Clinical approach to renal neoplasia in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Abstract

Two studies are described, both of which investigate the possible involvement of a retrovirus as the aetiological agent.

Advances in small animal oncology

“…Newer drugs such as carboplatin have replaced the hazardous and labour‐intensive diuresis protocols necessary with cisplatin and there has been a resurgence of old drugs such as CCNU (lomustine). Such treatment is not limited to dogs and cats, but it is being extended to exotics, as mentioned by Simova‐Curd in her review article on budgerigars (Simova‐Curd and others 2006). The lack of current research publications means that the field is relatively new, but this is set to expand as clients own more varied pet species and have the same treatment expectations as for dogs and cats.…”

Clinical Management of Avian Renal Disease

“…Kidney neoplasms have been reported in several avian species 44 ; however, budgerigar parakeets are overrepresented and renal neoplasms account for 17% to 20% of all neoplasms described in this species. 135 Renal carcinoma is the most common renal neoplasm reported. Other renal neoplasms reported include renal adenoma, nephroblastoma, cystadenoma, and lymphoma.…”

“…43,44 Corticosteroids may predispose birds to opportunistic infections and should be used with caution. 135 Prophylactic antibiotic and antifungal therapy are recommended whenever immunosuppressive drugs are used in avian species. 139 In mammals, chemotherapy has not been shown to be effective against renal tumors other than lymphosarcoma.…”

A retrospective study of neoplasms in ornamental and pet birds diagnosed at the Hospital de Aves of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (2007-2014)

“…Neoplasms are common in pet birds, especially in the Psittacidae family (7,13,14,25,27,36,42). The high incidence of neoplasms in these birds may be due to assisted inbreeding, their longer lifespan, which increases the exposure time to potential carcinogenic environmental agents, and the consequent risk of genetic errors or mutations (5,42,54). Pet birds with neoplastic diseases are currently more frequently submitted veterinarians before death possibly because the medical care improvements for oncologic patients (44).…”

“…Pet birds with neoplastic diseases are currently more frequently submitted veterinarians before death possibly because the medical care improvements for oncologic patients (44). The following types of neoplasms have been reported in pets birds: epithelialfolliculoma (3,44), basal cell carcinoma (3,44,58), squamous cell carcinoma (12,31), papilloma (29,32,38), cholangiocarcinoma (11,15,33), pulmonary carcinoma (20,32), air sac carcinoma (30,40,42) and renal carcinoma (32,54); mesenchymalfibroma (32,41) and fibrosarcoma (7,27,45), hemangioma and hemangiosarcoma (7,44,55), lipoma and liposarcoma (7, 2 27), chondrosarcoma (32), hemangiolipoma (50), osteoma and osteosarcoma (6,17,51), leiomyosarcoma (2,32), and rhabdomyosarcoma (1); hematopoietic and hemolymphatic lymphoma (7,8,32), myelolipoma (25,35) and thymoma (23,44)...…”