Veterinary Services

An adult layer from a small hobby flock was submitted for necropsy, the third bird to die in the past month. The crop contained much water, vegetation and some cereal, and the gizzard was greatly distended with a tangled mass of long fibre, stones and some cereal. The fibrous material formed a thick plug that extended into the duodenum, causing a blockage and peritonitis. Evidence of kidney failure was also widespread. Advice on reducing the likelihood of gizzard impactions was given. Similar findings were made in two broiler breeder replacements aged six weeks on restricted diets. Both birds had significant impactions of the crop and gizzard.

Game birds

Rotavirus infection was suspected or confirmed in three batches of pheasants aged eight to ten days. All presented with increased mortality and loose yellow faeces.

Rotavirus was also initially suspected in pheasants aged seven days on another site. Approximately 200 out of 1000 birds died in the preceding three days. Necropsy revealed enlarged dark spleens in five of the seven birds submitted, and white casts in the caeca of five of the birds. Salmonella Typhimurium DT2 was subsequently isolated from the affected birds. This phage type is more commonly associated with birds of the pigeon family, and the possibility that pigeons had contaminated the rearing environment was discussed.

Salmonella Enteritidis PT13a was recovered from pheasants and ducklings on one site. Initially pheasants aged two weeks were affected. Fibrinous pericarditis, perihepatitis and splenic enlargement were consistent features at postmortem examination. Deaths were then seen in ducklings aged four weeks in pens close to the pheasant accommodation. Similar necropsy findings were made in the ducklings and again heavy growths of Salmonella Enteritidis PT13a were isolated from the viscera. A good response to antibiotic medication was reported, and the game bird rearer was reminded of the possible zoonotic implications.

Coccidiosis was diagnosed in pheasants from two weeks of age. Presenting signs varied and included increased mortality, loose faeces, heat seeking, vent pecking and lethargy. Secondary colisepticaemia was present in one batch, with pericarditis and perihepatitis.

In one batch of pheasants large numbers of coccidial oocysts were present in birds aged 14 days, implying early and heavy exposure. This was reinforced when further birds aged three weeks were submitted and eggs of Syngamus trachea were detected, indicating patent gapeworm burdens.

Two pheasant poults aged five weeks were submitted for necropsy following an outbreak of respiratory disease in a batch of 5,500 birds. Miliary white nodular lesions were seen in the lungs and cranial air sacs of one bird and a pure growth of Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from the lung and liver.

Two adult female black grouse were submitted from a captive breeding programme. The birds were found dead in good condition. One had multiple ulcers in the small intestine, with pale nodules on the serosa and bloody intestinal contents. The second bird had fewer ulcers but more extensive peritonitis on the surface of the intestine. Anaerobic cultures yielded heavy growths of Clostridium perfringens but the possible involvement of Clostridium colinum (“quail disease”) could not be discounted.

Racing pigeons

A racing pigeon was submitted for necropsy after two birds died. Others were said to have droopy wings and weight loss. A septic arthritis of the “elbow” joint was noted, from which Salmonella Typhimurium DT 2 was isolated. As indicated above, DT2 is one of the commonest phage types isolated from pigeons.

Wild birds

Carbofuran poisoning  caused the death of a buzzard (Buteo buteo) submitted for necropsy.
Trichomonosis was considered to be the cause of death of a siskin (Carduelis spinus), a greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) and a chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) found dead at three different locations. All had necrosis of the upper digestive tract.

An immature jackdaw (Corvus monedula) was found alive and showing nervous signs including torticollis and circling. Severe trauma to the head was found, possibly inflicted by other birds. Necropsy revealed several plaques and nodules in the lungs, although the air sacs appeared unaffected. Fungal cultures were unrewarding, but histopathology demonstrated pulmonary granulomata associated with branching septate fungal hyphae. SAC C VS concluded that the bird had been unwell due to the mycotic pneumonia and was then attacked by other birds.