.""

Dr Colin Walker

Avian veterinarian

B.Se.B.V.Se. M.A.C.V.$e (Avian Health)

22/12/2008

Hi Rob,

You bought your birds to the clinic on the 10thof December. One bird was autopsied

and tissue samples were forwarded to an avian pathologist for examination. Samples

were also collected and forwarded to a DNA lab to check for viruses and Chlamydia.

After some initial confusion with the laboratory repost, an amended report was

forwarded to me on the 18thof December. The pathologist has diagnosed two

problems. The first is a tissue form of coccidia called Cryptosporidia. This can be

treated with a drug called toltrazuril ("Baycox") although response to treatment is

often poor. Birds are treated for two days (3ml/L). I would repeat this treatment every

4 weeks for the time being. The second is a retrovirus infection. In this disease, the

virus induces a cancerous change in the white blood cells in the bone marrow. These

then seed out into the circulation and wherever they lodge a tumor grows.

Frustratingly there is no treatment for this infection. However to develop these tumors

the birds not only need exposure to the virus but to also be genetically susceptible.

Control is achieved by breeding away ftom susceptible lines. The challenge for you

now is to develop a blue backed line that is resistant to this virus.

For your interest I have enclosed copies of all the laboratory reports.

Please call if I can be of any further assistance.

Regards,

;:??/J" . ~ / t::c v~~:>(~

Dr. ColinWalker

2/2031 13:24 61-3-98013-5944

C-VUD u...Jr ...

The University of Sydney

A "ian.. R.eptilo and SII.Qtic pft Hos-pital.

415 Werombi Roed. Camden (Private Bag J) NSW 2570 Au.tralia.

Auae!ate ProfenoJ' David N. Phalen, Plred:or

18 OccembC!:2008

KnO't Bird Veterinary Clinic

11 Henry R.oad

Wan1:inu South

Victorla 3152

Fu: 039800 5944

Client: Bray

Spocies/animal ID: Gouldi~ finch

Hi8tOry~Most of the birds are well, but he is expcncncwa deat

mutations. Clinically, the birds ar~ just L'Unand quiet,. IlJJi:I. . palelivers.

Reference number: 08-83

A.

Liver: There is a sc'Vcre diftU:Je amyloidosis replacing up to 7

i9 also a diffu$cbil~ duct hypc:rplasiaand a.mild fibrosislOftho

PAGE 03

.\""'~-

Faculty of Vcterb18r)r SefeJtel!

Faculty of V etorjnary Soicnee

Col1ege of Sei!m~' and Tec::bnoloKY

TeI~hone O~93'1 1798

?'a<:tiimdCl 02 9}Sl 1674

Ernail clpbalen@camden.Usyd.mN

in particular with the blue b.-eked.

'psy they have very luge-, very

of the liver parenchyma. There

'rtw v=ssels.

Kidney: Tubule dilation, ~ingle lympboplasrnacytic intetstitial (OQUi.

Proventriculu.s: 'lhere is ~ massive coloni~at.ion ofthc ePithcli4 surface wit.1tcryptosporia. There

is associab=d attophy and dilation of the gJends ofthc ptOvcmtrl~u1us,with l\ moderate fibrosi$ of

the larnin$ prorpia.

Oesopha~8: TheR is a mOcWrate overgrowth surf* b

inflammation. or alterations in the oesopho.gelll1ining.

Trachea: NML

ria, but there i9 no associated

9/12/2031 13:24 61-3-9800-5944

I~ uec ~uuu I;u~r~ ~M~~ ~

Lung: NML

Muscle: NML

Lung: NML

B.

Panc{eas: NML

,& c:; ~Uo,1b ( 'b~

PAGE 04

fi'.C:;

Duodenwn 811djejunUUl: The sub.. 'uCOsa and lamina prbpria ~ a1:sections of the intestines are

distended with a monophoric population of celJs that $wear"~o be of lymphocyte/plasmacell

lineage.

c.

Muscle and bone: NML. Only small fragments of matrow

m~lopoeitic IIIldhacmopoeitir;:tissue.

Moroho1ollic diamosis:

Liver: Severe diffuse amyloidosis

Intestine (all sectiom): Severe diffuse inf1ltra.tion by cel}J of

Proventricul1JS:

orgaoism$.

Severe diffuse atrophy and modexate

BtiolO-ii!:Diap>sis:

After finding the acid fut stain to be Degative, 1 ;revic

pathologist. It is now ow int.::rpn:tatiOJ:lthat the intestlind

cells most likely pLasma cells. This would also be c:o.nd&tcnt

sugsCl!ltthat the amyloid is the:result of light chain deposition "

with multipLe myeloma..

seen, b t they contain nQmud

fibrosis with intra lesional

these sections with another

iong are iJrlilttates of neoplastic

',tbthe liver amyloid and would .. to what is Sleet1in mammals

Given that you as10seeing this in muIcipl= birds it i. possf:\»le mitt it may be ~u$ed by a

retrOvirus. I would be eager to get an entire fresh bird S~P1'ed ovemight, if tbis breeder

experiences another sick bird with similar signs.

The provcntricular lesions IU"ecaused by Cryptosporidia. ..

IIcNML:No microscopic lesions