Avian & Reptile Respiratory Diseases PDF

2/2/2025 1/34 BIRDS REPTILES AMPHIBIANS FISH MUST KNOW RESPIRATORY ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY! 2/34 1 ...

2/2/2025 1/34 BIRDS REPTILES AMPHIBIANS FISH MUST KNOW RESPIRATORY ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY! 2/34 1  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION OBJECTIVES 3/34 Know the importance, diagnosis and treatment of avian chlamydiosis and aspergillosis Know the major respiratory diseases of reptiles Know how to investigate respiratory disease in an exotic patient (Rabbits, rodents and ferrets covered in your mammalian lectures.) 4/34 2  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Important Respiratory Diseases of Birds 5/34 Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis) Aspergillosis Avian Flu Others – Poor air quality & pollutants – Aspiration – Airsac rupture – Coelomic diseases. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Birds: Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis) 6/34 Chlamydia psittaci, obligate intracellular bacterium All birds, especially cockatiels, budgerigars, small parrots Reportable, Zoonotic Transmission by fecal-oral or inhalation Acute and chronic (subclinical, latent) disease, unmasked by stressors Clinical signs - Nasal and ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, green-yellow feces, inactivity, fluffed, anorexia, weight loss. 3  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Birds: Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis) 7/34 Necropsy – Airsacculitis, pericarditis, perihepatitis, peritonitis, bronchopneumonia, hepatic necrosis, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly Antemortem diagnosis – Acute disease: PCR, serology (IgM, paired rising IgG) – Screening for chronic disease: 5-7 day pooled fecal sample for PCR, serology (IgG). BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Birds: Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis) 8/34 Treatment – Tetracyclines, doxycycline preferred for 45 days (NOT enrofloxacin!) Elementary bodies within macrophages resist treatment, hence prolonged therapy – Improved biosecurity Quarantine and test all new birds, prevent exposure to wild birds, thorough cleaning and disinfection, 4  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Birds: Aspergillosis 9/34 Aspergillus fumigatus (most common, opportunistic environmental fungus) Usually in immunocompromised (poor environment, malnutrition, steroids) – Especially parrots, raptors, waterfowl, penguins Transmission by aerosolized spores (not bird to bird, not zoonotic) Any part of respiratory tract (can spread to liver, bone, kidneys, brain) Lethargy, anorexia, voice change, tachypnea, dyspnea, anorexia, weight loss. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Birds: Aspergillosis 10/34 Necropsy – White plaques or granulomas, airsacculitis, broncho pneumonia, tracheitis, sinusitis Antemortem diagnosis – Cytology/histopathology demonstrating fungal hyphae, and fungal culture (endoscopic biopsy) – Hematology, diagnostic imaging, protein electrophoresis, serology/galactomannan. 5  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Birds: Aspergillosis 11/34 Treatment – Oxygen and supportive care – Antifungals (itraconazole, voriconazole) – Endoscopic or surgical debridement of granulomas. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Birds: Avian Flu 12/34 Orthomyxovirus (LPAI, HPAI) – Mainly asymptomatic wildlife sources, esp aquatic/migratory birds – HPAI risks to commercial poultry and other species of birds and mammals – Reportable, zoonotic Clinical signs – Sudden death with no prior signs, lethargy, reduced appetite, purple discoloration or swelling of various body parts, reduced egg production, soft- shelled/misshapen eggs, nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing, ataxia, diarrhea. 6  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Birds: Avian Flu 13/34 Necropsy – Pancreatic necrosis, hemorrhages, edema – Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs for PCR Ante-mortem diagnosis – Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs for PCR – Serology. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Birds: Avian Flu 14/34 Treatment – Notify state veterinarian first! – Poultry (incl pet chickens!) Mandatory depopulation Increased biosecurity – Pet birds Isolation Supportive care Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) Antimicrobials against secondary infections Increased biosecurity Inform owner to seek medical advice. 7  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Other Causes of Respiratory Signs In Birds 15/34 Poor air quality & pollutants – Especially if constantly indoors – Keep away from kitchens, fires, air con Aspiration – Very weak birds – Secondary to gavage/crop feeding Coelomic diseases – No diaphragm, so any coelomic pathology could result in respiratory signs Airsac rupture – Traumatic and typically resolve. 16/34 8  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Important Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens of Reptiles 17/34 Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Chlamydia, E. coli, Klebsiella – Mycoplasma and Mycobacterium are primary pathogens – Remainder are typically opportunistic infections in solitary, compromised pets – Important to submit samples for cytology/histopath and culture (not NGS!) or PCR – Initial drug selection based upon Gram stain, and published doses (e.g. EAF) Gram negatives Gram positives. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Important Viral Respiratory Pathogens of Reptiles 18/34 Nidovirus/serpentovirus, Paramyxovirus, Reptarenavirus, Reovirus, Herpesvirus – Often associated with recent purchase or introduction (quarantine!!) – Submit samples for cytology/histopath, PCR (culture difficult!), and serology if available – Treatment is often supportive Fluid and nutritional support Short-term use of NSAIDs Tier-1 antibiotics against secondary infections – Remove and euthanatize from quarantine (persistent shedders?). 9  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Important Mycotic Respiratory Pathogens of Reptiles 19/34 Candida, Paecilomyces, Aspergillus – Often opportunistic in solitary, compromised pets – Important to submit samples for cytology/histopath and culture (or NGS) – Initial drug selection based upon cytology/Gram stain, and published doses (EAF) Itraconazole, Voriconazole Terbinafine Amphoteracin B. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Important Parasitic Respiratory Pathogens of Reptiles 20/34 Rhabdias, Strongyloides, Pentostomids, Renifers – Rare in captive bred reptiles fed cultured or frozen/thawed lab rodents – Diagnosis by microscopy – Initial drug selection based upon cytology, and published drug doses Nematodes Trematodes Pentostomids. 10  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Clinical Investigation of Respiratory Disease 21/34 History Physical examination Diagnostic imaging Blood collection Respiratory sample collection Endoscopy and biopsy Medical Treatment Surgical Treatment. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION History (Husbandry and Nutrition) 22/34 Quarantine and any recent additions Temperature Humidity Ventilation Air quality Malnutrition. 11  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Physical Examination 23/34 Tachypnea (reduced non-ventilatory periods in reptiles) Dyspnea (open mouth) Nasal or glottal discharge Asymmetric swimming of aquatic turtles. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Diagnostic Imaging 24/34 Radiography CT 12  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Diagnostic Imaging 25/34 Radiography CT BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Blood Collection and Testing 26/34 Hematology: infectious vs non-infectious Biochemistry: may help rule out non-respiratory causes Serology (few) – Avian Chlamydia; Aspergillus and Galactomannan – Tortoise Mycoplasma; Snake Paramyxovirus. 13  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Definitive Diagnosis 27/34 Remember that definitive diagnosis relies upon the demonstration of…. – Pathological process in animal Cytology Histopathology Paired rising titers. AND – Demonstration of specific cause Culture PCR Parasite identification Toxicology Paired rising titers. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Respiratory Tract Sample Collection 28/34 Nasal/choanal/tracheal swabs – Beware of bacterial contamination (culture) – Particularly useful for PCR Lung lavage – Sterile catheter, syringe and technique using 0.5mL/100g bodyweight – Cytology AND culture or PCR – Gram stain for initial antibiotic selection 14  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Reptile Endoscopy and Biopsy 29/34 Histopathology AND culture or PCR BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Avian Endoscopy & Biopsy 30/34 Histopathology AND culture or PCR 15  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Medical Therapy 31/34 Often 2-6 weeks in birds; 4-8 weeks in reptiles – Drug choice dictated by test results and diagnosis Antibiotics (tetracyclines)? Anti-fungals? Anti-parasitics? Anti-viral? – Fluid and nutritional support – Improvements in husbandry and nutrition – Quarantine protocol. BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Clinical investigation of Respiratory Disease 32/34 Surgical treatment – May need to surgically debride or remove abscesses or granulomas 16  2/2/2025 BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION Clinical investigation of Respiratory Disease 33/34 Surgical treatment – May need to surgically debride or remove abscesses or granulomas BIRDS REPTILES CASE INVESTIGATION OBJECTIVES 34/34 Know the importance, diagnosis and treatment of avian chlamydiosis and aspergillosis Know the major respiratory diseases of reptiles Know how to investigate respiratory disease in an exotic patient (Rabbits, rodents and ferrets covered in your mammalian lectures.) 17