Avian influenza is a disease of both veterinary and public health importance. Influenza A viruses infect a range of hosts, including humans, and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. These viruses have high genetic variability, and new strains develop through both mutation and reassortment. Modes of transmission as well as the location of viral shedding may differ both by host species and by viral strain. Clinical signs of influenza A virus infection in birds vary considerably depending on the viral subtype, environmental factors, and age, health status, and species of the bird and range from decreased egg production and gastrointestinal manifestations to nervous system disorders and respiratory signs. Most commonly, peracute death with minimal clinical disease is observed in poultry infected with a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. There are various prevention and control strategies for avian influenza, including education, biosecurity, surveillance, culling of infected animals, and vaccination. These strategies will differ by institution and current federal regulations. Each institution should have an established biosecurity protocol that can be properly instituted. Lastly, human health precautions, such as proper hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and employee health monitoring, are imperative for at-risk individuals.

The diagnosis of hepatic disease in psittacine birds by using biochemical enzyme and bile acid levels is problematic. In this study, we looked at changes in clinical enzyme concentrations, bile acid levels, and plasma protein electrophoresis results to determine whether these analytes correlate with hepatic disease. A total of 442 samples representing 8 species of psittacine birds were analyzed for levels of bile acids, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatine kinase (CK) and for changes in plasma protein concentrations determined by electrophoresis. Follow-up questionnaires were received from the submitting veterinarian detailing the diagnosis of the patient and whether liver disease had been confirmed by histologic examination. When the data were examined without regard to diagnosis, high clinical enzyme concentrations correlated poorly with high levels of bile acids. These results suggest that the often used corollary of high AST and normal CK concentrations as a sole screening test to evaluate hepatocellular injury is not valid. High bile acid levels had the highest association with confirmed hepatic disease, followed by high concentrations of α2-globulins, AST, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and α1-globulins.

Rotational limb deformity due to tibiotarsal rotation can affect captive-bred houbara bustard chicks (Chlamydotis macqueenii) from an early age. If not completely corrected, the affected birds can neither be released into the wild nor used in captive-breeding projects. A nonsurgical orthopedic method was developed to correct this deformity before growth is completed. The method consists of hobbling digits III and the distal part of the tarsometatarsus of each leg with a self-adhesive conforming bandage that keeps digits III parallel with enough freedom of movement to allow walking. The tibiotarsal bones are left free. This treatment was successful when it was implemented for 20 days on 10-day-old houbara bustard chicks presenting with 60° to 90° unilateral tibiotarsal rotation. Implementing the same corrective method at an older age was not successful. This cheap, accessible, and noninvasive technique may be applicable to other avian species.

A clinically normal 2-year-old Hispaniolan Amazon parrot (Amazona ventralis) was found to have periodic second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block with variable nodal conductions while anesthetized with isoflurane during a thermal-support research project. Arrhythmias were observed on 5 successive weekly electrocardiograms. A complete cardiac evaluation, including a diagnostic electrocardiogram, revealed intermittent bradyarrhythmias ranging from a 2:1 to a 7:1 second-degree AV block, with concurrent hypotensive episodes during the nodal blocks. Results of a complete blood cell count, plasma biochemical profile, blood gas analysis, and atropine-response test, as well as radiography and auscultation, revealed no obvious cause for the arrhythmias. Echocardiography demonstrated cardiac wall thickness, chamber size, and systolic function similar to other psittacine birds. On return to the colony, the parrot continued to be outwardly asymptomatic despite the dramatic conduction disturbances. Although cardiac arrhythmias, including second-degree AV block, have been widely reported in birds, the wide variation of nodal conductions, the intermittent nature, and an arrhythmia with a 7:1 second-degree AV block that spontaneously reverts to normal as seen in this case have not been well documented in parrots.

Anticoagulant rodenticides inhibit the activation of vitamin K–dependent clotting factors, resulting in fatal hemorrhage. Nontarget species are exposed to these rodenticides primarily by direct consumption of baits or secondarily by consumption of poisoned prey. The diagnosis of anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis is more challenging in birds than in mammals because of the limited availability of laboratory tests to evaluate avian coagulation. In addition, the presenting signs in birds may differ from those commonly seen in mammals. Treatment for acute blood loss and therapy with vitamin K₁ can result in a favorable outcome in birds. This report describes the presenting signs, diagnosis, and successful treatment of a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) with secondary anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis.

A yellow-naped Amazon parrot (Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata) was presented 5 months after a traumatic fracture of its left tibiotarsus. Fixation of the simple, closed, mid-diaphyseal fracture was originally with an intramedullary pin and external coaptation with a modified Robert-Jones bandage. During the subsequent 5 months, the bone became osteopenic, and the middle third of the tibiotarsus exhibited probable avascular necrosis. After various fixation attempts failed, the parrot was fitted with a ring fixator device, and bone transport osteogenesis was attempted. Within 7 weeks, the left tibiotarsus had regrown to full length, but the docking site at the proximal fracture line had not healed. After 2 more surgeries to debride bone ends to stimulate healing, the leg in this parrot became functional. This is the first reported clinical use of bone transport osteogenesis in a pet bird. Materials and techniques were applied successfully to this parrot, which suggests that bone transport osteogenesis deserves further study for the repair of large bone defects in birds.