Heart Disease in Pet Birds – Diagnostic Options

Konicek, Cornelia; Krautwald‐Junghanns, Maria‐Elisabeth

doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2022.01.004

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…The left ventricular dilation observed in the present case is compatible with DCM reported in poultry (17,18). However, in most birds and mammals, the usual presentation involves enlargement of the right ventricle or both right and left ventricles (3,27), similar to what has been reported in a Rio Grande wild turkey (M. gallopavo intermedia), a redtailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), a whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), a harris hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) and pet and zoo psittacine birds (1,7,(10)(11)(12)20). Thus, left ventricular dilation, as seen in our case, is an uncommon presentation for pets and wild birds.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Alterations in vocalization, difficulty in breathing (dyspnea), and drooping wings (weakness) observed in our case are commonly reported in broiler chickens and pet birds with heart diseases (3,17,26). However, the intermittent presentation of these signs, as seen in our case, is not commonly observed in avian species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

“…Exercise intolerance is typically observed in birds and mammals with heart failure. However, in pet birds, the observation of this clinical sign is directly linked to the size of the cage provided for the animal to fly, and if the size is not sufficient, this sign will not be observed (3), which might explain the non-observation of this clinical sign in the present case.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…Nevertheless, in some cases, differences in size across bird species, lack of a specific clinical presentation, some non-standardized techniques, and the absence of established reference values make the ante-mortem diagnosis difficult. Consequently, in most cases, definitive diagnoses are only possible through post-mortem examination (3,19). In the present case, the bird was not submitted to any imaging diagnosis tests before its death.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Reports of cardiovascular diseases in birds are scarce and are mainly reported in poultry, followed by pet and wild birds. Among pet birds, these diseases are most documented in psittacine birds (3,13,17).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dilated cardiomyopathy in a green-winged saltator (Saltator similis)

Duarte,

Santos,

Oliveira

et al. 2024

BJVP

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Cardiovascular diseases are rarely reported in birds. Among pet birds, they are most documented in psittacine birds. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a myocardial disease frequently found in poultry but with few reports in both pet and wild birds. An elderly male green-winged saltator (Saltator similis) died suddenly after presenting intermittent clinical signs of dyspnea, weakness, and vocalization changes. A general increase in cardiac size with a bulging apex was observed at necropsy. The heart exhibited an enlarged left ventricular space and flaccid musculature on the cut section. The liver was diffusely enlarged with rounded edges. No other gross lesions were observed. Samples were collected in 10% formalin and routinely processed. Histologically, bundles of myocardial fibers were irregularly arranged, with markedly elongated myofibrils and irregular cell contours. Additionally, multifocal areas of disruption were observed between the myofibrils. Diffuse hepatic congestion of sinusoids and portal veins was observed, and diffuse edema in the interstitium and para bronchi was present in the lungs. The clinical signs observed were nonspecific and can be found in several diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of birds. The gross and histological findings are compatible with what has been described for dilated cardiomyopathy in birds; however, left ventricular dilatation is uncommon in avian patients. Heart diseases in pet birds are still underdiagnosed, and reports of cardiomyopathies are limited to psittacine birds. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a dilated cardiomyopathy in a passerine bird.

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