Prevalence of and risk factors associated with atherosclerosis in psittacine birds

Beaufrère, Hugues; Ammersbach, Mélanie; Reavill, Drury R.; Garner, Michael M.; Heatley, J. Jill; Wakamatsu, Nobuko; Nevarez, Javier G.; Tully, Thomas N.

doi:10.2460/javma.242.12.1696

Cited by 68 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…In a previous study of mixed-species Amazon parrots, females had significantly lower HDL-C than males, 41 which is compatible with this proportional difference. The prevalence of atherosclerosis is higher in female parrots, 6,21 and it is possible that proportionally higher LDL-C or lower HDL-C contributes to this difference. However, a recent retrospective study of laboratory databases did not identify an effect of sex on any plasma lipids, 7 so it would be premature to make a strong conclusion based on existing data.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…are popular companion and zoologic collection birds, and are among the avian genera particularly susceptible to naturally occurring hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. 6,7,40 The research colony of Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) at the University of California, Davis, has a chronic history of hypercholesterolemia. The range of total cholesterol (TC) concentrations measured over 6 yr, using two independent clinical laboratories, was 350-550 mg/dl; this is well above published normal ranges of approximately 100-350 mg/dl for Ama-zon parrots.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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EFFECTS OF EXERCISE ON THE PLASMA LIPID PROFILE IN HISPANIOLAN AMAZON PARROTS (AMAZONA VENTRALIS) WITH NATURALLY OCCURRING HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Gustavsen

Stanhope²,

Lin³

et al. 2016

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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Hypercholesterolemia is common in psittacines, and Amazon parrots ( Amazona spp.) are particularly susceptible. Associations have been demonstrated between naturally occurring and experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in psittacines. Daily exercise improves lipid metabolism in humans and other mammals, as well as pigeons and chickens, under varying experimental conditions. Hispaniolan Amazon parrots ( Amazona ventralis ) with naturally occurring hypercholesterolemia (343-576 mg/dl) were divided into two groups. An exercised group (n = 8) was housed as a flock and exercised daily with 30 min of aviary flight and 30 min walking on a rotating perch. A sedentary control group (n = 4) was housed in individual cages with no exercise regime. A plasma lipid panel, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, was validated for this species. Body weight, chest girth, and the lipid panel were measured at 0, 61, and 105 days. Hematology and plasma biochemistry were measured at 0 and 105 days. Weight and girth were significantly lower in exercised than sedentary parrots at 61 and 105 days. HDL-C concentrations were significantly higher in exercised parrots at 61 days but returned to near baseline by 105 days. There were no significant changes in hematology, biochemistry, or other lipid panel parameters. Results were similar to studies in humans and animal models, in which increased HDL-C was the most consistent effect of exercise on circulating lipid and lipoprotein parameters. The return toward baseline HDL-C may have resulted from decreased participation in aviary flight. Additional investigation will be required to determine the amount of exercise and change in circulating lipid-related parameters necessary to improve long-term wellness in psittacine species predisposed to hypercholesterolemia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

EFFECTS OF EXERCISE ON THE PLASMA LIPID PROFILE IN HISPANIOLAN AMAZON PARROTS (AMAZONA VENTRALIS) WITH NATURALLY OCCURRING HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Gustavsen

Stanhope²,

Lin³

et al. 2016

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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“…While chlamydial infection has generally been ruled out as having a link with atherosclerosis in birds (Schenker and Hoop 2007), it has been shown in one retrospective study (Beaufrère and others 2013) that there is a strong link between female sex and atherosclerosis and reproductive disease was highlighted as a risk factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm in a steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Abou-Zahr

Dutton

Carrasco

et al. 2015

Vet Record Case Reports

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A 23-year-old female imprinted steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) was presented by a public falconry centre for postmortem examination following sudden death with no previous clinical signs. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of 150 ml of blood within the coelomic cavity, with a packed cell volume of 42% indicating an acute, internal haemorrhage as a presumptive cause of death. A well-demarcated, solid, hard, ovoid, approximately 3 cm×2 cm (in cross section) mass was discovered within the body of the aorta adjacent to the ovary. Histological examination confirmed this to be an aortic aneurysm underlain by severe atherosclerosis with a transmural rupture.

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“…Raised total cholesterol level is the most important lipid abnormality, with 33% of human coronary heart disease worldwide attributed to high blood total cholesterol values. 13 While a clear association between dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic diseases has not been demonstrated in psittacine birds, several small-scale scientific investigations suggest that such an association may exist. Statins and fibrates are the main lipid-lowering drugs prescribed to human patients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In human medicine, atorvastatin is currently the most commonly prescribed statin, but this lipid-lowering agent is extensively metabolized by the liver (cytochrome P450 family-mediated) and has 2 active metabolites (para-hydroxy atorvastatin and ortho-hydroxy atorvastatin) that account for approximately 70% of the drug's activity. 13 Although rosuvastatin pharmacokinetic data was not available for any bird species, it was hypothesized that a psittacine dose may be similar or higher than that determined for rodents. Preliminary pharmacodynamic data regarding the use of atorvastatin has been reported in chickens, but no avian pharmacokinetic data have been published.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasma Drug Concentrations of Orally Administered Rosuvastatin in Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots (Amazona ventralis)

Beaufrère¹,

Papich²,

Brandão³

et al. 2015

Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery

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Atherosclerotic diseases are common in pet psittacine birds, in particular Amazon parrots. While hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia have not definitely been associated with increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis in parrots, these are important and well-known risk factors in humans. Therefore statin drugs such as rosuvastatin constitute the mainstay of human treatment of dyslipidemia and the prevention of atherosclerosis. No pharmacologic studies have been performed in psittacine birds despite the high prevalence of atherosclerosis in captivity. Thirteen Hispaniolan Amazon parrots were used to test a single oral dose of 10 mg/kg of rosuvastatin with blood sampling performed according to a balanced incomplete block design over 36 hours. Because low plasma concentrations were produced in the first study, a subsequent pilot study using a dose of 25 mg/kg in 2 Amazon parrots was performed. Most plasma samples for the 10 mg/kg dose and all samples for the 25 mg/kg dose had rosuvastatin concentration below the limits of quantitation. For the 10 mg/kg study, the median peak plasma concentration and time to peak plasma concentration were 0.032 μg/mL and 2 hours, respectively. Our results indicate that rosuvastatin does not appear suitable in Amazon parrots as compounded and used at the dose in this study. Pharmacodynamic studies investigating lipid-lowering effects of statins rather than pharmacokinetic studies may be more practical and cost effective in future studies to screen for a statin with more ideal properties for potential use in psittacine dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic diseases.

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Prevalence of and risk factors associated with atherosclerosis in psittacine birds

Cited by 68 publications

References 47 publications

EFFECTS OF EXERCISE ON THE PLASMA LIPID PROFILE IN HISPANIOLAN AMAZON PARROTS (AMAZONA VENTRALIS) WITH NATURALLY OCCURRING HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

EFFECTS OF EXERCISE ON THE PLASMA LIPID PROFILE IN HISPANIOLAN AMAZON PARROTS (AMAZONA VENTRALIS) WITH NATURALLY OCCURRING HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm in a steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Plasma Drug Concentrations of Orally Administered Rosuvastatin in Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots (Amazona ventralis)

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