A 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 1.7 to 1.0. This intervention resulted in a significant improvement of the feather condition and improved reproduction. Further analysis revealed that FDB was not correlated to age, gender, or origin. In addition, FDB was associated with stress, as reflected by an elevated heterophil : lymphocyte ratio that decreased significantly following social restructuring. This study stresses the importance of an appropriate male to female ratio when golden conures are kept in aviaries.
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. This report describes presumptive fatal envenomations in three psittacines caused by pit vipers in a Brazilian zoo. In one case, a Brazilian lancehead (Bothrops moojeni) was captured in the aviary. In all three cases the dermis around the suspected snake bite area exhibited hemorrhages and edema. Histologically, degeneration and necrosis of subcutaneous musculature were observed. Lung, heart, and kidneys displayed focal hemorrhages. The local changes are similar to those described for mammalian patients including humans. However, except for the parenchymatous hemorrhages, additional external and internal gross and histopathological lesions were missing. After ruling out other causes, such as aggression and dicoumarinic intoxication, the presumptive diagnosis of snake envenomation was made. The smaller size and variabilities of pathophysiological effects of the venom in parrots might explain the different lesion patterns observed, compared with mammals. Possibly, the birds may have reacted differently to envenomation by pit vipers and died before the venom could cause macroscopic and histological changes often observed in mammals.
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