Finding Avian Health Information

This article explores informational resources and basic search strategies used to locate documents for practicing evidence-based avian medicine. It discusses selected databases that are available for locating articles and documents relating to avian health, which would include companion birds, avian wildlife, and birds maintained in zoological collections. Tables are incorporated to identify which electronic databases contain specific avian journals and subsequent number of avian veterinary documents appearing in each listed publication.     

Bandaging, endoscopy, and surgery in the emergency avian patient.

This article is divided into three parts and describes procedures used in avian medicine after initial stabilization. The first part includes the application of bandages and splints for fractures. The second part describes the use of endoscopy to examine the choana, oral cavity, trachea, and, to a lesser extent, internal organs. The last part discusses equipment required and techniques used for esophagostomy tube placement, air sac cannulation, and surgery, with approaches to the coelomic cavity and a select number of surgical procedures. This article is intended to provide the emergency animal clinician with knowledge necessary to provide basic stabilization for avian patients and knowledge of procedures that can be performed by the experienced clinician.     

Future directions in training veterinarians for companion avian species

Companion avian medicine has become a routine part of veterinary practice. More than 16 million companion birds are owned by approximately 6.4 million US households. This report outlines suggested undergraduate veterinary curricula, opportunities for post-graduate education, and options for training avian veterinarians.     

Arterial Catheterization,Interpretation, and Treatment of Arterial Blood Pressures and Blood Gases in Birds

Blood pressure monitoring of patients has become increasingly common in companion animal veterinary hospitals, especially during anesthesia, surgical procedures, critical care, and general health assessments. Determining an animal’s blood pressure has become a standard part of the routine diagnostic evaluation for monitoring hypertension in geriatric patients or patients affected with renal insufficiency, cardiac disease, vision loss, or endocrine disorders. To increase the standard of care in exotic and zoological medicine, new diagnostic techniques must be identified and implemented. Blood pressure measurements in avian species are more challenging because only direct blood pressure techniques have been reported to be accurate. Arterial catheterization and interpretation can be daunting without the knowledge of avian physiology and anatomy; however, techniques for placing arterial catheters are not difficult once clinicians have gained sufficient experience. This article describes the techniques, anatomy, and appropriate interpretation of blood pressure results obtained through arterial catheterization in birds.     

Current Trends in Avian Pediatrics

This article is a current overview of the common presentations of avian pediatric cases. The number of avian pediatric cases as well as the sources of the birds has changed dramatically in the last 5 years. The number of pediatric avian cases has substantially decreased and the source has changed from aviculturists to major pet store chains. Four of the more common avian pediatric disease conditions that are treated in veterinary hospitals are reviewed as well as lesser-identified presenting complaints. Behavior as an important aspect of avian pediatrics is also discussed.     

The avian thyroid gland.

There has been a considerable amount of research regarding the function of the avian thyroid gland, particularly in chickens. There is also more information on diseases of the avian thyroid gland, although it is usually in the form of case reports. This article covers a limited amount of material on the structure and function of the avian thyroid gland and its diseases.     

The anatomy and physiology of the avian endocrine system.

The endocrine system of birds is comparable to that of mammals, although there are many unique aspects to consider when studying the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. Avian endocrinology is a field of veterinary medicine that is unfamiliar to many practitioners; however, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding when evaluating companion birds in clinical practice. This article covers the anatomy and physiology of the normal avian, and readers are referred to other articles for a more detailed explanation of altered physiology and pathology.     

Equipping the avian practice.

The interest in avian medicine grows every year, and the degree of successful diagnosis and treatment in our avian patient has increased tremendously over the last 2 decades. For a veterinarian interested in avian practice there are many decisions to be made before one just accepts a patient. As outlined in this summary, there are many decisions to make regarding the level and diversity a practitioner wishes to explore (only exotics, poultry, ratites, Columbiforms, raptors, and so on) and then which equipment will be necessary to perform that level of practice. There is no master list of equipment that every avian practitioner must own. Needs must be catered to the species seen and the individual interest of the practitioner. Continuing education courses are now offered throughout the country on various aspects of avian medicine. The Association of Avian Veterinarians provides a journal, yearly conference, Web site, and a wide range of support materials. The author implores interested veterinarians to investigate these great learning experiences before casually deciding to add avian patients to a general companion animal practice.     

Basic techniques in pet avian clinical pathology.

An understanding of clinical pathology is extremely important for the pet avian clinician. The basics are often poorly understood by the busy practitioner. This article has served as a review for clinicians wanting the basics but having neither the time nor the resources to examine large volumes of material. This information has been designed to enable the veterinarian to understand better the limitations of the tests and the difficulties encountered by the avian technician in performing the tests so important in clinical avian practice.     

鸡球虫病免疫学研究进展

鸡球虫病是严重危害养禽业的一种寄生虫病。一直以来,鸡球虫病主要依靠药物来进行防治。但是,随着球虫抗药性问题的日益严重,抗球虫新药开发困难及人们对食品安全的关注,药物在球虫病控制中的作用越来越受到限制,因而用免疫方法来控制鸡球虫病日益受到重视,并有望成为主要的技术手段。目前鸡球虫免疫学研究主要集中在鸡球虫免疫原性、宿主免疫应答及寻找有效的鸡球虫保护性抗原等方面。近年来随着分子生物学和现代生物技术的发展,鸡球虫基因工程疫苗以其独特的优势显示其在未来球虫病控制中的诱人前景,并可能取代传统疫苗而成为鸡球虫病防治的主要手段。     

中草药抑制H_5亚型禽流感病毒对鸡胚毒性的研究

根据中医利用解表、清瘟、凉血止血的中草药防治人类流感的原理,选取金银花、北板蓝根、贯叶连翘、双黄连、贯众等五种中草药所制成的制剂进行H5亚型禽流感病毒感染鸡胚后毒力作用的抑制实验。首先对鸡胚接种禽流感H5亚型病毒,然后对感染鸡胚分别注射上述几种中药制剂,再抽取胚液进行HA和HI实验,将其中对鸡源H5-AIV有抑制作用的中草药挑选出来,测定中草药对禽流感病毒的治疗指数(Therapeutic index,TI)。然后采用寇氏法计算药物半数有效量ED50。结果表明,金银花、北板蓝根、贯叶连翘、双黄连、贯众五种中草药制剂在对H5亚型禽流感病毒的鸡胚毒性方面均有较好的抑制作用。     

Physiology, diagnosis, and diseases of the avian reproductive tract.

Disorders of the reproductive system represent a large portion of both large and small domestic animal medicine. Although some disorders of this system have been extensively studied in birds, this science is still in its infancy, when compared to mammalian reproductive medicine. This may be due to several reasons, but the simple fact that birds are oviparous renders knowledge of mammalian reproductive anatomy, histology, physiology, and disease process, inapplicable to avian patients. Nevertheless, several specific diseases or conditions affecting the reproductive system of birds have been described. By integrating information about the comparative anatomy and physiology of birds, reports of the most common reproductive diseases of birds and utilizing the latest diagnostic techniques, especially videoendoscopy, the avian practitioner should be able to diagnose and properly treat a high percentage of the avian reproductive diseases.     

Tumors of pet birds.

Neoplastic diseases are becoming more than a postmortem diagnosis due to the increasing knowledge base and improving quality of avian medicine. The expectation for better health care demands a diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy options. However, the published information regarding prognosis and therapy of specific neoplasms remains limited in avian medicine. With each case report or study that provides this information, there is an improvement in the level of care we can offer our companion avian species. This review will cover some basic information about specific tumor types and will reference the more recent reports in the avian literature. It is not intended to be all encompassing.     

Psittacine restraint in the examination room.

This article suggests that there is a high probability of connections between emotional and physical health in animals. Many avian veterinarians are putting these ideas into practice. Recently, several veterinary schools have invited speakers to address their students about these ideas, suggesting a positive change in attitude (Irene Pepperburg, personal communication, 2000). There has been substantial progress in the avian veterinary community's attitude towards the psychological health of these exceptionally intelligent animals. In fact, over the last 5 years, there has been a substantial increase in avian medicine's interest in the work lay parrot behaviorists are doing regarding the psychology of these fascinating birds. More significant progress in the coming years is expected.     

禽类性别决定与分化相关基因的研究进展

禽类的性别决定机制迄今尚无定论,目前较为公认的有以下几种假说:一是W染色体上携带性别决定基因(类似于哺乳动物的SRY)决定着个体的雌性化发育;二是Z染色体上某些基因的过表达(即不受剂量补偿效应限制)引发了个体的雄性化发育;三是前2种机制共同作用。已知禽类的性别决定候选基因有W染色体上的FET1、ASW和Z染色体上的DMRT1基因。此外,常染色体上的许多基因也参与禽类的性别决定和分化过程,如SOX9,AMH,cFOXL,CYP19A1等。     

Examination and preventive medicine protocols in psittacines.

Preventive medicine is the best insurance for effective avian health maintenance and infectious disease control. Psittacine birds should have a yearly physical examination including a thorough history. Additionally, these animals require adequate management and husbandry including a commercial bird food diet supplemented with fresh fruits and vegetables. A complete preventive medicine program should include diagnostic tests as deemed necessary by the avian veterinarian in addition to strict quarantine, vaccination, and disinfection. Necropsy and histopathology are also important components of an effective preventive medicine program.     

禽流感疫苗的研究现状

禽流感是严重危害养鸡业发展的重要传染病之一,目前对禽流感的防制仍以接种禽流感全病毒灭活疫苗为主。DNA疫苗作为一种新兴的疫苗,以其独特的优点正逐渐成为禽流感疫苗研究的热点。作者对近年来禽流感疫苗的研究现状进行分析,以期为禽流感疫苗的研究开发策略提供必要的依据。     

鸡基因组在生物学与农业和医学中的潜在利用

鸡的基因组序列含有大约10亿多碱基对（bp）、20000-23000个基因,这个基因组的很多特性使鸡在生物发生和进化研究中成为了一个理想的生物有机体。鸡基因组的独特结构和鸡基因组序列草图的独特特征为认识脊椎动物进化提供了一个透视的视角,使鸡成为了一个研究生物学的理想生物模型,它们将提高科学对禽类生物学、发育生物学、基础生物科学及医学的认识。运用鸡作为一个全球蛋白质营养源的生物模型和对疾病治疗研究的生物医学模型具有明显的优势,因此,鸡基因组的排序、基因组学工具在生物研究中的利用以及现代选择性育种方案发展的快速进展将会促进鸡基因组在农业和医学中的必然利用。该文将综述鸡基因组的简要独特结构、禽类进化的相关性与在农业与医学中的潜在利用。     

中药治疗人工感染鸡传染性喉气管炎试验

选用中草药组成方Ⅰ、方Ⅱ,分别以1%、2%、3%的剂量对人工感染鸡传染性喉气管炎进行治疗试验。结果表明,两中草药组方治疗人工感染鸡传染性喉气管炎均有效,治愈率在76.7%以上。经统计学分析,处方Ⅱ2%添加组,连用5d效果最好,治愈率和增重优于其他治疗组,差异极显著(P0.01)。