Death in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) following ingestion of vermiculite.

This paper details the clinical and post-mortem findings of leopard geckos following ingestion of vermiculite bedding material. Death was attributed to the high magnesium content of the vermiculite.

Congenital malformations in a common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) similar to human 13-trisomy syndrome.

This paper describes the finding of a number of malformations in a live-born common marmoset. The malformations included microphthalmia, ocular hypertelorism, cleft lip and palate and polydactyly. The findings are consistent with and strongly suggest chromosome trisomy similar to that which has been seen in man.

A mesothelioma in a ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis).

A malignant mesothelioma diagnosed post mortem in a ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) resembled similar tumours reported from poultry. It was papillomatous and composed of cuboidal cells. The tumour occupied much of the respiratory tract as well as extending into the left humerus, humero-scapular-coracoid joint and pectoral muscle.

Fatty liver in birds at the Zoological Society of London.

The livers of 531 captive wild birds necropsied at the Zoological Society of London were examined histologically. Marked fatty infiltration of the liver was found in 13 cases. Seven of the 13 cases were from the order Psittaciformes indicating that some species (cockatoos, parakeets and parrots) in this order may be particularly susceptible to fatty infiltration of the liver. Affected livers were commonly swollen or enlarged, pale, white or yellow in colour and soft, friable or fatty at post mortem examination. Histologically, marked fatty infiltration of the liver was characterised by the presence of intracytoplasmic fat vacuoles within hepatocytes without zonal or lobular distribution throughout the sections examined. Reticulolysis and fibrosis of the hepatic parenchyma were found in association with marked fatty liver in a proportion of cases. Macroscopic or histological evidence of hepatic haemorrhages was not found in affected birds. In psittacine birds, obesity was frequently seen at post mortem examination and it was considered that nutritional and/or metabolic factors were important causes of fatty liver in this group. Fatty liver was found in association with chronic wasting diseases caused by mycotic infection in two cases.

Hepatic haemosiderosis in birds at the Zoological Society of London.

The livers of 531 captive wild birds necropsied at the Zoological Society of London were examined histologically. Significant accumulations of stainable iron pigment were found in the livers of 37 birds. Hepatic haemosiderosis was prevalent in some species in the orders Ciconiiformes, Cuculiformes, Coraciiformes and Passeriformes. Flamingos, go-away birds, hornbills and starlings were most commonly affected. Hepatic haemosiderosis was not recorded in some orders such as the Psittaciformes, Sphenisciformes, Falconiformes or Strigiformes. Hepatic haemosiderosis usually occurred in birds that had been in captivity for many years. The macroscopic appearance of affected livers varied, some were swollen or enlarged and others either yellow, brown or golden in appearance. The degree to which stainable iron was present in hepatocytes, phagocytic cells in the liver, or both, varied from case to case. Stainable iron was both granular and diffuse in hepatocytes and granular in both Kupffer cells and aggregations of haemosiderin-laden macrophages. Fibrosis was associated with haemosiderosis in one case only. Intercurrent diseases were common in affected birds and often considered to be the cause of death. Primary hepatic neoplasia was recorded in five of the 37 affected birds.

A survey of tuberculosis in birds in the Regent's Park gardens of the Zoological Society of London.

A total of 5,177 avian post mortem examinations was carried out at the Regent's Park gardens of the Zoological Society of London between 1966 and 1978 inclusive. Avian tuberculosis was found in 13 different avian orders. A total of 112 birds (2.2%) was affected; 2.1% from Regent's Park Zoo and 2.4% from other sources. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was based on the demonstration of acid-fast bacilli in association with lesions in fresh or fixed tissues stained by Ziehl-Neelsen's procedure and by cultural methods. Mycobacterium avium (including M. intracellulare) was isolated from 12 specimens, unidentified Mycobacterium spp. from 12, and M. fortuitum from one. The overall occurrence during the 13-year period of observation did not appear to decline although seasonal and yearly fluctuations were noted. No sex predilection was found and the disease generally occurred in birds that had been in captivity for many years. Avian tuberculosis was diagnosed in three free-living wood pigeons (Columba palumbus) trapped in the Zoo grounds. These birds may contribute to the transmission of the disease to other species. A high incidence of tuberculosis was found in the Anseriformes, Gruiformes and Columbiformes, but the disease appeared to be rare in the Psittaciformes, Passeriformes, Spherdsciformes and Strigiformes.

Some cases of lymphoid leukosis in captive wild birds.

A total of 1,234 post mortem examinations of captive wild birds was carried out during a 5-year observation period. Six cases of lymphoid leukosis were found and their pathological features are described.

High incidence of dystokia in the casiragua (Proechimys guairae).

Dystokia caused the deaths of 8 casiraguas out of a total of 25 adult females examined post mortem from a small colony of this rodent on exhibition at the London Zoo.