diseases and other miscellaneous conditions medical environmental research learning institute

Diseases and other miscellaneous

conditions

Medical Environmental Research Learning INstitute

Emaciation

Not a disease itself, but the result of other conditions such as fractures, chronic disease, etc.

Accompanied by immuno-compromise Usually seen in Dec-Feb

First year birds experiencing their first winter

Mid-winter anemia (Redig)


How bad can it get?

Keel score of 1 out of 5 RTHA 650-750 g (Normal > 1100) GHOW 900-1000 g (Normal > 1300)

Total solids < 1 (we’ve seen 0.2) PCV < 20 (we’ve seen < 10) Extreme lethargy, hypothermia


Keel scores


Treatment Rehydration is critical

LRS IO\SQ\PO route 2 x maintenance Can use D5W IO Add B vitamins to fluids

Supplmental heat


Fluid Therapy Daily maintenance = 50 ml\kg\day Can provide in multiple routes IO catheter

Distal ulna Can maintain for 3 days max Max bolus = 25 ml\kg


Fluid Therapy Daily maintenance = 50 ml\kg\day Can generally assume either 5 or 10%

dehydration Replace deficits in 48 hours Can provide in multiple routes IO catheter

Distal ulna Can maintain for 3 days max Max bolus = 25 ml\kg


Fluid Therapy Example

900 g bird, 10% dehydrated Deficit = 900 X 10% = 90 Maintenance = 45 ml\day Bird needs 90 + 90 = 180 over next 48

hours


Treatment Iron Dextrans 0.1 ml\kg IM q10d x 2 Fenbendazole 50 mg\kg SID x 5 d Broad-spectrum antibiotics? Itraconazole 10 mg\kg BID for juvenile

RTHAs


Feeding Furless whole mice

Begin after 18-24 hours Start slow 10-30 g\kg TID Ramp up over next three days Continue aggressive hydration

Monitor PCV\TP Formulas

Useful if regurgitating whole food Oxbow Carnivore diet


Prognosis Generally good if there isn’t a

serious underlying cause. Recovery is quick


Bumblefoot


Refers to injuries or lesions on the pads of feet and toes.

Usually husbandry related Improper perch size or covering No perch variability Poor ground substrate

Can also be secondary to leg fractures or any other cause of lameness.

Bumblefoot


Clinical signs Redness, smoothening, loss of

scale Swelling and visible inflammation Necrosis and open wounds Osteomyelitis, sepsis

Bumblefoot


Grades1. Flatten, smooth epithelium. May be

a little pink

2. Infection of SQ tissue but no gross swelling

3. Infected, hot, swollen foot without involvement of tendons or bone

4. Involvement of tendon and\or bone

5. End stage with loss of function.

Bumblefoot


Bumblefoot


Treatment Pressure relieving bandages such as

ball wraps or corn pads Topical meds

Preparation H, Silvidine CEH Cream – Calendula, Echinacea,

Hypericum

Bumblefoot


Treatment (continued) Aggressive surgical debridement Systemic antibiotics (Clavamox + Baytril)

Chlorhexidine soaks

Wrist wounds


Husbandry related due to improper enclosures

Leads to exposure of carpal joint\bones.

Wrist wounds


Wrist wounds


Treatment Daily flushes Staged surgical debridements\

parial closure Protect with telfa and tegaderm

Prognosis is surprisingly good

Barbed-wire injuries


Usually Great-Horned Owls Can cause massive soft tissue trauma

and patagial tendon transection.



Treatment must be aimed at protecting the tendon from exposure and desiccation.

Silvidine cream is helpful

Tendon anastomosis


Patagial transection was once thought to be hopeless. A recent case (GHOW 13112) has proven otherwise. Freshened edges Anastomosis with 6-0 Vicryl No PT for 2 weeks then very gradual

increase in extension exercises under anesthesia for 6-8 weeks.

Aspergillosis

Very important disease in raptors, especially juvenile RTHA’s

Fungus: Aspergillus fumigatus


UbiquitousSaprophyticOpportunisticInfectiousNot contagiousNot zoonotic, but…

Aspergillosis – acute form


Inhalation of a large mass of spores

Tracheal granuloma Causes voice change,

dyspnea and death

Aspergillosis – chronic form


Due to immuno-suppression or secondary to weakened state

Emaciation, anorexia, depression, anemic

“Ain’t doin’ right” Granulomas\fungus in air

sacs and lungs Respiratory signs not seen

until late in disease

Aspergillosis - diagnosis CBC

Total count can be 30,000+ Monocytosis

Cytology – cotton blue stain Tracheal culture Serology Histopathology Endoscopy


Aspergillosis - diagnosis


Aspergillosis – risk factors Damp organic bedding Poor ventilation Immuno-suppresion Stress Poor nutrition (Vit A deficiency) Extended antibiotic use Other illness like lead poisoning Species: Juvenile RTHA, GOSH, GYRF, RLHA,

GOEA


Aspergillosis – treatment


Difficult, expensive and long-term Acute cases

Place air-sac tube Can attempt to remove

granuloma endoscopically or blindly with suction.

Intratracheal Amphotericin B (1 mg\kg TID)

Clinical signs due to tracheal obstruction

Clinical signs due to tracheal obstruction

Aspergillosis – treatment


Chronic cases Lower stress Supportive – fluids, nutrition Reglan\tube feeding if necessary Amphotericin B 1.5 mg\kg IV\IO TID x 3 days. Dilute in D5W

(maximum allowable bolus) Nebulize saline or F10 (1:250 dilution in NaCl) 20 minutes BID x 7

days Itraconazole (Sporonox) 10 mg\kg BID x 3 months. Monitor for

liver problems (AST,CK) Compounded products are much cheaper but don’t work (studies done at NC

State)

Broad spectrum antibiotics Monitor CBC’s, weight

Aspergillosis - Prevention


Prophylactic itraconazole 10 mg\kg PO BID x 21 days (Especially in highly-susceptible species)

Start 1 week before a stressful change Don’t use organic bedding Provide good ventilation Keep birds in good health Keep stress to a minimum

West Nile Virus


1999 - first seen in western hemisphere Now in most states

Affects many bird species, humans, horses Mosquito vector, bird is a carrier. Clinical signs develop 10-12 days post infection.

Can see all types of neurologic disease Retinal pathology

Diagnosis Can shed virus in both oral and cloacal cavities. Oral and chloacal

swabs can be used for both ante- and postmortem diagnosis. It is not uncommon to see no gross changes at necropsy

West Nile Virus


Treatment is purely supportive Prognosis is poor Prevention

Vaccine - Fort Dodge for horses Control mosquito exposure

Trichomoniasis


Carried by pigeons – called “canker”. Raptors are infected when eating pigeons. Don’t feed pigeons.

Called “frounce” in falcons Clinical signs

Affects the upper digestive and respiratory tracts Caseous lesions in oral cavity (under tongue, near choanal

opening) and sinuses.

Diagnosis – PE + cytology

Trichomoniasis


Diagnosis – PE + cytology [Cytology Picture of kestel?]

DDx include capillaria or candida.

Treatment – Carnidazole (Spartrix) 100-200 mg\kg PO once. May need to repeat in falcons.

Surgical debridement

Trichomoniasis


Diagnosis – PE + cytology [Cytology Picture of kestel?]

Treatment – Carnidazole (Spartrix) 100-200 mg\kg PO once. May need to repeat in falcons.

Candidiasis


Caused by Candida albicans Associated with malnutrition (Vit A deficiency) and

long-term antibiotic use Will see white necrotic lesions in mouth, pharynx

and crop and it causes with dysphagia and regurgitation.

Diagnosis based on clinical signs, endoscopy of crop (may see “Turkish towel” appearance) and cytology (Gram +, oval, budding yeast)

Candidiasis


Treatment – Nystatin 300,000 IU\kg PO BID x 10 days. Needs contact time so oral lesions may require systemic antifungal treatment

Lead Poisoning


Sources: Gunshot, ingestion of contaminated prey

Note that gunshot embedded in the musculature will not lead to system lead levels.

Eagles\Ospreys more likely affected

Lead Poisoning


Clinical signs Can be acute or chronic Generalized weakness, anorexia, emaciation Regurgitation Ataxia, tremors, seizures, paresis, paralysis,

blindness Hematuria, hemoglobinuria

Lead Poisoning


Diagnosis Blood lead level > 20 ug\dl Radiographs

Treatment Supportive Stomach gavage, endoscopic removal Surgical removal CaEDTA 35 mg\kg SQ\IM BID, 4 days on, 3 days

off for 4 weeks

Other Poisonings

OP toxicity SLUD not seen in birds Pupils not affected in birds Depression, seizures Treatment is supportive, atropine,

valium to control seizures


Other Poisonings

Rodenticide toxicity Pulmonary hemorrhage and dyspnea

are not commonly seen in birds. Bleeding from superficial wounds is

more common Treatment: Vit K1 2.5 mg\kg SQ\IM BID

for 3-4 days, then PO SID for 4 weeks.


Mycobacterium (Avian TB) Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC) Generalized, chronic, granulomatous disease Infection usually by fecal-oral route Clinical signs Chronic emaciation Dyspnea SQ granulomas\tubercles Diarrhea – tubercles in intestine is a common presentation Arthritis or tubercle formation in leg muscles?


Mycobacterium (Avian TB)

Diagnosis Leukocytosis with monocytosis Histology or cytology – Acid fast organisms Acid fast stain of feces (5 days) Look for non-staining “ghosts” with Dif-Quick Culture is very difficult

Treatment Not recommended due to zoonotic potential Note that the risk to an immunocompetent person

is low


Avian Pox

Important disease in raptors Worldwide distribution Survive in dried scabs and in

environment for years Three forms – dry, wet and septic


Avian Pox


Avian Pox

Cutaneous or dry form Most common Spread by biting insects such as

mosquitoes, but not all vectors are known.

Also mechanical spread by fomites


Avian Pox

Cutaneous or dry form Vesicles ->pustules -> scabs on

unfeathered areas of skin around eyes, mouth, feet.

Can lead to severe scarring Can be self-limiting?


Avian Pox

Diptheritic or wet form Lesions on mucous membranes in

mouth, pharynx, esophagus, trachea Vesicles -> ulcers Probably spread due to aerosol infection Can turn into septicemic form Prognosis is poor.


Avian Pox

Diagnosis Clinical signs EM – characteristic virion size\shape

(bricks) Treatment is supportive, Vit A


Avian Pox

Prevention Pigeonpox and turkepox vaccines

have been used with variable success Vector control Prevent spread by fomites and use

quarantine procedures


Questions?


Dave Scott, DVM

Carolina Raptor Center

P.O. Box 16443

Charlotte, NC 28297

704-875-6521

diseases and other miscellaneous conditions medical environmental research learning institute

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