This prospective, blinded study was undertaken to determine if inflammatory changes of the skin, feather pulp, and feather follicles are present in feather-picking birds. Eight feather-picking or feather-mutilating psittacine birds and 4 non–feather-picking (control) psittacine birds were evaluated. From affected birds, we plucked 2 feathers each from a picked and a nonpicked area. Feather pulp was expressed for cytologic examination from 1 feather each from an affected and a nonaffected area and pulp from the other 2 feathers was expressed for bacterial and fungal cultures. In addition, a feather follicle from each site was excised for histologic examination. From control birds, we plucked 2 feathers from the same regions as from affected birds and performed the same examinations on feathers and follicles as for affected birds. Cytologic examination of feather pulp from both feather-picked and control birds revealed no bacterial or fungal organisms. Histologic examination revealed no inflammatory cells in samples from either feather-picked or control birds except for 1 sample from a nonpicked area of a feather-picking bird. Only 1 pulp sample from an affected bird and 1 sample from a control bird grew bacteria. These results suggest that dermatitis and folliculitis should be considered unlikely causes for feather picking or mutilation unless confirmed by cytology, biopsy, and feather pulp culture.

Bacterial diseases are common in captive cranes. Administration of antimicrobial drugs in the drinking water could provide a nonstressful means of treatment in these birds. This preliminary study was conducted to determine if therapeutic plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin, its primary active metabolite ciprofloxacin, or both, could be achieved and maintained in sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) after administration in drinking water at a concentration of 50 ppm. Drinking water medicated with enrofloxacin was provided ad libitum to 8 healthy sandhill cranes (4 housed individually and 4 housed in pairs) for 14 days. Mean enrofloxacin plasma concentrations (±SD) were 0.03 (±0.02), 0.03 (±0.02), 0.02 (±0.01), and 0.01 (±0.00) μg/ml on days 2, 6, 10, and 14, respectively. Mean ciprofloxacin plasma concentrations paralleled those of enrofloxacin but were slightly lower, ranging from 0.01 to 0.02 μg/ml. Enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin concentrations both were below accepted therapeutic plasma concentrations for birds. Based on the plasma concentrations achieved in this preliminary study and the minimum inhibitory concentration values for bacteria commonly isolated from poultry species, enrofloxacin-medicated water would only be effective for treating infections of highly susceptible bacteria in sandhill cranes.

A pied imperial pigeon (Ducula bicolor bicolor) presented weak and unable to fly. Results of a complete blood count and plasma biochemical analysis revealed a leukocytosis and elevations in multiple enzymes, respectively. Sarcocystosis was suspected and was definitively diagnosed from muscle biopsy samples. A multidrug treatment regimen consisting of diclazuril, pyrimethamine, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was instituted. Muscle biopsies collected after 40 days of treatment were normal. The bird died of a bacterial septicemia 18 months after treatment with no evidence of sarcocystosis. This case suggests that diclazuril may be a useful drug in the treatment of avian sarcocystosis.

A dusky-headed conure (Aratinga weddelli) with a history of being force fed a large amount of garlic (Allium sativum) was presented because of anorexia and lethargy. The conure died 1 hour after supportive care was administered. At necropsy, a half clove of garlic and several large pieces of chicken meat were present in the crop. Histopathologic findings of hemoglobinuric nephrosis and hepatosplenic erythrophagocytosis strongly suggested an acute hemolytic event. Frozen kidney and liver samples were negative for polyomavirus DNA, and tissue lead and zinc levels were normal. The clinical presentation and postmortem findings in this conure are similar to those in mammals with onion and garlic (Allium species) toxicosis.

Most effective treatment regimens for invasive fungal infections in birds have included parenteral amphotericin B or oral itraconazole. However, the nephrotoxicity of conventional amphotericin B and the necessity of administering it twice daily intravenously have limited its use. During routine physical examination, a 1-year-old male goliath heron (Ardea goliath) was found to have a deep infection with Aspergillus species of its pectoral muscle. Treatment with surgical debridement followed by topical povidone-iodine in conjunction with oral itraconazole for 50 days and then also topical miconazole for 19 days failed to resolve the infection. A novel preparation of liposomally encapsulated amphotericin B was made by combining the drug with sterile, water-soluble lubricating gel. Liposomal amphotericin B was administered topically at a dosage of 1.35 mg/kg once daily for 30 days, discontinued for 15 days (when it became unavailable), and then administered again once daily for 14 days, every 3 or 4 days for 16 days, and every 5–7 days for 60 days. Treatment of the wound with this antifungal medication, combined with antibiotics and vigorous surgical debridement, led to full resolution of wound aspergillosis in this goliath heron. We chose the liposomal formulation of amphotericin B because of its reduced nephrotoxicity and longer duration of activity relative to conventional amphotericin B. Liposomal amphotericin B is an intravenous preparation that can be given via nebulization as well and has a much longer residence time than conventional amphotericin B in murine models, making it a potentially more practical drug also for treating respiratory tract aspergillosis in birds.

A 13-year-old male salmon-crested cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) was presented for evaluation of a right thoracic limb mass. A 5 × 5-cm mass was palpated within the right humeral middiaphysis, extending to the radiohumeral joint. On computed tomography examination, the mass extended from the right humeral bone into adjacent soft tissue; pulmonary metastasis was not observed. To obtain adequate surgical margins with no histologic evidence of neoplastic cells, complete amputation of the right wing at the scapulohumeral joint was performed. The tumor was diagnosed as a primary mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from the respiratory epithelial lining of the medullary cavity of the right humerus. The cockatoo recovered well from surgery and was reported to be in good health 8 weeks after surgery.

Cloacal prolapse is frequently seen in psittacine birds, particularly cockatoos and African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). A 5-year-old female sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) and a 7-year-old female white cockatoo (Cacatua alba) were examined for chronic cloacal prolapse. On initial presentation to the referring veterinarian 18 months earlier, both birds were treated with either a purse-string suture or vertical mattress sutures across the vent. Because of the chronicity of the conditions, incisional and rib cloacopexies were performed on both birds. Although recovery was uneventful, intestinal obstruction developed in each bird within 1 week after surgery. The sulphur-crested cockatoo died before surgical intervention, and necropsy revealed entrapment of the large intestine between the rib and incisional cloacopexies. An attempt to correct the entrapment was made in the white cockatoo, but the bird died later because of adhesion formation and reobstruction. To prevent intestinal entrapment after surgery in similar cases, we recommend that proper tension on the cloaca be maintained during rib cloacopexy and that the space between rib and incisional cloacopexies be eliminated during closure of the celiotomy.