Bilateral Cubital Lymphoma and Mycobacteriosis in a Salmon-Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis).

A 32-year-old male salmon-crested cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) was diagnosed by cytology with bilateral cubital lymphoma and mycobacteriosis. Polymerase chain reaction assay testing confirmed Mycobacterium genavense. This patient was subsequently humanely euthanized. Postmortem histopathology confirmed both diagnoses with findings of multicentric lymphoma, acid-fast bacilli, and severe degenerative changes in all synovial joints examined. Immunohistochemical staining for paired box protein 5 of the cubital mass was positive for a high percentage of B-cell lymphocytes, consistent with B-cell lymphoma. This unusual case of two major diseases presenting concurrently in one patient raises the question of whether the pathogenesis could have an interdependent relationship. Mycobacteriosis, severe degenerative joint changes, or both may have stimulated lymphocytes, eventually leading to lymphoma. Additional screening and monitoring for comorbidities may be advised if 1 of these diseases are diagnosed in companion avian species.

Cutaneous Mycobacteriosis Caused by Mycobacterium kansasii in a Yellow-naped Amazon Parrot (Amazona auropalliata).

An approximately 25-year-old, female, yellow-naped Amazon parrot (Amazona auropalliata) was evaluated for a chronic, raised, ulcerative mass on the lateral aspect of the left thigh. Histopathology of an excisional biopsy revealed severe, chronic, multifocal-to-coalescing, ulcerated dermal and subcutaneous granulomas. No infectious organisms were observed on Ziehl-Neelsen or Gomori methenamine silver stains. The parrot was treated with oral sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim and meloxicam. When reexamined 2 weeks later, the biopsy site had healed. Surgical biopsies were resubmitted 14 months after the original presentation due to recurrence of similar ulcerative lesions on the right leg. Histopathology revealed a similar inflammatory pattern, and hematoxylin-eosin, Ziehl-Neelsen, and silver stains on the biopsy samples were all negative. A Fite-Faraco stain revealed rare acid-fast bacilli throughout the lesion. Tissue polymerase chain reaction test was negative for Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium genavense. Mycobacterial culture and subsequent genotyping revealed Mycobacterium kansasii. Mycobacterium kansasii is a significant cause of mycobacteriosis in humans and, therefore, should be considered a potential zoonotic organism. This report describes an unusual primary cutaneous presentation of avian mycobacteriosis.

Pharmacokinetics of a Single Intramuscular Injection of Ceftiofur Crystalline Free Acid in Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA) administered intramuscularly at dosages of 10 and 20 mg/kg in bald eagles (BAEAs) (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Ceftiofur crystalline free acid is a long-acting, injectable, third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic drug. A prospective, randomized, complete crossover design was used for this pharmacokinetic investigation. CCFA (10 or 20 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly, and blood samples were obtained from 6 adult, nonreleasable, healthy BAEAs at predetermined sampling times. After a 4-week washout period, the protocol was repeated with each bird receiving the dose not given during the initial sample collection according to the randomized crossover design. Plasma ceftiofur free acid equivalents were quantified and data were analyzed by a noncompartmental pharmacokinetic approach. The mean observed peak plasma concentrations were 9.23 µg/mL and 15.08 µg/mL for 10 and 20 mg/kg CCFA IM administration, respectively. The mean observed time to maximum plasma concentration was 18 and 17.6 hours, and the mean terminal elimination half-life was 32.38 and 38.08 hours for intramuscular administration of 10 and 20 mg/kg CCFA, respectively, in the BAEAs. Reported minimum inhibitory concentrations of raptor bacterial isolates from a prior study was used to determine the target minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 µg/mL selected for this investigation. From the previously published information, a target plasma concentration of 4 µg/mL was determined for the CCFA in the BAEAs. From the results of this study, CCFA may be dosed every 60 and 110 hours at 10 mg/kg IM, and every 80 and 160 hours at 20 mg/kg IM in BAEAs.

Pilot Study of a Single Dose of Orally Administered Tapentadol Suspension in Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots (Amazona ventralis).

Tapentadol is an analgesic agent that acts as both a µ-opioid receptor agonist and a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It is a common therapeutic agent in human medicine for management of acute and chronic pain, and it is currently being investigated for use in veterinary medicine. Tapentadol was evaluated in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) because there is only 1 other oral opioid-like analgesic agent, tramadol, which has been evaluated in an avian species. The effectiveness of tramadol after administration to a patient involves a complex physiologic metabolism and has been found to have variable pharmacokinetics between species. Because of the lack of active metabolites from tapentadol, less interspecific variation was expected. Seven Hispaniolan Amazon parrots were used to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of tapentadol after a single 30 mg/kg PO administration of a compounded 5 mg/mL tapentadol suspension. Blood samples were collected before (time 0) and 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 3, and 6 hours after administration, following a balanced, incomplete-block design. Plasma tapentadol concentrations were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Results revealed detectable plasma concentrations in only 2 of 7 birds (29%), and the bird with the highest plasma levels had a peak concentration (Cmax) of 143 ng/mL and a half-life (T 1/2) of 24.8 minutes. The variable plasma concentrations and short half-life of this drug in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots suggests that this drug would be of limited clinical use in this species; however, it is possible that this drug will be more bioavailable in other avian species.

Raptor Pediatrics.

Neonatal and juvenile raptors may differ from adults in their husbandry, disease predispositions, and medical therapies. There are differences between captive bred juveniles and those presented for rehabilitation to the wild, which must be taken into consideration for successful long-term outcomes. In captive settings, many metabolic and infectious diseases may be linked to problems with diet. The successful rehabilitation and release of wild raptor chicks requires special precautions beyond avoiding imprinting.