An adult bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus) presented for nystagmus and an inability to fly. On physical examination, the eagle was open-mouth breathing and tachycardic at 200 beats per minute, had a wrinkled cere and sunken eyes, and was an estimated 10% dehydrated. Additionally, the eagle was extremely weak, with neurologic abnormalities including bilateral proprioceptive deficits, nystagmus, and no pupillary light reflex in the left eye. Despite aggressive treatment, the eagle continued to decline rapidly and subsequently died. On histologic examination, diffuse and widespread infiltration of neoplastic lymphocytes was present in the brain, optic nerves, and pecten. Immunohistochemical PAX-5 labeling confirmed B-cell lymphoma confined to the eye and nervous system. Test results for select avian retroviruses, Marek's disease, West Nile virus, avian influenza viruses, and Mycoplasma were negative. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B-cell lymphoma in a bald eagle. Although rare, this condition is a differential diagnosis in cases of neurologic or ocular diseases in birds.
SummaryTwo six-year-old macho alpacas from southeastern Alabama were presented to our Large Animal Teaching Hospital for a two-week history of pruritic, ulcerative skin lesions around the eyes, hind legs and groin. Histopathology, bacterial culture and fungal culture revealed Candida species with secondary Staphylococcus aureus pyoderma. Blood zinc levels for both alpacas were considered to be below laboratory reference values. Both alpacas were treated with topical antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal therapy along with systemic therapy using injectable ceftiofur, and dietary zinc supplementation was initiated. Ulcerative skin lesions resolved following about four weeks of antimicrobial therapy. Scaling and crusting lesions resolved after about six weeks of dietary zinc supplementation. At 180 days after presentation, both alpacas were doing well with no new lesions. This is the first case report of successfully treated cutaneous candidiasis in the alpaca.
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