semi-elemental, critical care diet compared with a hand-made fish formula. Twenty-one African penguin chicks were selected on admission to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Costal Birds in Cape Town, South Africa, in November 2015. Initial assessment included body weight, a full clinical exam, white blood cell count, packed cell volume, and total plasma protein. Ten animals received the commercial critical care diet, whereas a control group of 11 animals were fed hand-made formula for the 2-week study period. All animals were weighed daily and blood sampling was repeated after 14 days. The median weight of both groups increased significantly over 14 days (critical care diet χ² = 10.1, P = 0.002; control χ² = 7.4, P = 0.006). The difference was not significant between the groups for start weight (χ² = 0.1, P = 0.725) or end weight (χ² = 0, P = 1.000) and was not significantly different in the change over time for either absolute numbers (χ² = 1.7, P = 0.193) or percent gain (χ² = 0.8, P = 0.36). The values for packed cell volume, total plasma protein, and white blood cell count increased in all animals after the 14-day study period was complete. On the basis of the results of this study, it was determined that the differing diets led to similar weight gain.

Plasma electrophoresis is an ancillary diagnostic tool in avian medicine, with agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) being the most common techniques. Frozen samples can be used for quantitative studies or comparative diagnostic purposes, but stability of avian plasma proteins under freezing is poorly described. To evaluate the influence of plasma freezing on electrophoretograms in white storks (Ciconia ciconia), heparin blood was sampled from 30 individuals during annual health examinations. Plasma samples were obtained after centrifugation of fresh samples and divided into aliquots. Both AGE and CZE were performed on fresh aliquots. The remaining aliquots were frozen at -20°C (-4°F) or -180°C (-292°F) and thawed following different protocols: 1 freeze/thaw cycle after 6 months at -20°C; 1, 2, 4, and 7 cycles over 12 months at -20°C; and 1 cycle after 18 months at -180°C. For both techniques, electrophoretic profiles obtained from these thawed aliquots were compared to fresh electrophoretograms. Quantitatively, significant differences (P < 0.05) in most fractions were seen from 6 months postfreezing at -20°C for both techniques. Fewer statistically significant differences were observed after 18 months under cryogenic preservation (-180°C). Qualitatively, AGE provided more repeatable and stable results than CZE over time on samples stored at -20°C, and electrophoretograms were stable after 18 months of cryogenic storage. An electromigration distortion associated with freezing was seen with CZE only. Plasma samples stored in a conventional freezer (-20°C) should not be compared to fresh plasma. For quantitative studies, cryogenic storage should be privileged.

A 19-year-old male ostrich (Struthio camelus) was referred to a veterinary teaching hospital (São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil) due to a 6-month history of recurrent prolapse of the phallus. On physical examination, 2 ulcerative wounds were present on the phallus, as well as caseous plaques and myiasis. Conservative treatment resulted in improvement but prolapse of the phallus remained. Thus, a decision was made to perform a partial phallectomy. The surgery was successful and no postoperative complications occurred. When the ostrich was reexamined 6 months postsurgery, the ostrich was alert, in good health, and the surgical site completely healed. The owner verbally reported no recurrence of the phallus prolapse 1 year after surgery.

Snakebite envenoming in avian species is infrequently reported in the veterinary literature, although perhaps not as rarely as recent publications suggest. A systematic scoping review was performed on the topic using PubMed and Google Scholar, 21 veterinary textbooks, and 139 conference proceedings. A practitioner experience survey was also performed, with recruitment from Facebook groups for exotic animal practitioners and professional organization email listservs. Only 31 texts met our inclusion/exclusion criteria, which meant they described clinicopathologic signs of snakebite envenomation in avian species, the treatment of snakebite envenomation in avian species, or expanded the geographic range or the number of captive avian and snake species involved. Reports included approximately 15-20 different species of both snakes and birds worldwide; however, no reports described clinicopathologic signs of naturally occurring snakebites from Asia, Australasia, or Europe. The few responses from our practitioner experience survey suggest that snakebite envenomation may be more common than previously reported. Clinical signs of snake envenomation in birds appear to depend on the snake species involved but often include local swelling and subcutaneous edema or hemorrhage with paired fang marks; weakness, bleeding, neurologic deficits, and death may follow. A wide variety of treatment protocols have been used to counter snakebite envenomation in birds, including the successful use of antivenom. Based on this body of evidence, much remains to be learned about snakebite envenomation of birds, particularly about the efficacy of different treatment protocols.

Pelvic limb fractures carry significant morbidity in avian patients, and although management options are well researched, published data on long-term complication rates and mortality outcomes are limited. Here, we present a cross-sectional study evaluating pelvic limb long bone fractures in companion psittacine birds presenting to an exotic-only veterinary hospital in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2020, focusing on fixation techniques and long-term outcomes. Of the 60 cases that met the inclusion criteria, 22 separate species were represented, with an age range of 8 weeks to 25 years and an even distribution of sexes, among those that had been sexed. The majority of fractures (71.7%) were tibiotarsal; femoral (15%) and tarsometatarsal (13.3%) bones represented the other fracture sites. Several different fracture management methods were used, including external coaptation, surgery, or cage rest. Average time from fracture identification to healing was 33 days, with a median of 31 days and a range of 11-121 days. Satisfactory resolution of fracture repair was achieved in 85.5% (47/55) of cases that were able to be followed to conclusion. Complications were identified in 41.7% (25/60) of fractures of all pelvic long bones. Complications during fracture management were more common in cases treated with external coaptation. The most common complication reported was patient interference with bandages, splints, or both. This study provides an overview of pelvic limb long bone fracture management outcomes, which should prove useful for avian practitioners in clinical practice.