To be a successful avian surgeon the sympathetic handling of soft tissues is mandatory. Avian sur... more To be a successful avian surgeon the sympathetic handling of soft tissues is mandatory. Avian surgery requires exactness in view of small body size and increased metabolic rate, as any errors are magnified. This chapter evaluates equipment, planning for microsurgery, patient preparation, neoplasms, gastrointestinal and reproductive tract techniques, respiratory tract surgery and biopsy.
Contrast studies are commonly performed to evaluate the gastrointestinal tract. With ever increas... more Contrast studies are commonly performed to evaluate the gastrointestinal tract. With ever increasing knowledge of Proventricular Dilation Disease (PDD) in psittacines, and its association with avian bornavirus, radiographic assessment of the proventriculus is used as a diagnostic and screening tool for PDD (Bond and others, 1993, Boutette and others 2004, Clubb and others 2006). Contrast radiography is carried out following crop tube administration of a radiopaque solution. The resulting radiographic series gives information on gastrointestinal tract morphology with approximation of transit time by evaluating contrast medium progression. However, each single exposure requires fixed positioning, and stress associated with repeated handling and restraint can directly affect motility, thus distorting results (Tully and others 2000). Use of anaesthesia is advisable in minimising stress and improving positioning, but this risks regurgitation of contrast medium on induction with associated aspiration pneumonia. Anaesthesia itself has effects on intestinal contractility (Tully and others 2000). Gaseous anaesthetic induction can also lead to aerophagia and gaseous dilation of the gastrointestinal tract, complicating film interpretation and potentially leading to false positive identification of proventricular dilation (McMillan 1999). There is significant variation of gastrointestinal transit time reported between avian species, and also between individuals with factors such as diet, food availability, health, stress, medications administered and age cited as factors (Garcia Martinez and others 2007). Fluoroscopy has been proposed as an alternative to radiography, avoiding some of the complicating factors and offering additional advantages (Ritchie and others 2004, Harcourt-Brown 2005). The real-time images produced allow assessment of gastrointestinal …
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, May 1, 2009
Feather destructive behavior is an ever-increasing problem in captive birds of prey and any assoc... more Feather destructive behavior is an ever-increasing problem in captive birds of prey and any associated self-mutilation can be challenging to manage. This clinical report describes a noninvasive, nonpainful, temporary beak modification technique used to prevent self-mutilation in 3 Harris' hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus), when other methods and husbandry modifications had failed. The technique was successful in all 3 birds, and no adverse effects were observed. Further investigations are required to further evaluate if this beak modification technique causes any psychologic or physical stress to the avian patient.
Twenty Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus eggs, originating from a flock held at the Wi... more Twenty Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus eggs, originating from a flock held at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, UK, were hatched in incubators. The chicks were hand‐reared in a pre‐export isolation facility before being successfully translocated to Auckland Zoo, New Zealand, at 33–71 days of age. At Auckland Zoo the flamingos were held in a quarantine facility for 30 days prior to being introduced to an enclosure on view to the public.
ABSTRACT The following article highlights specific aspects of nursing with respect to the treatme... more ABSTRACT The following article highlights specific aspects of nursing with respect to the treatment of large psittacines such as macaws. Legal aspects as well as biosecurity measures, hospital set up, dietary requirements and administration of medications are discussed. Tips for handling, restraint and feeding will provide a practical guide to give colleagues the knowledge and confidence to hospitalise avian patients.
Two similar highly fatal disease outbreaks occurred a year apart in separate populations of capti... more Two similar highly fatal disease outbreaks occurred a year apart in separate populations of captive Mauritius kestrels (Falco punctatus) housed at the same raptor center. Sudden death was associated with few premonitory signs, but hemorrhagic diarrhea was sometimes observed. Con- sistent gross pathologic findings included hepatosplenomegaly and petechial hemorrhages through- out the gastrointestinal tract, which contained hemorrhagic fecal material. Histopathologic exami- nation identified systemic necrotizing vasculitis and hepatitis associated with numerous intranuclear inclusion bodies. Adenovirus particles were subsequently detected in infected hepatocytes by elec- tron microscopy. An adenovirus was isolated from the liver and spleen of a representative dead Mauritius kestrel, as well as from turkey poults and 1-day-old domestic fowl chicks that had been fed to the kestrels at the time of the first and second outbreaks, respectively.
A 23‐year‐old female imprinted steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) was presented by a public falconr... more A 23‐year‐old female imprinted steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) was presented by a public falconry centre for postmortem examination following sudden death with no previous clinical signs. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of 150 ml of blood within the coelomic cavity, with a packed cell volume of 42% indicating an acute, internal haemorrhage as a presumptive cause of death. A well‐demarcated, solid, hard, ovoid, approximately 3 cm×2 cm (in cross section) mass was discovered within the body of the aorta adjacent to the ovary. Histological examination confirmed this to be an aortic aneurysm underlain by severe atherosclerosis with a transmural rupture.
Description: In recent years there has been an explosion in our knowledge of avian disease, and a... more Description: In recent years there has been an explosion in our knowledge of avian disease, and avian medicine has become one of the fastest developing areas in all of veterinary medicine. In this Self-Assessment Colour Review, the editors and a group of internationally renowned avian contributors some in clinical practice, some working in universities offer practitioners and students an overview of avian medicine and surgery in an easily assimilable form: over 200 cases are presented as integrated questions and colour illustrations followed immediately by detailed explanations designed to educate, not just to test. Covering psittacines, pigeons, game birds, ratites, raptors and waterfowl, the cases appear in random order, just as they would in practice, and cover all the more common avian problems facing veterinarians.
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, Mar 1, 1997
... Retrospective Studies Adenovirus Infection in Mauritius Kestrels (Falco punctatus) Neil A. Fo... more ... Retrospective Studies Adenovirus Infection in Mauritius Kestrels (Falco punctatus) Neil A. Forbes, BVet Med, FRCVS, Greg N. Simpson, BVSc, Robert J. Higgins, BVM&S, and Richard E. Gough, FIMLS ... Key words: adenovirus, diarrhea, inclusion bodies, kestrel, bird Introduction ...
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, Oct 25, 1997
... Neil A. Forbes, BVet Med, FRCVS, and Greg N. Simpson, BVSc (Pret.) ... At-tempts to transmit ... more ... Neil A. Forbes, BVet Med, FRCVS, and Greg N. Simpson, BVSc (Pret.) ... At-tempts to transmit C. neofalconis to northern gos-hawk (Accipiter gentilis), long-eared owl (Asio otus), Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), and red kite (Milvus milvus) have ...
Aspergillosis is one of the commonest diseases seen in avian practice. It is caused by fungi of t... more Aspergillosis is one of the commonest diseases seen in avian practice. It is caused by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, mainly by A. fumigatus. Despite this being a well-known disorder, diagnosis and treatment of clinical cases is challenging. Birds will develop disease in two different scenarios: either when exposed to an overwhelming spore challenge or when the bird has a compromised immune system, often due to an underlying immunosuppressive status linked to poor husbandry or concurrent diseases. A presumptive diagnosis is often obtained by a combination of different techniques, including imaging techniques, haematology, biochemistry and serum protein analysis among others. Definitive diagnosis in the live bird is only achieved by endoscopy with cytology or fungal culture of biopsies and identification of samples of affected organs. Antifungal therapy, often based on an azole, is the core of the medical therapy, used in combination with other drugs and supportive care. Treatment is often required for a minimum of 8 weeks and the patient should be monitored long term. Management of aspergillosis should address any potential underlying causes.
To be a successful avian surgeon the sympathetic handling of soft tissues is mandatory. Avian sur... more To be a successful avian surgeon the sympathetic handling of soft tissues is mandatory. Avian surgery requires exactness in view of small body size and increased metabolic rate, as any errors are magnified. This chapter evaluates equipment, planning for microsurgery, patient preparation, neoplasms, gastrointestinal and reproductive tract techniques, respiratory tract surgery and biopsy.
Contrast studies are commonly performed to evaluate the gastrointestinal tract. With ever increas... more Contrast studies are commonly performed to evaluate the gastrointestinal tract. With ever increasing knowledge of Proventricular Dilation Disease (PDD) in psittacines, and its association with avian bornavirus, radiographic assessment of the proventriculus is used as a diagnostic and screening tool for PDD (Bond and others, 1993, Boutette and others 2004, Clubb and others 2006). Contrast radiography is carried out following crop tube administration of a radiopaque solution. The resulting radiographic series gives information on gastrointestinal tract morphology with approximation of transit time by evaluating contrast medium progression. However, each single exposure requires fixed positioning, and stress associated with repeated handling and restraint can directly affect motility, thus distorting results (Tully and others 2000). Use of anaesthesia is advisable in minimising stress and improving positioning, but this risks regurgitation of contrast medium on induction with associated aspiration pneumonia. Anaesthesia itself has effects on intestinal contractility (Tully and others 2000). Gaseous anaesthetic induction can also lead to aerophagia and gaseous dilation of the gastrointestinal tract, complicating film interpretation and potentially leading to false positive identification of proventricular dilation (McMillan 1999). There is significant variation of gastrointestinal transit time reported between avian species, and also between individuals with factors such as diet, food availability, health, stress, medications administered and age cited as factors (Garcia Martinez and others 2007). Fluoroscopy has been proposed as an alternative to radiography, avoiding some of the complicating factors and offering additional advantages (Ritchie and others 2004, Harcourt-Brown 2005). The real-time images produced allow assessment of gastrointestinal …
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, May 1, 2009
Feather destructive behavior is an ever-increasing problem in captive birds of prey and any assoc... more Feather destructive behavior is an ever-increasing problem in captive birds of prey and any associated self-mutilation can be challenging to manage. This clinical report describes a noninvasive, nonpainful, temporary beak modification technique used to prevent self-mutilation in 3 Harris' hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus), when other methods and husbandry modifications had failed. The technique was successful in all 3 birds, and no adverse effects were observed. Further investigations are required to further evaluate if this beak modification technique causes any psychologic or physical stress to the avian patient.
Twenty Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus eggs, originating from a flock held at the Wi... more Twenty Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus eggs, originating from a flock held at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, UK, were hatched in incubators. The chicks were hand‐reared in a pre‐export isolation facility before being successfully translocated to Auckland Zoo, New Zealand, at 33–71 days of age. At Auckland Zoo the flamingos were held in a quarantine facility for 30 days prior to being introduced to an enclosure on view to the public.
ABSTRACT The following article highlights specific aspects of nursing with respect to the treatme... more ABSTRACT The following article highlights specific aspects of nursing with respect to the treatment of large psittacines such as macaws. Legal aspects as well as biosecurity measures, hospital set up, dietary requirements and administration of medications are discussed. Tips for handling, restraint and feeding will provide a practical guide to give colleagues the knowledge and confidence to hospitalise avian patients.
Two similar highly fatal disease outbreaks occurred a year apart in separate populations of capti... more Two similar highly fatal disease outbreaks occurred a year apart in separate populations of captive Mauritius kestrels (Falco punctatus) housed at the same raptor center. Sudden death was associated with few premonitory signs, but hemorrhagic diarrhea was sometimes observed. Con- sistent gross pathologic findings included hepatosplenomegaly and petechial hemorrhages through- out the gastrointestinal tract, which contained hemorrhagic fecal material. Histopathologic exami- nation identified systemic necrotizing vasculitis and hepatitis associated with numerous intranuclear inclusion bodies. Adenovirus particles were subsequently detected in infected hepatocytes by elec- tron microscopy. An adenovirus was isolated from the liver and spleen of a representative dead Mauritius kestrel, as well as from turkey poults and 1-day-old domestic fowl chicks that had been fed to the kestrels at the time of the first and second outbreaks, respectively.
A 23‐year‐old female imprinted steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) was presented by a public falconr... more A 23‐year‐old female imprinted steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) was presented by a public falconry centre for postmortem examination following sudden death with no previous clinical signs. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of 150 ml of blood within the coelomic cavity, with a packed cell volume of 42% indicating an acute, internal haemorrhage as a presumptive cause of death. A well‐demarcated, solid, hard, ovoid, approximately 3 cm×2 cm (in cross section) mass was discovered within the body of the aorta adjacent to the ovary. Histological examination confirmed this to be an aortic aneurysm underlain by severe atherosclerosis with a transmural rupture.
Description: In recent years there has been an explosion in our knowledge of avian disease, and a... more Description: In recent years there has been an explosion in our knowledge of avian disease, and avian medicine has become one of the fastest developing areas in all of veterinary medicine. In this Self-Assessment Colour Review, the editors and a group of internationally renowned avian contributors some in clinical practice, some working in universities offer practitioners and students an overview of avian medicine and surgery in an easily assimilable form: over 200 cases are presented as integrated questions and colour illustrations followed immediately by detailed explanations designed to educate, not just to test. Covering psittacines, pigeons, game birds, ratites, raptors and waterfowl, the cases appear in random order, just as they would in practice, and cover all the more common avian problems facing veterinarians.
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, Mar 1, 1997
... Retrospective Studies Adenovirus Infection in Mauritius Kestrels (Falco punctatus) Neil A. Fo... more ... Retrospective Studies Adenovirus Infection in Mauritius Kestrels (Falco punctatus) Neil A. Forbes, BVet Med, FRCVS, Greg N. Simpson, BVSc, Robert J. Higgins, BVM&S, and Richard E. Gough, FIMLS ... Key words: adenovirus, diarrhea, inclusion bodies, kestrel, bird Introduction ...
Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, Oct 25, 1997
... Neil A. Forbes, BVet Med, FRCVS, and Greg N. Simpson, BVSc (Pret.) ... At-tempts to transmit ... more ... Neil A. Forbes, BVet Med, FRCVS, and Greg N. Simpson, BVSc (Pret.) ... At-tempts to transmit C. neofalconis to northern gos-hawk (Accipiter gentilis), long-eared owl (Asio otus), Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), and red kite (Milvus milvus) have ...
Aspergillosis is one of the commonest diseases seen in avian practice. It is caused by fungi of t... more Aspergillosis is one of the commonest diseases seen in avian practice. It is caused by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, mainly by A. fumigatus. Despite this being a well-known disorder, diagnosis and treatment of clinical cases is challenging. Birds will develop disease in two different scenarios: either when exposed to an overwhelming spore challenge or when the bird has a compromised immune system, often due to an underlying immunosuppressive status linked to poor husbandry or concurrent diseases. A presumptive diagnosis is often obtained by a combination of different techniques, including imaging techniques, haematology, biochemistry and serum protein analysis among others. Definitive diagnosis in the live bird is only achieved by endoscopy with cytology or fungal culture of biopsies and identification of samples of affected organs. Antifungal therapy, often based on an azole, is the core of the medical therapy, used in combination with other drugs and supportive care. Treatment is often required for a minimum of 8 weeks and the patient should be monitored long term. Management of aspergillosis should address any potential underlying causes.
Uploads
Papers by Neil Forbes