Diet Manipulation as Treatment for Elevated Serum Iron Parameters in Captive Raggiana Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea raggiana)

Abstract

Elevated serum iron parameters were lowered through dietary manipulation in captive Raggiana bird of paradise (Paradisaea raggiana). Study birds were part of a captive breeding program consisting of two males and one female, captive born, 3.5-9 yr of age. Serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), percentage saturation, body weight, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, and hematocrit were monitored at regular intervals for 2.5 yr. Routine diet consisted of a variety of fruits, vegetables, a multivitamin supplement, and a commercial low iron avian pellet, with a dietary iron content of 55 mg/kg (dry matter basis) or 1.12 mg iron/bird/day. Dietary treatment involved removal of the commercial avian pellet for 30 days at 6-to 12-mo intervals, resulting in an iron content of 42 mg/kg (dry matter basis) or 0.64 mg iron/bird/day. Average serum iron and TIBC were decreased by 75% (TIBC) to 80% (serum iron) ofpretreatment values after one 30-day treatment. Average iron saturation levels were lowered by 10% of pretreatment values after one 30-day treatment. Average hematocrit, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, and body weight remained unchanged. No adverse effects were noted through the 2.5-yr evaluation period, and breeding behavior was undisturbed. Periodic removal of low iron commercial pellets in the diet of captive bird of paradise is a safe and effective method for lowering serum iron values without need for handling. Periodic application of this technique may be useful as a preventive tool to maintain appropriate serum iron values in avian species susceptible to iron storage disease.

Comparative morphometric evaluation of hepatic hemosiderosis in wild Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) infected with different Plasmodium spp. subgenera

“…Further morphometric studies are needed in order to test these possibilities. Both the amount of dietary iron and length of exposure to dietary iron are factors in hepatic iron accumulation in birds (CRISSEY et al, 2000;HELMICK et al, 2011). Unfortunately, data regarding their diet while in the Brazilian continental shelf during the winter migration is limited and there is no such information regarding the species offered to the studied birds while under care.…”

Current perspectives in avian nutrition: domestic animal models and their role in conservation management

“…Additionally, nectivorous species often require proportionally lower amounts of protein nitrogen (Bennett et al 2012), fat (Pryor 2003) and some micronutrients, in particular calcium (Peaker 1990), compared with omnivores, carnivores and hindgutand foregut-fermenting herbivores, a trend that is probably similar for lipid requirements of nectivores, frugivores and granivores alike (Table 1). Similarly, considerably less dietary iron is required by frugivorous species such as birds of paradise (Helmick et al 2011), mynahs (Mete et al 2003), toucans and starlings (Sheppard & Dierenfeld 2002) than typical herbivores and omnivores (Table 1). Few nutrient reference ranges have been published for nectivores and frugivores and further investigation is therefore required, as it is likely that their nutrient requirements may be lower than those of other herbivores and omnivores (including the respective domestic animal models).…”

Breeding history and husbandry of the Raggiana Bird‐of‐paradise (Paradisaea raggiana)

“…Although Raggiana Bird-of-paradise participate in mixed-species flocks in the wild (Diamond, 1987), they are usually housed alone in zoos due to their susceptibility to hemochromatosis (Helmick et al, 2011) and the aggressive nature of females. SDZ, however, has twice exhibited this species in large, mixed-species aviaries.…”