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1 June 2006 Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia) Poisoning in a Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)
Terry W. Campbell
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

A 9-month-old, male budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) was presented with an acute onset of weakness and vomiting. The bird had recently ingested leaves of freshly harvested crown vetch (Coronilla varia) from a fresh cutting of the plant placed next to the bird's cage. During the following 10 hours, the bird exhibited tachypnea and showed progressive neurologic signs of weakness, incoordination, tremors, and depression. The bird was treated with supportive care and activated charcoal. Its condition stabilized in the following 8 hours, with improvement within 48 hours and complete recovery in 2 weeks. Crown vetch grows in disturbed soils, tolerates dry conditions, and is often planted to prevent soil erosion. The toxic constituent of crown vetch is the nitrotoxin, β-nitropropionic acid, a potent neurotoxin.

Terry W. Campbell "Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia) Poisoning in a Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)," Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 20(2), 97-100, (1 June 2006). https://doi.org/10.1647/2005-009.1
Published: 1 June 2006
KEYWORDS
Avian
budgerigar
Coronilla varia
crown vetch poisoning
Melopsittacus undulatus
neurotoxicity
nitrotoxin
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