A 4-year-old chestnut-fronted macaw (Ara severa) was examined for polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss. Abnormal clinicopathologic findings, including leukocytosis, anemia, β-globulinemia, hyperglycemia, glucosuria, and ketonuria, were consistent with diabetes mellitus. Increasing doses of neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin had no effect on the hyperglycemia, and the macaw died 5 days after presentation. Histologic examination of the pancreas at necropsy showed marked islet cell vacuolar degeneration, multifocal lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, and exocrine pancreatic hyperplasia. Immunohistochemistry performed on the pancreas revealed nearly complete absence of insulin immunopositive cells. The pancreatic lesions were consistent with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
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1 December 2005
Diabetes Mellitus in a Chestnut-fronted Macaw (Ara severa)
Anthony A. Pilny,
Richard Luong
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Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery
Vol. 19 • No. 4
December 2005
Vol. 19 • No. 4
December 2005
Ara severa
Avian
Bird
chestnut-fronted macaw
diabetes mellitus
hyperglycemia
immunohistochemistry