Investigation of the Formal Pathogenesis of Green Liver Discoloration in Organically Reared Female Bronze Turkeys ().

Green liver discoloration (GL) in fattening turkeys is suspected to be a multifactorial disease complex with a compromised immune system as the key factor. This study aimed to identify the formal pathogenesis of GL and to investigate possible nutritional influences. A total of 360 Bronze turkey hens out of 10 flocks from 5 fattening farms were necropsied for detection of GL during 2 consecutive trials on 2 examination dates each (70th to 75th and 120th to 127th day of fattening, respectively).

An Explorative Study of the Causal Pathogenesis of Green Liver Discoloration in Organically Reared Female Bronze Turkeys () Considering the Infectious Risk Factors.

A recent study revealed that organically raised Bronze turkeys showed a high prevalence of green liver discoloration. This alteration is commonly associated with the Turkey Osteomyelitis Complex and potentially caused by opportunistic bacteria. Therefore, 360 organically fattened Bronze turkeys were examined post-mortem throughout two fattening trials with two examinations each to determine possible infectious risk factors and reduce disease prevalence.

Evaluation of diagnostic criteria in grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) with suspected atherosclerosis.

Objective:  Atherosclerosis is a common disease in older psittacines living in captivity with inadequate housing conditions. However, diagnosis in the living bird remains difficult and the disease is often only recognized during post mortem examination. In this context, we aimed at investigating the diagnostic value of currently reported methods in African grey parrots ().

Heart Disease in Pet Birds - Diagnostic Options.

Cardiovascular diseases are common in pet birds. Diagnosis is often made postmortem only. In any case, suspicious for cardiac disease, a full diagnostic work up should be applied.

The influence of stocking density on behaviour, health, and production in commercial fattening turkeys - a review.

1. This paper reviews literature on the effects of stocking density on behaviour, health, and production in intensively housed fattening turkeys.2.

[Aspects to improve animal welfare in fattening turkeys: structure and occupational material - a literature review].

Conventional turkey husbandries frequently fail to provide any structural elements or occupational material apart from the feeding and drinking systems. However, these may carry numerous advantages for animal welfare (spatial separation to exercise natural behavior, retreat options, stimulation of locomotion). Hence these are increasingly discussed in conventional turkey husbandry, especially against the background of minimizing injurious pecking.

[Evaluation of housing conditions of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) in Germany].

Objectives: In order to gain information concerning housing conditions of budgerigars and cockatiels, the most frequently kept pet birds in Germany, a country-wide online survey among non-commercial bird owners was performed within the realm of the EXOPET study.

Material And Methods: The received questionnaires (541 for budgerigars and 221 for cockatiels) were initially evaluated descriptively. Based on the suggestions developed by an expert group in the context of the EXOPET-project, the housing conditions were subsequently assessed with regard to socialization, size of cage/aviary, cage accessories, temperature, UV light and amount of free flight.

Diagnostic Imaging of the Avian Urinary Tract.

Due to the special anatomy and physiology of the avian urinary system, the value of diagnostic imaging techniques differs from the use in mammals. The diagnostic imaging methods regularly used in practice to evaluate the avian kidneys are often limited to traditional radiography and ultrasonography, whereas other imaging modalities (urography, scintigraphy, computed tomography, MRI) are rarely used. Furthermore endoscopy may be performed and taking a renal biopsy may be considered.

Investigation of the prevalence and severity of foot pad dermatitis at the slaughterhouse in fattening turkeys reared in organic production systems in Germany.

The present study shows the prevalence and severity of foot pad dermatitis (FPD) in turkeys reared in organic production systems assessed at slaughterhouses in Germany. The investigations of altogether 1,860 turkeys of the strains Kelly Broad Breasted Bronze (Kelly BBB; 540 toms, 540 hens) and British United Turkeys (B.U.

Sexing of chicken eggs by fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy through the shell membrane.

In order to provide an alternative to day-old chick culling in the layer hatcheries, a noninvasive method for egg sexing is required at an early stage of incubation before onset of embryo sensitivity. Fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy of blood offers the potential for precise and contactless in ovo sex determination of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus f. dom.

The Incidence and Treatment Outcomes of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster Infection in Budgerigars ( Melopsittacus undulatus) in a Veterinary Clinic.

Macrorhabdus ornithogaster, avian gastric yeast, is a common cause of gastrointestinal disease in budgerigars ( Melopsittacus undulatus). To better understand the clinical disease in budgerigars presented in a practice population, we reviewed the occurrence, clinical signs, and treatment success of M ornithogaster disease in budgerigars during a 2.5-year period at the Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig (Leipzig, Germany).

Current approaches to avoid the culling of day-old male chicks in the layer industry, with special reference to spectroscopic methods.

The negative correlation between fattening and laying performance prevents breeding improvement in both laying performance and meat yield. Therefore, specialized chicken lines have been bred in order to achieve either an efficient production of high-quality eggs or high growth rates. As a result, day-old male chicks are culled in the layer hatchery, which poses animal welfare and ethical problems.

Radiography and Ultrasonography in the Backyard Poultry and Waterfowl Patient.

The keeping of backyard poultry and waterfowl as pets has become increasingly popular in recent years, resulting in a rising case load of these patients in veterinary practices. Diagnostic imaging techniques are taking a leading role in rapid diagnosis in the live bird. We provide an overview of the most important points regarding radiographic and ultrasonographic imaging procedures in these birds.

In ovo sexing of chicken eggs by fluorescence spectroscopy.

Culling of day-old male chicks in production of laying hen strains involves several millions of animals every year worldwide and is ethically controversial. In an attempt to provide an alternative, optical spectroscopy was investigated to determine nondestructively in ovo the sex of early embryos of the domestic chicken. The extraembryonic blood circulation system was accessed by producing a window in the egg shell and the flowing blood was illuminated with a near-infrared laser.

In Ovo Sexing of Domestic Chicken Eggs by Raman Spectroscopy.

Male birds of egg-laying hen strains have no commercial value and are culled immediately after hatching, raising concerns for animal welfare. Existing experimental methods for in ovo sexing require taking samples and are applicable after embryos' sexual differentiation. We demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy enables contactless in ovo sex determination of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus f.

A method to identify protein antigens of Dermanyssus gallinae for the protection of birds from poultry mites.

The poultry red mite (PRM) Dermanyssus gallinae causes high economic losses and is among the most important parasites in poultry farming worldwide. Different chemical, physical, and biological strategies try to control the expansion of PRM. However, effective solutions to this problem still have to be found.

Differential regulation of the β-adrenoceptor density and cyclic AMP level with age and sex in turkey cardiac chambers.

Decreased responses of the heart to β-adrenoceptor stimulation with aging have been shown to occur merely in selected heart chambers in relation to increased catecholamine levels. However, there are no systematic studies that investigate all cardiac chambers with regard to receptor density and cAMP (adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate) responses. We used meat-type turkey poults (British United Turkey (B.

Label free molecular sexing of monomorphic birds using infrared spectroscopic imaging.

The absence of sexual dimorphism in many birds often makes sex determination difficult. In particular immature birds and adults of monomorphic species show no external sex characteristics. Molecular techniques based on DNA hybridization or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are standard methods for sex identification.

[Investigations on the acute, carrageenan-induced inflammatory reaction and pharmacology of orally administered sodium salicylate in turkeys].

The complex mechanisms of acute inflammation have been subject to veterinary investigations since a long time. However, knowledge on the role of specific inflammatory mediators, as well as pharmacokinetics (PK) and -dynamics (PD) of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in birds is limited. The objective of this work therefore was to establish a modified tissue cage-model to investigate the acute, carrageenan-mediated inflammatory response, as well as plasma and exudate-kinetics and the antiphlogistic effect of orally administered sodium salicylate on the elicited inflammatory reaction in turkeys.

[Veterinary treatment of pigeon flocks].

Veterinary treatment of pigeon flocks requires specific knowledge on the management of the various pigeon flocks as well as of common diseases in these birds and important diagnostic and therapeutic measures. In this context, it is important to differentiate between racing pigeons, thoroughbreds and pigeons kept for meat production, that is, between food-supplying and companion animals. The following article provides an overview of the species-specific characteristics of Columba livia f.

[Pathologic-anatomic and morphometric examinations on the heart in feral cockatoos].

Objective: To evaluate the heart of free-living psittacine birds macroscopically and morphologically, and to compare the results to findings published for psittacine birds living in captivity to obtain information on the influence of bird keeping in a human environment on the psittacine heart.

Material And Methods: In total, 84 wild-living cockatoos were examined, including 50 sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita), 31 galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) and three long-billed corellas (Cacatua tenuirostris). The birds were euthanized because of a local cockatoo control program in Australia, and were examined pathologically within 8 hours of euthanasia.

Aerobic cloacal and pharyngeal bacterial flora in six species of free-living birds.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the culturable aerobic pharyngeal and cloacal bacterial flora of free-living birds, to determine the physiological bacterial microbiota, to identify possible interactions between feeding behaviour and the composition of the pharyngeal and cloacal microflora and to investigate the occurrence of pathogenic bacteria.

Methods And Results: Cloacal and pharyngeal swabs of 167 free-living birds, including water rails (Rallus aquaticus), spotted crakes (Porzana porzana), mute swans (Cygnus olor), barn swallows (Hirundo rustica), reed warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and black cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) from Germany, were cultured to determine the prevalence of aerobic bacteria. Statistical analysis of bacterial findings and feeding behaviour was performed.

[Comparative field study of litter moisture and footpad alterations during the rearing period of fattening turkeys].

In the course of a nationwide performed field study from 2010 to 2012, the footpad health of conventionally kept fattening turkeys and their rearing conditions were studied and compared to results from litter moisture measurements. In each case two rearing periods from 24 rearing farms were chosen and visited 3 to 5 days after delivery of the poults (examination 1) and again during the days 22 to 35 (examination 2). In the course of each flock inspection 60 randomly chosen turkeys were examined by adspection and palpation.

Cloacal aerobic bacterial flora and absence of viruses in free-living slow worms (Anguis fragilis), grass snakes (Natrix natrix) and European Adders (Vipera berus) from Germany.

Disease problems caused by viral or bacterial pathogens are common in reptiles kept in captivity. There is no information available on the incidence of viral pathogens or the physiological cloacal bacterial flora of common free-living reptiles in Germany. Therefore, 56 free-living reptiles including 23 European adders (Vipera berus), 12 grass snakes (Natrix natrix) and 21 slow worms (Anguis fragilis) were investigated on the island Hiddensee in northeastern Germany.

Testicular biopsy in psittacine birds (Psittaciformes): impact of endoscopy and biopsy on health, testicular morphology, and sperm parameters.

Histologic examination of a testicular biopsy sample may be required to evaluate the reproductive status of male psittacine birds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of testicular sampling from live birds by assessing the impact on the birds' health, testicular integrity, and sperm quality. Testicular biopsy samples were obtained by endoscopy 4 times during 12 months from 9 cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) and 7 rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri).