This study compared the use of radioimmunoassay (RIA) and chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) to measure serum thyroid hormone levels in green-winged macaws (). The sample group comprised 20 male and 13 female (n = 33) healthy, captive green-winged macaws of reproductive age but outside of breeding season. Mean free triiodothyronine (T3), total T3, and free thyroxine (T4) measured by CLIA and RIA corresponded to 5.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere are numerous reports on envenomation, even fatal, secondary to bee attacks in humans and other mammals. In birds, reports on those incidents are scarce and there are none regarding honeybee () stings in toucans. In the first case presented, an adult female red-breasted toucan () received at least five bee stings in the periophthalmic area.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Zoo Wildl Med
September 2017
Snake bites represent a serious public health risk in many regions of the globe, especially in tropical areas. Clinical signs and postmortem changes are well described in human and other mammalian species. However, detailed case reports about venomous snake attacks in avian species are limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA variety of infectious and noninfectious causes may contribute to feather-damaging behavior (FDB) in birds. This paper describes an episode of FDB behavior related to an isosexual group composition in a group of 20 golden conures (Guaruba guarouba) kept in a collective aviary. After ruling out infectious causative agents and analyzing the social bird group composition over a period of 10 yr, the male to female ratio of the group was reduced from 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF