Association of Avian Veterinarians

Aspergillosis Incidence in PenguinsAuthor(s): Andrew GreenwoodSource: AAV Today, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Fall, 1987), p. 172Published by: Association of Avian VeterinariansStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27670284 .

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The preceding dietary regimen has been designed to complement our

available enclosures that can accom

modate 25 to 30 four month old ostrich chicks. It is intended to: 1) prevent a skewed growth pattern bet ween total body weight and

musculoskeletal development by

gradually increasing protein and calorie intake; 2) prevent nutritional

myopathies by providing protective levels of Vitamin E and selenium; and 3) prevent rickets and perosis by supplementing the diet with vitamins and minerals (oystershell and

Vitapol? ). This regimen has effec

tively reduced our incidence of

angular limb deformities from 30% to less than 5 %.

A further important preventive medicine procedure for ostrich chicks

is vaccination against pox in the first week of hatching. We use a modified live virus fowl pox vaccine at the

recommended poultry dosage, ad

ministered in the wing web. ? C. Douglas Page, DVM, Jackson ville Zoological Park, Florida

Atoxoplasmosis in the Greenfinch

The "going light" syndrome in the captive bred greenfinch (Car

duelis chloris) in Britain appears to be associated with atoxoplasmosis or

Lankesterella, commonly seen in canaries in continental Europe. The incidence appears to be highly species specific. Breeders have noticed the disease occurs in all mutations of

greenfinches (lutinos, etc.), but it doesn't occur in greenfinch mules

(cross between canaries and greenfin ches) or hybrids with other finch

species.

Young birds begin to show clinical

signs of illness at weaning age when

they're starting to feed on the

ground of the aviary. Upon necropsy, Lankesterella lesions are evident in the spleen and liver. There may be similar diseases in other species of

finches. The prevalence in the wild

greenfinch is unknown. ? Andrew Greenwood, MRCVS,

Keighley, West Yorkshire, England 172 AAV TODAY

Aspergillosis Incidence in

Penguins Wild-caught penguins imported by

zoos from South America, South Africa or Antarctica are extremely susceptible to aspergillosis after arrival or at subsequent moves. On the

other hand, newly acquired zoo

captive-reared penguins do not come

down with aspergillosis unless the

challenge is exceptionally heavy (e.g., poor managment conditions with

mouldy vegetation or straw ground

cover). Prophylactic therapy with ketoconazole is recommended for

newly imported birds. ? Andrew Greenwood, MRCVS,

Keighley, West Yorkshire, England

Malaria Prevention in Penguins To prevent malaria in captive

penguins, we recommend the use of human anti-malaria drugs such as

chloroquine. The preventative is ad ministered at the human dosage

(0.75 mg/kg once weekly) during the warm weather months, i.e., from

April /May to September/October in locations the latitude of Britain and

Europe. ? Andrew Greenwood, MRCVS,

Keighley, West Yorkshire, England

Care of Flamingo Feet The primary factor in preventing

cracked feet in flamingos appears to be texture of the substrate of pond bottoms and shores. The use of soft

clay and grass is recommended. Ad

[ justments in the diet to prevent this

j from occurring, such as biotin or

Vitamin A supplementation, have made no difference. Concrete appears to be the worst substrate. It would

probably also be advantageous for

flamingo exhibits to contain brackish water.

? Andrew Greenwood, MRCVS,

Keighley, West Yorkshire, England

Live Food Warning Severe signs of ataxia, dyspnea,

and weakness were noted in flights of

Dybowski Twinspots, Black-cheeked

Waxbills, and Purple Grenadierr ap

proximately 30 minutes after being fed green inch worms removed from a non-chemically treated azalea plant.

The birds consumed 2-4 worms

apiece. Similar worms feeding on

other plants had been used before

with no ill effects. Without any treat ment attempts, signs started to abate

in approximately 90 minutes. Total

recovery was within 4 to 8 hours. ?

Stanley W. Blazejewski, III, VMD, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Mynah Bird Radiographs The normal trachea of the mynah

bird differs radiographically from the

psittacine. The lateral projection reveals an angulated ventral deviation in the trachea, just anterior to the thoracic inlet. The deviation is not

associated with the mynah's promi nent syrinx, and could be easily

misinterpreted as ventral displace ment from a soft tissue swelling or mass.

? Lynn R. Dustin, VMD, San Fran

cisco, California

Wound Therapy In the June 15, 1987 issue of

J.A.V.M.A., a review article on

topical wound medications described the use of live yeast-cell derivative

(LYCD) ointment to stimulate ox

ygen consumption, epithelialization and collagen synthesis in wounds.

Human skin graft donor sites treated with LYCD ointment healed faster than sites treated with ointment base

only. Similar results were obtained in

dogs with open wounds.

Also known as skin respiratory fac

tor, LYCD is found in an over-the counter hemorrhoid preparation

(Preparation H). I have recently used

Preparation H on several wild birds

(and one alligator) with open wounds

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