5.Avian Diagnostics

Respiratory Systems take what samples

Choanal Swab, Sinus flush/ tracheal lavage, conjunctival swab

GI Symptoms what type of samples do you take

Crop swab/crop flush, cloacal swab

When is a Crop cytology important

cases of vomiting, regurgitation, delayed crop emptying or palpable abnormalities

Wet mount is useful to detect what in Pigeons, raptors, budgies

Trichomonas

A NORMAL gram stain should show what

Few Gram Positive bacteria, scant non-budding yeast

an Ingluvitis/sour crop would show what on a gram stain

Inflammatory cells, Monomorphic bacterial population Bacteria within epithelial cells, candidiasis

A Healthy psittacines should have what Fecal Gram Stain

Gram + 70% rods

Gram + 30% cocci

absent of gram - rods and yeast

A Fecal Direct wet mount screens for

small worms, larvae, eggs, oocysts

Not very sensitive

Flotation Fecal parasitology shows

Nematodes, cestode, trematode egg

What kind of radiographs are commonly preferred in birds

Whole Body

What provides high contrast on radiographs

Air Sacs

Do you want short exposure time?

Do you take during inspiration or expiration

Yes

During inspiration

For Right Latero-lateral View

Wings should be extended in what direction

Legs should be placed how

Wings extend dorsally

Legs pulled caudal

Ventro-Dorsal Radiography views

How should bird be placed 

Bird should be straight

Keel superposed over spine

Pelvis Symmetrical

Legs pulled Caudally 

Radiography of Head, wings, and limbs should include what

2 orthogonal views

Only include and collimate area of concern

When should you perform contrast radiography

How to administer contrast

Assess GI tract: masses, foreign bodies, hypomotility

Administer contrast via gavage tube

Barium sulfate solution( 3h) radiographs each 30min 

Iohexol (1 h transit time)

Fluoroscopy is preformed to assess

How is it taken

What is Used

Gastrointestinal motility-crop/proventriculus motility when PDD suspected

Bird conscious on perch

Barium sulfate via tube feeding

Record segments of VD and Lateral fluoroscopy each 30min

Ultrasonography is limited due to what

limited organ visualization due to gas filled air sacs

Ultrasonography is used to investigate

Superficial soft tissue masses

Hepatomegaly

Cardiac disease

Renomegaly

Disorders of reproductive tract

Identification of ascites

Cranioventral used 

Endoscopy is used for

Sex determination

Visual assessment of organs and tissue sampling

rigid endoscope

Tracheoscopy

Cloacoscopy

Endoscopy is used in what approach?

Left lateral approach

Entru caudal to last rib into caudal thoracic air sac

Why is a tracheoscopy performed

Foreign bodies, aspergillus, granulomas

What is a CT used for

Evaluation of bones and air filled structures such as skull and respiratory tract

MRI is used for

soft tissue-brain, spinal cord, coelomic organs, upper respiratory tract

Detect soft tissue opacities in sinus

What is an avian postmortem examination 

Systemic approach for examination of organs and collection of samples

When performing a post mortem examination what should you wear

PPE+ fume cabinet

Post mortem Examination includes

examine every organ

10% buffered formalin

Set of frozen samples for PCR of liver, spleen, air sac, lung, kidney, brain, bursa, intestinal content

Swabs for culture

Wet mounts/stains of GI

Impression smears of organs

Enlarged spleen can indicate

infection

Lung appearance of birds

Honey comb appearance

The normal proventriculus is sometimes visible on what radiograph view

Lateral

A distended proventriculus is pathologically seen under what conditions

proventricular dilation disease or lead toxicity

Artherosclerosis can be visualized by increased radiopacity or calcification of the great vessels on which view

Lateral

Assess the cardio-hepatic silhouette, What shape is it on the VD view for psittacine species

hourglass