Pathological findings in the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni)

Transcription

1 Pathological findings in the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) Dr. Elena Obon, DVM, MSc Centro de Fauna Salvaje de Torreferrussa Departamento de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Natural Forestal Catalana, S.A. elena.obon@gencat.cat

2 Overview Introduction Pathological findings in captivity Pathological findings in wild animals Discussion

3 Introduction PATHOLOGY IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL: Identify problems in captive population that could interfere with reproduction. Avoid spread of novel pathogens to the wild. Avoid zoonosis towards personnel.

4 Pathological findings CAPTIVITY (70 cases) Adults (40) Non-hatched eggs & chicks (30) WILD (47 cases) Chicks (35) Adults (12)

5 Pathological findings in captivity

6 6 Adult mortality in captivity WHEN? Deaths of captive adult lesser kestrels by month (n=36) Male Female Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Des 4 adults were excluded because they were euthanized

7 Adult mortality in captivity HOW OLD ARE THEY? 12 Age of dead lesser kestrels (n=40) Female 4 4 Male Unknown age years 4-6 years 7-9 years years years 1 > 15 years Male 18y! Female 16y

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9 Main pathologies Atherosclerosis is the main pathology, present in 85% of animals >10 years age. Earliest age detected 9 years

10 Atherosclerosis brachiocephalic trunks MALE AGE 13 YEARS Atherosclerosis Aorta FEMALE AGE >10 YEARS

11 Normal area/ minimal lesion Atheromatous plaque (fotos from Dr. Carles Juan Sallés)

12 Lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic pericarditis with nodular fibrosis MALE AGE > 10 YEARS

13 Hydropericardium MALE AGE > 9 YEARS Secondary cardiovascular problems Cardiomegaly MALE AGE > 12 YEARS

14 Risk factors of atherosclerosis Age can we do anything? Inactivity can we do anything? diet rich in lipids can we do anything?

15 Present diet Adult diet: Whole DOC (frozen) Whole mice (fresh) Rat, w/o tail, digestive (frozen) Quail w/o feathers/ viscera (frozen) Insects (alive)- enriched Chick diet (nursery): Rat mince Supplements Nekton E - increase fertility Nekton S - general vitamin

16 Territorial aggressions Adult males Breeding season Haemorrhages MALE AGE 9 YEARS

17 Reproductive problems Infertility (20%) related to old age? Egg peritonitis Salpingitis

18 eoplasia

19 Neoplasia Uropygeal gland fibrosarcoma FEMALE AGE 4 YEARS

20 Pancreatic adenocarcinoma FEMALE AGE 15 YEARS

21 Other neoplasias Cutaneous myelolipoma Follicular adenoma thyroid gland Malignant retrobulbar and intracranial teratoma

22 Egg pathology

23 Egg necropsy

24 Egg problems SHELL: Excessive calcium deposits Cracks (repair) SHAPE: Very small, elongated AIR CELL: In opposite side NORMAL ABNORMAL

25 INFERTILE EGG

26 Embryonic death Important differentiating between infertile egg and early stage abortion Aborted eggs. Early stage

27 Embryonic death Some eggs will develop further but fail to hatch. Aborted eggs. Late stage Dead-in-shell

28 Hatching problems Malpositioning Embryo cannot enter air cell and turn to break egg shell Feet over head malposition

29 Failure of yolk sac retraction

30 Hatching problems Oedema of the neck Egg shell broken, but repetitive neck movements impaired. Insufficient weight (fluid) loss incubation. Calcium deficiency, muscle weakness.

31 Neonatal mortality Bacterial septicemia due to omphalitis. Common bacterial isolates E.coli Fibrinous celomitis Granulomatous hepatitis

32 Deformities

33 Pathological findings in the wild

34 Mortality causes in wild animals Year Unknown Trauma Predation Infection Heat stroke Global A TOTAL OF 47 ANIMALS COMING FROM FIELD WERE STUDIED

35 Adults Radiological examination (gun-shot still common in raptors) Toxicology Predation is a major problem in wild colonies

36 Discussion Post-mortem studies can provide a valuable information. They can help prevent losses in the population. Pathological findings tend to be different in captive and wild birds. Captive birds live longer. The causes of death for some wild birds were not established. Decomposition a major problem.

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38 The end