Generalized feather abnormalities are rarely documented in free-living birds. Pinching off syndrome (POS) is a feather abnormality in which all remiges and retrices become malformed and are lost during the nestling stage, rendering the bird unable to fly. To determine the frequency of occurrence and geographic distribution of this syndrome in white-tailed sea eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Europe, we sent questionnaires to ornithologists in 19 countries within the European range of this species. We also searched for reported cases of sea eagles with feather abnormalities that met the criteria of POS. Overall, 32 nestlings or fledglings with POS were identified between 1975 and 2006. The geographic distribution of cases was primarily restricted to 4 European countries: Germany (17 cases), Poland (11 cases), the Czech Republic (3 cases), and Great Britain (1 case). Eleven eagles from Germany and 2 eagles from the Czech Republic were examined clinically. In 15 birds in which sex was determined, 8 were female and 7 were male. From 2000 to 2005, the 5-year incidence of POS in white-tailed sea eagles in Germany was 3.5 cases per 1000 birds. Although the etiology of this syndrome in wild sea eagles is unknown, our results support a possible genetic cause.

Deferiprone is a bidentate oral iron chelator used for the treatment of transfusional iron overload in people. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic disposition of deferiprone in the white leghorn chicken as a potential model upon which to base therapeutic regimens for the treatment of iron storage disease (hemochromatosis) in affected avian species. A suspension of deferiprone (DFP) was administered orally at a single dose of 50 mg/kg to 10 birds that were iron-loaded (IL-DFP) and 10 non–iron-loaded control birds (NIL-DFP). After a 30-day washout period, 5 birds from the NIL-DFP group were used for a bioavailability study of deferiprone administered intravenously at the same dose. Blood samples were collected at varying intervals over a 24-hour period and were analyzed for deferiprone by high-performance liquid chromatography, then plasma concentration versus time curves were developed. Deferiprone was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract of the chicken, with plasma concentrations effective for iron chelation in humans (>20 µmol/L) maintained for at least 8 hours after oral dosing. The half-life (mean ± SD) of the orally administered deferiprone in the IL-DFP and NIL-DFP groups was 2.91 ± 0.78 hours and 3.61 ± 0.90 hours, respectively, and was 2.42 ± 0.24 hours for deferiprone administered intravenously. The mean oral bioavailability was 93%. Deferiprone is well absorbed and widely distributed in the chicken, with a longer half-life than reported in mammals.

Deferiprone is a bidentate oral iron chelator used for the treatment of iron overload in people. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic disposition of deferiprone in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia) and to compare the results with a previous study in the white leghorn chicken. Deferiprone (DFP) was administered orally as a suspension at a single dose of 50 mg/kg to 10 iron-loaded (IL-DFP) pigeons and 10 non–iron-loaded controls (NIL-DFP). Six NIL-DFP birds were also administered deferiprone intravenously to determine the bioavailability of the drug after a 30-day washout period. To evaluate if deferiprone induces its own metabolism, the pharmacokinetic disposition of the drug was also studied in the IL-DFP group after oral therapy with deferiprone at a dosage of 50 mg/kg q12h for 30 days. For each phase, collected blood was analyzed for deferiprone by high-performance liquid chromatography to develop a plasma concentration versus time curve. Deferiprone was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, with plasma concentrations effective for iron chelation maintained for at least 8 hours after administration in iron-loaded birds. The half-life (mean ± SD) for deferiprone given orally to the IL-DFP and NIL-DFP groups was 2.98 ± 0.85 hours and 3.26 ± 1.25 hours, respectively, and when intravenously administered was 3.79 ± 1.23 hours. The half-life after 30 days of treatment was 3.42 ± 1.18 hours. Oral bioavailability was 44%. This study demonstrated that oral absorption of deferiprone is acceptable, it does not induce its own metabolism, and the drug was widely distributed in the pigeon, as it was in the chicken, with a longer half-life than that reported in mammals. Minor interspecies variations in the pharmacokinetics of deferiprone exist between chickens and pigeons.

To determine if blood administered to pigeons by gavage tube would simulate gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a noncarnivorous avian model, be digested in the gastrointestinal tract, and subsequently alter concentrations of plasma urea nitrogen, creatinine, or uric acid, blood from common peacocks (Pavo cristatus) was administered by gavage tube to 5 healthy domestic pigeons (Columba livia) at doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 ml/kg. No significant difference in plasma concentrations of urea nitrogen, creatinine, or uric acid was seen 4–6 hours after gavage. The findings did not support or rule out the presence of gastrointestinal blood in pigeons as a model for hemorrhage in noncarnivorous avian species.

A fatal adenovirus infection is described in a wild-caught American kestrel (Falco sparverius). Predominate lesions were a moderate to severe hepatitis with diffuse single-cell necrosis of hepatocytes and a splenitis characterized by necrosis of cells surrounding the sheathed arteries. Pan-nuclear eosinophilic to magenta inclusion bodies were abundant within hepatocytes. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify a portion of the hexon gene from DNA extracted from the bird's liver and spleen. Sequence analysis showed that the adenovirus infecting this kestrel was the falcon adenovirus with a sequence homology of 99.5% to the isolate from the Northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis) variant and 98.6% homology to isolates from the taita (Falco fasciinucha) and orange-breasted falcons (Falco deiroleucus). This report expands the range of species of falcons that are susceptible to falcon adenovirus infection and disease. Given that this kestrel was recently wild caught and housed in isolation with other wild-caught kestrels, it is likely that the falcon adenovirus is present in wild populations of American kestrels.

A cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) examined because of weight loss, polydipsia, and polyuria was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus based on the presence of glucosuria and marked hyperglycemia. Medical attempts to manage the diabetes mellitus were unsuccessful, and the bird was euthanatized. Histopathologic examination of the pancreas revealed a chronic active pancreatitis with herpesviral inclusions in many of the pancreatic acinar and duct cells. Psittacid herpesvirus-1 (PsHV-1) DNA was amplified from the lesion by polymerase chain reaction. Sequencing of the amplicon showed it to be the genotype 1 variant, which is most commonly associated with Pacheco's disease, an acute rapidly fatal systemic infection. The findings in this case suggest that the PsHV-1 genotype may also cause a localized disease of the pancreas. Infection with this virus should be considered as a differential diagnosis in birds with pancreatitis with or without diabetes mellitus.

A 14-year-old blue-crowned conure (Aratinga acuticaudata) of unknown sex was brought to the hospital with a 3-week history of straining and vocalizing during defecation. Physical examination revealed blood and urate staining on feathers around the cloaca. A 2.5-cm subcutaneous swelling was palpated along the midline of the caudoventral abdomen. During surgical exploratory, a subcutaneous soft-tissue mass was found, which extended through the body wall musculature and into the coelomic cavity. The abnormal tissue was adhered to the cloacal serosa, causing deviation of the cloaca caudally and ventrally. The mass was excised and submitted for histopathology, and the histopathologic diagnosis was infiltrative lipoma. The surgical incision healed uneventfully, and no evidence of tumor regrowth was apparent 7 months after surgery. This is the first documented case of infiltrative lipoma in a bird.

A male mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) presented for examination for acute respiratory distress and lethargy. The duck had experienced recurrent episodes of respiratory distress since being attacked by a raccoon the previous year, resulting in neck lacerations. Diagnostic tests, including a complete blood count, plasma biochemical analysis, radiography, and tracheoscopy, revealed a collapsed trachea. Surgical correction of the collapsed tracheal segment resulted in resection of 9% of the total tracheal length and subsequent anastomosis. Tracheoscopy performed 2 and 3 months after surgery revealed a healthy mucosa, minimal reduction of the tracheal lumen in the area of anastomosis, and minimal suture granuloma formation.

Like human medicine, veterinary medicine is more specialized today than ever. Specialists have become available not only in the traditional specialty fields, such as surgery and internal medicine, but also in newer, narrower areas of expertise, such as animal behavior and radiation oncology. The competition for residency positions in which these specialists are trained has never been higher, and referral hospitals are springing up everywhere. General practitioners seem to be using specialists for their dog and cat patients, but are they using them for avian and exotic species as well? Are avian and exotic pet owners willing to spend extra time and money for specialty care for their pets, like dog and cat owners seem to do? What factors influence these clients' decisions about specialty care for their exotic pets?

To answer these questions, I have invited 4 general practitioners who see avian and exotic pets to participate in a round table discussion. The participants are Jacquelyn Arns, DVM, Veterinary Emergency Group, White Plains, NY, USA; Donald Factor, DVM, West End Veterinary Office, Newburgh, NY, USA; Wendy Emerson, DVM, Putnam Veterinary Clinic, Topsfield, MA, USA; and Kathy Liez, VMD, Rothman Animal Hospital, Collingswood, NJ, USA. I hope this discussion will make us (exotic animal practitioners) aware of some of the unique issues we may face in recommending specialized care for our exotic animal patients and how to best deal with these issues. Thank you to all the participants for your very helpful input.