Toxicity episodes involving agricultural chemicals and other substances in birds in Victoria, Australia.

A series of case reports detailing observations on toxicity episodes in birds caused by a variety of agricultural chemicals and other substances is presented. These problems arose as a result of ignorance, accident and malicious intent. The episodes involved maldison, monocrotophos, fenitrothion, trichlorofon, dieldrin, chlordane, endrin, metaldehyde, bromadiolone, arsenic, lead and zinc.

The resistance to anti-microbial agents of bacteria isolated from pathological conditions of birds in Victoria, 1978 to 1983.

The resistance to anti-microbial agents of bacteria isolated from pathological conditions of birds in Victoria, 1978 to 1983, was determined for isolates of Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella multocida, P. anatipestifer, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Haemophilus paragallinarum. The isolates of E.

Investigations of toxicity episodes involving chemotherapeutic agents in Victorian poultry and pigeons.

This series of case reports details observations on toxicity episodes in poultry due to a variety of chemotherapeutic agents. These problems arose owing to overdosage, variation in species susceptibility, potentiation of the toxic effects of one substance by the presence of another substance, and particular disease or other on-farm factors. Ignorance and accident were responsible for some of these situations.

Absence of a role for selenium deficiency in the runting syndrome of broiler chickens in Australia.

The role of selenium deficiency in the etiology of the runting-stunting syndrome (RSS) of broiler chickens in Australia was investigated. Commercial broiler chickens maintained on selenium-deficient developed signs consistent with selenium deficiency of exudative diathesis and markedly reduced plasma glutathione peroxidase activity, but they did not develop pancreatic atrophy and fibrosis or elevated plasma amylase activity, which are the other lesions associated with RSS. Supplementation of the diets of birds from a RSS-susceptible flock with a mixture of selenium, vitamin E, cysteine, and sulfate had no effect on the incidence of runting in the treated birds.

Diseases diagnosed in broiler chicken flocks in Victoria, Australia, 1977 to 1984.

During the period July 1977 to June 1984, specimens from 1402 broiler chicken flocks were submitted to the Veterinary Research Institute, Victoria, Australia for investigation of morbidity, mortality and, or, poor performance. A total of 19,450 post mortem examinations, as well as numerous ancillary tests, were performed. The findings on these flocks are presented and the consequences of some particular diseases noted.

Recognition of nonaccidental injury.

Intentional injuries may be grossly underrecognized and underreported. The authors review the literature, provide guidelines for recognizing intentional injuries, and address the problem of identifying intentional injuries. Prevention of these injuries is also addressed and the need for further study is stressed.

Some observations on the development of the long bones of ratite birds.

Observations were made on the long bones of 16 young ratite birds (10 rheas, 3 emus and 3 ostriches), from 1-day-old to 12 weeks of age. At hatching all long bones contained large cartilaginous cones which were continuous with the growth plates, and an osseous cortex. At one week of age ossification had commenced on the periphery of these embryonic cones and in some bones the cones had become separated from the growth plates.

Field, clinical and pathological observations of a runting and stunting syndrome in broilers.

Observations on a runting and stunting syndrome in broiler chickens in Victoria, Australia, based on general observations from 1980 to 1983 on 2244 chickens from 109 affected broiler chicken flocks, are summarised. The details on 156 of these birds from five affected flocks with varying runting percentages are presented. Typically affected birds were presented with atrophy of the pancreas, the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius.

Pancreatic degeneration in broilers with runting and stunting syndrome.

A number of plasma biochemical parameters were examined in five outbreaks of runting in broiler chickens. In four of the five outbreaks, runts showed consistent elevations in plasma amylase activity and reductions in glutathione peroxidase activity. In two of the five outbreaks the plasma vitamin E concentration was reduced, as was the activity of plasma alkaline phosphatase.

Toxicity in utility pigeons caused by the coccidiostat dinitolmide.

Utility pigeons on 3 farms were affected by a severe neurological disturbance manifested by fine tremors, rolling gait and incoordination. Affected birds had necrosis of the Purkinje cells of the cerebellar cortex. The birds from the 3 farms had been fed a pelleted diet obtained from a single mix of feed prepared by a stockfeed manufacturer.

Causes of culling and mortality in three flocks of broiler chickens in Victoria during 1979.

A mortality survey was carried out on three flocks of broiler chickens on a Victorian grower farm. A total of 61,400 chicks were placed and 2883 (4.7 per cent) died or were culled during rearing.

Child abuse and neglect.

The professional who must deal with child abuse has to resist the urge to punish the offenders and concentrate instead on seeking the best solution for the child. Guidelines for distinguishing child abuse from accidental injury are presented and management of the sexually abused child is detailed.

Clinical heterogeneity in the tricho-dento-osseous syndrome.

The tricho-dento-osseous syndrome (TDO syndrome) involves morphologic abnormalities of hair, teeth, and skeleton. Clinical findings of the TDO syndrome are excessively curly (fuzzy) hair, enamel hypoplasia, and skeletal findings of a generalized pattern of osseous sclerosis. We report an autosomal dominant syndrome with similar hair and teeth morphology, but with a skeletal dysplasia consisting of sclerosis and thickening of the calvarium with long bones that show subtle undertubulation but no sclerosis.