Veterinary Services

Poultry and Game Birds

Significant helminth burdens were detected in pheasants aged 16-weeks, in an adult laying hen from a small free-range flock, and in an immature peacock from a small collection. Mixed burdens of hairworms (subfamily Capillariinae), caecal worms (Heterakis species) and gapeworms (Syngamus trachea) were present in the submitted pheasants, which were all thin. The laying hen was the fourth bird from a batch of 10 to die over the space of one month and was very thin. In addition to an impacted crop the bird had mixed burdens of hairworms and roundworms (Ascaridia galli). There were also multifocal areas of acute fibrinoid necrosis in the liver, possibly reflecting the effects of bacterial toxins secondary to intestinal damage. The peacock was very thin and large numbers of hairworms were found in the intestines and caeca. A worm egg count subsequently demonstrated over 400,000 hairworm eggs per gram faeces.

Losses in a batch of 1900 red-legged partridges aged 12-weeks reached 5% in the week following delivery, with some birds dead-on-arrival and other birds looking unwell. Live and dead birds submitted for postmortem examination were in very poor body condition with watery or frothy intestinal contents. Significant mixed parasitic infections comprising Spironucleus (Hexamita) species, Cryptosporidium species and coccidia were subsequently demonstrated. Additionally, Salmonella Typhimurium was isolated from pooled intestinal contents from both dead and live birds.

Multiple pale foci were found in the spleen of a layer aged 19 weeks, with smaller numbers of foci in the liver and diffuse pallor of the kidneys. Histopathology subsequently revealed a pleomorphic lymphomatous condition consistent with acute Marek’s disease. The bird was one of a batch of 1000 birds and it was believed that the birds may have been stressed during transit.

Airsacculitis, pneumonia and peritonitis due to Aspergillus fumigatus caused the death of an emperor goose (Chen canagica).

Cage and Aviary Birds

Multiple deaths across a range of bird species were reported in a large pet store. Several different infectious agents were initially detected, including Giardia species (rosella, Bengalese finch), Ascaridia species (rosella, parakeet), Chlamydophlia psittaci (parakeet), E. coli (parakeet, canary) and "megabacteria" (canary) but no overall pattern emerged. Virological examination of pooled tissues from a rosella subsequently revealed Paramyxovirus 3 (PMV-3) which is known to cause mortality in psittacines and finches in establishments such as quarantine facilities. In a different part of the country, two rosellas died approximately three weeks after purchase from a different pet store. Both birds were very thin and large numbers of "megabacteria" were demonstrated in one bird. No link was established with the first pet store.

Wild Birds

Deaths in garden birds from confirmed or presumed trichomoniasis continued to be reported in October. The condition was diagnosed in birds from 12 locations, mostly affecting greenfinches (Carduelis chloris) and chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) but was also seen in a goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), a dunnock (Prunella modularis) and a bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula).

Carbofuran was detected in ingested material from a buzzard (Buteo buteo) and crow (Corvus corone corone) found dying adjacent to a half-eaten rabbit. A police wildlife crime investigation is underway.