Cramps and fits in carnivorous birds

Wallach, J. D.; Flieg, G. Michael

doi:10.1111/j.1748-1090.1970.tb01247.x

Cited by 12 publications

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“…This is consistent with past observations that indicate that increased parathyroid activity, as long as there is bone to be reabsorbed, will maintain calcium concentrations in the normal or sometimes increased range (Wallach and Flieg, 1970). The low plasma calcium in the bird with a bone score of 3 may have represented a transient drop in calcium, as expected in a bird in the early stages of secondary hyperparathyroidism.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Naturally Occurring Secondary Nutritional Hyperparathyroidism in Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus Ibis) From Central Texas

Phalen

Drew

Contreras

et al. 2005

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Naturally occurring secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism is described in the nestlings of two colonies of cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) from Central Texas (Bryan and San Antonio, Texas, USA). Nestlings from a third colony (Waco, Texas, USA) were collected in a subsequent year for comparison. Birds from the first two colonies consistently had severe osteopenia and associated curving deformities and folding fractures of their long bones. These birds also had reduced bone ash, increased osteoclasia, a marked decrease in osteoblast activity, variable lengthening and shortening of the hypertrophic zone of the epiphyseal cartilage, decreased and disorganized formation of new bone, and a marked hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands as compared to birds collected from the third colony. Fibrous osteodystrophy was found in all of the birds from San Antonio and Bryan. Evidence of moderate to severe calcium deficiency was also identified in 33% of the cattle egrets collected from Waco. Gut contents of affected chicks contained predominately grasshoppers and crickets; vertebrate prey items were absent from the Bryan birds. Grasshoppers and crickets collected from fields frequented by the adult egrets in 1994 had 0.12-0.28% calcium and 0.76-0.81% phosphorus. Pooled grasshoppers and crickets collected during a subsequent wet early spring averaged 0.24% calcium and 0.65% phosphorus. Although the phosphorus content of the insect prey was adequate for growth, calcium was approximately one-third the minimum calcium requirement needed for growth for other species of birds. It was postulated that cattle egrets breeding in Central Texas have expanded their range into habitat that contains less vertebrate prey, and as a result, many nestling egrets are being fed diets that contain suboptimal calcium. Therefore, in years where vertebrate prey is scarce and forage for insect prey is reduced in calcium, nestling egrets are at risk for developing secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Naturally Occurring Secondary Nutritional Hyperparathyroidism in Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus Ibis) From Central Texas

Phalen

Drew

Contreras

et al. 2005

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…Hypocalcaemic tetany, which is well documented in raptorial species (Wallach & Flieg, 1969, 1970, is usually confirmed by measuring plasma calcium concentration. It has been stated that a serum calcium concentration of 5 mg/100 ml (1.25 /zmol/1) is a critically low level for carnivorous birds (Wallach & Boever, 1983).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Relationship of plasma total protein and albumin to total calcium in peregrine falcons(Falco peregrinus)

1993

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“…Locomotory disorders with fractures in birds of prey including those for falconry, have been reported as "cramps" or "fits"; protracted dietary deficiency of calcium or imbalance of calcium/phosphorus ratio has been considered important causative factors (Wallach & Flieg, 1970;Cooper, 1975). However, pathological descriptions of osteodystrophia fibrosa due to nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism have rarely been reported in avian species (Long et al, 1983).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The calcium: phosphorus ratio (Ca: P) of meat and fish commonly fed to birds of prey range from 1: 17 to 1: 44 whereas the correct Ca: P ratio for avian diets is listed as 1.5: 1 (Wallach & Flieg, 1970). As exceptionally high dietary levels of phosphorus in these diets maybe from insoluble salts with calcium and prevent their absorption in addition to an absolute calcium deficiency, these diets result in an increased activity of the parathyroid gland for a long term.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteodystrophia fibrosa in a Hodgson's hawk-eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis)

Toyoda

Ochiai

Komatsu³

et al. 2004

Avian Pathology

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A Hodgson's hawk-eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis) reared by a falconer showed severe weakness with multiple fractures of bone. It had a history of being fed an all-meat diet. Serological examination revealed a hypocalcaemia (72.0 mg/ml), and hypophosphataemia (29.0 mg/ml). Gross and microscopic examinations demonstrated severe osteodystrophia fibrosa (fibrous osteodystrophy) characterized by osteoclastic bone resorption and intertrabecular fibrosis with unmineralized trabecular bone containing a large amount of unmineralized osteoid. There was also hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands, which is consistent with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism.

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Cramps and fits in carnivorous birds

Cited by 12 publications

References 0 publications

Naturally Occurring Secondary Nutritional Hyperparathyroidism in Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus Ibis) From Central Texas

Naturally Occurring Secondary Nutritional Hyperparathyroidism in Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus Ibis) From Central Texas

Relationship of plasma total protein and albumin to total calcium in peregrine falcons(Falco peregrinus)

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteodystrophia fibrosa in a Hodgson's hawk-eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis)

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