Veterinary Services

Poultry And Game Birds
Unilateral or bilateral periocular swelling with ocular discharge was described in a small flock of free-range hens. Post mortem examination of a typically affected bird demonstrated yellow purulent material in the infraorbital sinus, from which Pasteurella multocida and Mycoplasma spp. were isolated.

A domestic goose was submitted for post mortem examination with the history that the bird had been ill for a few days and then died. A large white irregular mass adjacent to the ovary was found, and much of the liver tissue was replaced by similar material. Histopathological examination revealed an adenocarcinoma, most likely of ovarian origin.

A seven-month-old female captive-bred capercaillie died due to a ventricular apex rupture, resulting in cardiac tamponade. This condition has been seen on several occasions in capercaillie held in captivity, and it is thought that excitement and tachycardia may predispose to the rupture.

Cage And Aviary Birds
Twenty of 200 budgerigars were reported to have died over a two-week period. Several birds showed clinical signs such as circling, loss of balance and head tilt prior to death. Only breeding birds were affected. Post mortem examination was unremarkable, but enquiries revealed that the birds were receiving a high level of dimetridazole in their drinking water as a preventative treatment for trichomoniasis. Dimetridazole can be toxic to budgerigars, and breeding birds are especially susceptible because of their increased water intake.

Weight loss, regurgitation and diarrhoea was noted in another collection of budgerigars. An enlarged distorted proventriculus was found at post mortem examination and proventricular smears demonstrated large numbers of “megabacteria”. This organism was at one time believed to be a bacterium but is now classified as a yeast and has been given the name Macrorhabdos ornithogaster.

The death of a five-year-old Australian King parrot, following a prolonged period of wasting and depression, was caused by obstruction of the intestine with Ascaridia spp roundworms.

A six-month-old peregrine falcon that had been bred in captivity was presented as a sudden death. At post mortem examination it was found to have an enlarged liver and spleen, both of which contained pale miliary foci. Histopathology was consistent with a diagnosis of falcon herpesvirus infection.