Cytologie bij zangvogels : een nuttige diagnostische tool

Disease outbreaks in Passeriformes housed in group are often of infectious origin. Clinical signs observed are often similar and non-specific. In these cases, cytology is an invaluable tool for developing a presumptive or definitive diagnosis that can guide disease management decisions within a flock. In the first part of this review, the basic principles of cytological sampling techniques and the evaluation of the cytological findings are described. In the second part, an overview of important infectious diseases in Passeriformes is given, in which cytology may lead to a definitive or presumptive diagnosis

Anticonceptie bij vogels

Nowadays, contraceptives for birds are more en more used for the prevention of reproduction and for therapeutic reasons. In female animals, the indications for the use of contraceptives are abundant or chronic egglaying, eggbinding, dystocia, salpingitis, impaction of the salpinx, prolapse of the cloaca or salpinx, rupture of the salpinx, ovarian neoplasia or ovarian cysts. In male animals contraceptives are administered to obtain teaser males, to prevent reproduction, to treat testicular neoplasia and to improve the carcass quality of poultry. For several years researchers have been studying these diseases, their treatment and prevention. This review includes the hormonal therapies as well as the surgical and endoscopic contraceptive techniques. Furthermore, the reproductive anatomy and endocrinology of birds are described. In bird practices, the administration of chemical contraceptives as well as the performance of surgical techniques and endoscopies are on the increase. Since specialization is increasing rapidly in small animal practices, it can be expected that these procedures will become more frequent in the future.Anticonceptiemiddelen worden bij vogels steeds vaker gebruikt, zowel om voortplanting te voorkomen als voor therapeutische doeleinden. De indicaties om anticonceptie toe te passen bij vrouwelijke dieren zijn het overmatig leggen van eieren, legnood, dystocie, salpingitis, eileiderimpactie, cloaca- of eileiderprolaps, eileiderruptuur, ovariële neoplasieën en -cysten. Bij mannelijke dieren worden anticonceptiemiddelen toegepast om teasermannetjes te verkrijgen, de reproductie af te remmen, testistumoren te behandelen en de karkaskwaliteit van industriëel pluimvee te verbeteren. Reeds jarenlang worden deze aandoeningen evenals de behandeling en preventie ervan onderzocht. In dit overzichtsartikel worden de hormonale, chirurgische en laparoscopische anticonceptietechnieken beschreven die gebruikt worden bij vogels. Verder worden ook de anatomie van het voortplantingsstelsel en de endocrinologie ervan beschreven. Niettegenstaande chemische castratie bij vogels steeds vaker wordt toegepast, zijn ook de chirurgische en laparoscopische technieken aan een sterke opmars bezig. Gezien de stijgende specialisatie in de kleine huisdierenpraktijk wordt verwacht dat deze ingrepen in de toekomst steeds frequenter zullen worden uitgevoerd

Persistent goose hemorrhagic polyomavirus infection on a Belgian goose farm

Goose hemorrhagic polyomavirus (GHPV) is the causative agent of hemorrhagic nephritis enteritis of geese (HNEG), one of the major diseases of domestic geese in Europe. This case report describes a persistent outbreak of a GHPV infection on a Belgian goose farm. Clinical symptoms, necropsy lesions, and histopathologic lesions observed were compatible with previous reports of HNEG outbreaks. PCR analysis confirmed the diagnosis of GHPV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an outbreak of a GHPV infection on a Belgian goose farm. This is evidence that GHPV is not only present in countries known for extensive waterfowl production, but disease outbreaks also occur in countries with less extensive goose production

België ontsnapt niet aan het 'rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus-2'

Since 2016, an extensive spread of RHDV2, a virus variant of the classical rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is ongoing in the Belgian rabbit population. Both variants of the virus usually cause acute death without prior symptoms. Vaccination against both variants of the virus is possible. In Belgium, only a vaccine protecting against the classical RHDV has been registered. On their own responsibility, veterinarians are allowed to import a vaccine protecting against RHDV2 that is registered in another EU member state, in accordance with the so-called legislative waterfall-system. The current epidemiological situation warrants preventive vaccination of rabbits against RHD. It should be noted that myxomatosis is currently rather neglected in view of the increased attention for the RHDV2 spread. Myxomatosis also still causes a high mortality in both wild and domesticated rabbits. Veterinarians should correctly inform the public about the two important viral diseases in rabbits and the possibilities for prevention

Intratumoral chemotherapy in an integumentary squamous cell carcinoma in a cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

An eight-year-old, female cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) was presented with anorexia, lethargy, a mass at the lower side of the wing and discoloration of the feathers. Physical examination showed an ulcerated nodular integumentary lesion of approximately 4 cm(3) ventromedial on the wing at the side of the propatagium and the humerus. Lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs revealed only hepatomegaly. After a stabilization period, surgical excision of the tumor was performed. Based on histopathological evaluation and bacterial culture of the surgically removed tissue, the lesion was typed as an integumentary squamous cell carcinoma with secondary bacterial infection (Corynebacterium sp). Four weeks postoperative, the tumor had recurred. Chemotherapeutic treatment was started with intratumoral carboplatin (1.5 mg/cm(3)) once a week. Because of further tumor growth after the second administration of carboplatin, resection of the mass was performed before the next infiltration. However, the bird died during anesthesia. Despite increase in tumor size, histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations showed degeneration of the tumor with intercellular edema and vacuolization of the tumor cells, presumably resulting from carboplatin administration. More research is needed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the intratumoral administration of carboplatin as a treatment option in birds with integumentary squamous cell carcinoma

Research note : lyophilization of hyperimmune egg yolk : effect on antibody titer and protection of broilers against Campylobacter colonization

Oral administration of antibodies is a promising strategy against various infectious diseases. Previously, it was demonstrated that passive immunization by providing hyperimmune egg yolk through the feed reduces Campylobacter jejuni colonization in broilers. Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported bacterial foodborne zoonosis worldwide, and poultry products are the number one origin of these bacteria for human infection. To date, no effective control measures exist to limit Campylobacter colonization in the chicken's intestinal tract. Here, the effect of lyophilization of hyperimmune egg yolk on protection of broilers against C. jejuni was investigated. During an in vivo trial, broiler chickens were prophylactically given feed with lyophilized hyperimmune or non-immunized egg yolk powder starting from day 1 after hatch. At day 11, broilers were inoculated with C. jejuni according to a seeder model. Five days later, all broilers were euthanized and cecal content was examined for C. jejuni colonization. No decrease in C. jejuni colonization was found. The freeze-drying resulted in a 16-fold decrease of the antibody titer in the yolk powder compared to the fresh yolks, presumably caused by structural changes in the antibodies. In conclusion, applying freeze-dried hyperimmune egg yolk failed to protect broilers against C. jejuni colonization, possibly because lyophilization affected the antibodies' functionality