Exotics

Question 1

Marek’s disease what birds affected, clinical signs and aetiology

Answer 1

• Only chickens are affected, fairly rare due to vaccine
• Insignificant in terms of the poultry industry
• Sulkies particularly infected
  Signs
• Usually 3-4 months (point of lay)
• Paresis/paralysis - unable to walk or lameness
  ○ wing, leg, neck
  ○ respiratory, GIT - if these nerves are affected
• Non-specific signs
  Aetiology
• Herpesvirus
• Three serotypes -> evolving and increasing in virulence over the years
  ○ serotype I -> pathogenic, a spectrum of virulence
  ○ serotypes II & III (HVT) -> ubiquitous but avirulent

Question 2

Lymphoid leucosis what age, clinical signs, transmission and mechanism

Answer 2

• Naturally occurs in chickens
• Usually > 5 m
• Clinical Signs - non-specific
  ○ Reduced weight, weakness & anorexia
  ○ Egg parameters, hatchability & fertility
  ○ Non-specific mortality
  Transmission
• Virus generally comes from the parents
  ○ Chicks hatch with viraemia and shed from all systems (respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive)
  Mechanism
• Affect B cells within the cloacal bursa and B cells become tumour and metastasise to other organs

Question 3

List some immunosuppressive conditions

Answer 3

• Infectious bursal disease
• Chicken Infectious Anaemia
• MD, LL & RET
• Pigeon circovirus infection (any circovirus)
• Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease
• Polyomavirus
• Mycotoxicosis
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Stress

Question 4

What is important to do when clipping bird wings

Answer 4

• Clip last 10 primary flight feathers

Question 5

What is good alignment for v/d and lateral projections at radiographs

Answer 5

○ Good alignment results in the marrow cavity of the sternum being clearly marked and directly over the backbone.
○ Good alignment of the lateral x-ray will have the acetabulum directly overlying each other and gizzard in direct line to acetabulum (pathology may change this)

Question 6

What are the 3 main blood vessels to take samples, what is important and how much to take

Answer 6

1. Jugular vein -> large right jugular and smaller left -> common
   ○ Large blood vessels, need to control the head to ensure not bitten
2. Wing vein
3. Medial metatarsal vein -> better for ducks and chickens
   - Long bleeding time -> need to be careful with the amount of blood you are taking
   ○ Rule of thumb 1% of body weight
   - Generally don’t need to anaesthetise however if not confident anaesthetising can be done

Question 7

Haematology/biochem what tube used, what % of immature RBCs is normal and what does a general blood exam include

Answer 7

• Needs to be done manually as no counters for nucleated RBC cells - may estimate which is not accurate
• 5% presence of immature RBC’s normally as high turnover rate - every 30 days
• A general blood examination includes CBC
  ○ Should include TP, Uric acid, AST, glucose, Haematology, PCV, WCC and blood film

Question 8

Haematology/biochem what are important molecules in the liver, kidney, GI and blood glucose

Answer 8

• Liver
  ○ AST (hepatocellular damage), GLDH (sig liver damage if increase), LDH (mostly muscle), ALT (not helpful in birds), bile acids (decreased liver function), CK (is AST liver or not? - could muscle disease or VitE/selenium deficiency)
  § Most common bile pigment in birds is biliverdin but no test available for it
• Kidney
  ○ Uric acid - main excretory product so good kidney function, Urea - dehydration, Creatinine- not helpful in avian med
• GI
  ○ Amylase and Lipase, Electrolyte changes, CK, AST and LDH
• Blood glucose
  ○ Don’t regulate mainly via insulin but by glucagon
  ○ much higher normal blood glucose
  ○ Treatment -> insulin not as good as glucagon

Question 9

What are 7 factors that can lead to polyuria

Answer 9

1. Stress or excitement
2. Egg laying
3. Species - lorrikeets and other nectar feeders
4. Diet - increase green food or vegetables
5. Toxicity - heavy metals
6. Diabetes mellitus
7. Multiple systemic disease
   Usually associated with LOW INTAKE

Question 10

what nutritional value is within seeds and pellets and what natural supplements are important

Answer 10

Seeds
- Really low in essentials nutrients -> vitamins, minerals and amino acids
- Extremely high in fat
- Birds will pick out favourite seeds -> such as sunflower seeds
Pellets
- Not full nutritional value
- But can mix with vegetables - better base diet than seeds
Natural supplements
- Gum leaves, nuts and flowers
- Other native flowers eg Banksia, bottle brush etc
- Seeding grasses
- Milk thistle
- Dandelions

Question 11

Anaesthetic drugs what are some examples of premed and induction

Answer 11

Pre med 
1) butorphenol 
2) midazolam - sedative 
Induction 
-- Injectable drugs such as ketamine combinations (esp ket/ medetomidine or ket/diazepam) are useful in anseriformes and larger birds such as ostriches.

Question 12

Euthanasia what are 4 ways of achieving

Answer 12

1) Halothane gas - ideal for small birds
2) lethobarb acceptable - Dilute 1:1 with water
○ It is not acceptable to inject lethabarb into the air sacs and the heart is often difficult to injected as it is well guarded by the sternum.
3) cervical dislocation - not in front of owner and consider doing this under GA
4) Can use IM pentobarbital, there could be considerable pain as the injection is highly irritant, use sedation with midazolam or butorphenol first.

Question 13

Fluid treatment what is maintenance requirements and if 10% dehydration what fluid treatment needed over how many days and how given

Answer 13

• Maintenance requirements of parrots and raptors; 50ml/kg/day or 5% body weight, small species (eg passerines), may require up to 8% body weight.
• If a 10% dehydration is assumed, 50% of this deficit is replaced in the first 24 hours and the remainder over the following 2 days ie
  – Day 1 – 5% (maintenance)+5% (dehydration) = 10% of body weight.
  – Day2 – 5% +2.5% = 7.5% body weight.
  – Day3 – 5% +2.5% = 7.5% body weight
  Ongoing losses needs to be added onto this
• total volume over a 24 hour period, every 4-6 hours - less often larger bolus, depends on the type of bird

Question 14

oral fluids how much can give birds

Answer 14

• 30ml/kg PO q 6-8h may be used in larger birds (parrots) such as waterfowl
• In pssitacine (finches, magpies) birds the volume should not exceed 20ml/kg may repeat when the crop is empty.

Question 15

Intraosseous fluids what bones used in, what good for, what bad about and needles used

Answer 15

• Distal ulna or proximal tibia - not pneumatic bones
• Good for shock treatment and surgical fluids.
• Painful to insert, best to do under general anaesthetic
• Use spinal needle as have stylet that prevent bone being stuck at the end of the needle

Question 16

what are the common antibiotics used in birds, why and common analgesic drugs

Answer 16

antibiotics
1) tetracyclines (doxycycline) - psittacosis (oral or IM)
2) penicillin and clavulanic acid - 100mg/kg
- CHICKENS -> production animal -> shouldn’t use baytril
ANALGESIA
- Meloxicam and carprophen (chickens, ducks -> tablet form) have become popular drugs for short term or long term arthritis pain.

Question 17

What are shock fluid rates for birds

Answer 17

• Shock treatment is usually an infusion of 30ml/kg to 60ml/kg in the first hour with poor perfusion -

Question 18

What antifungals and corticosteroids use in birds

Answer 18

1) Nystatin is great for GI infections.
2) Newer generation drugs such as voriconazole are giving better results for aspergillosis and seem to have better efficacy.
NO CORTICOSTEROID USE

Question 19

Trichomoniasis (canker) what age, types of birds involved, transmission and treatment

Answer 19

• Common in pigeons in small numbers 
• Most common in young post-fledgling 
○ Pigeons, Magpies, Budgies. Raptors 
• Transmitted via feeding of young birds, possible sexual behaviour of regurgitation
treatment - ronidazole

Question 20

Differentials for trichmoniasis for budgies, pigeons and raptors

Answer 20

- Budgies
○ Goitre and other obstructions causing regurgitation
○ Behavioral regurgitation
○ “Megabacteriosis” - a yeast 
○ Crop mycosis (regurgitation and lesions)
○ Vitamin A deficiency 
- Pigeons
○ Herpesvirus
○ Pox
- Raptors
○ Helminthiasis
○ Pox

Question 21

Stomatitis in gallinacious birds (chickens, turkeys) what is not likely and what is likely

Answer 21

• Trichomoniasis is very rare - NOT THIS ONE
• Pox
• ILT (infectious Laryngotracheitis virus)

Question 22

Megabacteriosis - Avian Gastric Yeast what birds most susceptible, cause, signs, diagnosis and treatment/control

Answer 22

○ Budgies/canaries and finches particularly susceptible
○ Generally occurs with other diseases -> possibly a secondary disease to coccidiosis
§ Predisposing factors -> stress, viral infection, nutrition
○ Signs - weight loss, weakness, high morbidity, some mortality, regurgitation
○ Diagnosis - presence of the yeast rods via faecal smear, also can do via histopathology of proventriculus
Treatment/control
§ Amphotericin B (human or bird version) for a few days
§ Acidify drinking water
§ Balanced diet -> finches as above
§ Probiotics -> not cheap

Question 23

What are the 5 main bacterial enteritis and treatment

Answer 23

1) salmonellosis
2) campylobacterosis
3) necrotic enteritis - Clostridium perfringens type A and C (neomycin)
4) ulcerative enteritis (quail disease)
5) avian tuberculosis - mycobacterium avium - reportable

Question 24

What are some common anti-coccidials

Answer 24

Sulfaquinoxaline, Amprolium (coccivet), Toltrazuril (baycox), Trimethoprim

Question 25

In birds what are the 2 main things kidneys are associated with and describe the renal portal system

Answer 25

- Kidneys associated with: ○ Sciatic nerve -> lesions on kidney may result in paresis of limb on same side ○ Abdominal air sac -> diseases of air sac may extend into the kidney - Renal portal system- valves associated with external iliac vein and vena cava therefore medication directed into vena cava may go into the renal circulation and excreted via kidneys before entering the body

Question 26

List and describe the 6 parts of the reproductive system of a bird

Answer 26

1. Ovary – yolk production - LEFT ONLY 2. Infundibulum – fertilisation site and inner albumin layer and chalaza – 15mins 3. Magnum – bulk of albumin (egg white) – 180 mins 4. Isthmus – extra protein in albumin and shell membranes - 73 mins 5. Uterus (shell gland) – ‘plumping’ w/ water and shell formation – 1200 minutes (20h) 6. Vagina -> close to keep oviduct sterile, until lay then relax and open

Question 27

What are the 3 main external parasites of birds and the types within

Answer 27

1) mites 1. knemidocoptes species 2. dermanyssus - red mite 3. ornithonyssus - northern fowl mite 2) ticks - argas persicus 3) lice

Question 28

Knemidocoptes clinical signs in different bird species, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 28

§ Clinical signs □ Scaly leg disease -> in chickens □ In budgies leads to scaly face/scaly leg □ Canaries and finches leads to tassel foot § Diagnosis □ DEEP scrapings -> visualisation of the adult or immature mites ® Can get so deep done to the bone § Treatment □ Easily treatable □ Beware of withholding periods for commercial chickens 1) Malathion spray/dust 2) Ivermectin medications -> on the skin surface - 3) Moxidectin -> can be used in birds

Question 29

Erysipelas cause, what most susceptible, zoonoses? and signs/lesions

Answer 29

Cause - Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae - Turkeys are susceptible - ZOONOTIC - swelling of the limbs -> painful ○ If suspect use protective gloves Signs/lesions - Acute: sudden death, congested viscera, haemorrhages and fibrin exudates on epicardium with swollen liver/spleen - Subacute/chronic: debilitation, poor condition, lameness/arthritis and endocarditis

Question 30

Erysipelas transmission and treatment

Answer 30

- Persists in the environment -> route of entry through skin trauma ○ Fighting, poor husbandry, overcrowding, artificial insemination § 12-20 weeks of age most common due to increased ○ FREERANGE CHICKENS -> generally more susceptible - Pigs and sheep can shed it Treatment - penicillin with vaccination

Question 31

what is important about salmonella in chickens, which staph cause issues and 2 forms

Answer 31

REPORTABLE - S. aureus (Coagulase positive -> ONLY ONE THAT CAUSES DISEASE) - Opportunistic organism -> immunosuppressed, Two forms 1. Septicaemic 2. Localised form ○ Arthritis, synovitis, osteomyelitis § Concrete hard floors -> breaks in skin -> "bumble foot" § Femoral head necrosis

Question 32

Fatty liver when physiological and when pathological in birds

Answer 32

○ Normal -> physiological § Young newly hatched chicks that are reliant on metabolism of yolk - first 2 weeks of life § Laying hens active egg production have naturally fatty liver - yolk contains large lipid content and liver is the main producer of this § Nutritional -> large amount of calories without proper exercise □ Is wanted in some restaurants -> force feed high calorie diets ○ Pathological -> due to fatty liver/haemorrhage syndrome and fatty liver/kidney disease

Question 33

What are the 5 main reasons for neurological signs in younger chicks

Answer 33

1. Thiamine deficiency 2. Aspergillosis - common 3. Salmonellosis 4. Entrococcosis 5. Avian Encephalomyelitis

Question 34

List the 7 main diseases of the trachea

Answer 34

1. Infectious bronchitis (IB) 2. Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) 3. Newcastle disease (ND) 4. Pigeon herpesvirus infection 5. Cryptosporidiosis 6. Parasites 7. Pox vaccination important

Question 35

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) what birds does it affect, caused by and transmission

Answer 35

- Only in gallinaceous birds - chickens, pheasants - Caused by an alpha-Herpesvirus - Transmission ○ Carrier birds - FOR LIFE ○ Shed in exudates ○ Aerosols, fomites, beetles, etc ○ Long Incubation period (6-12 d) - can vaccinate in the face of outbreak

Question 36

Infectious laryngotracheitis diagnosis, signs

Answer 36

- Diagnosis ○ Histopathology - merging epithelial cells with intra-nucleus inclusion bodies, heterophils ○ PCR ○ Notifiable disease - Signs ○ Severe form – acute haemorrhagic to necrotizing tracheitis – severe dyspnoea, gasping, open mouth breathing, cough up blood / blood-stained exudate, significant mortality. ○ Mild form – conjunctivitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, reduced production, predisposition to C.R.D.

Question 37

Newcastle disease cause, structures and significance

Answer 37

- Cause - avulavirus (Paramyxoviridae) - Affects variety of bird species - High mortality and morbidity - Socioeconomic losses - OIE list A ○ An exotic disease to Australia - trade implications

Question 38

What are the 3 forms of newcastle disease, mortality and signs

Answer 38

a. Velogenic § High mortality § Nervous system -> partial or complete paralysis and twisting or the neck § Respiratory system - tracheitis, swelling of the face § Enteric - caecal lesions, diarrhoea b. Mesogenic § Variable mortality § Respiratory § Nervous § Reduced egg production, quality (shell, pigment, albumen) § No enteric signs c. Lentogenic § Mild-subclinical respiratory signs § Predisposition for CRD (chronic respiratory disease, like mycoplasma)

Question 39

air sac/trachea mites what birds common in, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and control

Answer 39

- Common in canaries, finches, budgies - Clinical signs - slight cough, wheezing, dyspnoea in severe infections - open mouth breathing, fluffed up, stopping singing (one of the first signs - as trachea was severely damaged) - Diagnosis - clinical signs and response to treatment - Treatment - medication with ivermectin - single drop applied to back of neck or within water - Control - involve in elimination of carriers birds or by periodic strategic treatment to keep infection at low level

Question 40

Respiratory mycoses cause, age and clinical signs

Answer 40

- Aspergillus fumigatus -> can get from mould in grain - Particularly in the first few days of life -> probably came from the hatchery - Clinical signs ○ Increase mortality (loss of hatchability) - especially in younger birds and in hatcheries ○ Respiratory difficulty - lesions in trachea and lungs and sometimes eye § Ophthalmitis if lesions in the eye ○ Lethargic, off food, loss weight, regurgitate food ○ Abnormal pasture, twisted neck, paresis, paralysis -> if brain affected

Question 41

Chlamydiosis what birds affect, stress, zoonosis and the 3 species

Answer 41

- Affects - corallers, cockatiels, pigeons, ducks - Stress often leads to reactivation of latent infection - ZOONOTIC - notifiable - C. psittaci ○ Serious diseases in a rage of bird species and mammals - in Europe ○ Conflicting reports on prevalence and pathogenesis in chickens - C. avium ○ Respiratory disease ○ Found in pigeons, parrots and possibly wild birds - C. gallinacea - in Australia ○ Gallinaceous birds and ducks ○ Clinical signs in chickens and zoonotic potential to be investigated - no evidence of illness

Question 42

Chlamydiosis treatment and prevention and control

Answer 42

Treatment - Warn clients of zoonotic potential and shedding of pathogen particularly in faeces of the recovered birds - Supportive therapy - Tetracyclines for a prolonged period - 6 week ○ Doxycycline is reportedly the most effective to use Prevention and control - Carrier birds - Quarantine - Hygiene - stress - Periodic medication

Question 43

What are the 3 important rule of the ventrodorsal and lateral view on radiograph

Answer 43

Ventrodorsal View - Hourglass appearance of organs - should fit between lines between shoulders and hips - Good alignment – keel bone directly over back bone - Heart rule – measure width of heart, ratio with the width of the chest >60% - enlargement Lateral View - Good alignment - acetabulum directly overlying each other - Gizzard is important landmark (can see with grit) needs to be in direct line with acetabulum - Heart rule – measure length of heart against length of sternum >40% - enlargement

Question 44

What are treatment options for flagellates, trichomonas, budding yeast, fungal hyphae, avian gastric yeast

Answer 44

``` Protozoa -Flagellates – Metronidazole -Trichomonas – Ronidazole Fungi -Budding yeast (snowmen)– Nystatin -Fungal hyphae – Itraconazole -Avian gastric yeast – Amphotericin B ```

Question 45

hospital patients how feed and how much for bird, parrot, baby parrot and pigeons

Answer 45

- Use crop feeding tube - Serve mixture warm (38-39 degrees) -> If it’s too cold -> Shock crop -> Crop stasis - Amount 1. Unknown bird/species/requirements – 3% body weight is safe 2. Parrot– 7% body weight 3. baby parrots – 10% 4. Adult pigeons – 10%

Question 46

caeca in chickens, parrots, pigeons and finches

Answer 46

chickens - caeca long parrots - absence pigeons and finches - short

Question 47

List 9 causes for swelling of reptile eyelids

Answer 47

1. Hypovitaminosis A in chelonians ○ Hyperkeratosis, swollen eyes, digestive issues 2. Blepharitis and conjunctivitis ○ Usually hygiene and foreign body related 3. Foreign material/trauma 4. Viral (pox/herpes) 5. Bacterial (primary/secondary to sepsis) 6. Periocular masses ○ Unilateral 7. Neoplasia 8. parasitic 9. caseous abscess formation (tend to be harder than mammalian)

Question 48

What are 6 main issues that can arise of the spectacle

Answer 48

1. Opacity prior to ecdysis (shedding) 2. Retained spectacle due to dysecdysis (when haven't shed properly -> lack of humidity or lack of abrasive items to rub against) 3. Bullous spectaculopathy -> accumulation of clear fluid in Subspectacular space that presents as a bulging of spectacle ○ Aspirate to determine the cause but give pain relief as well 4. Subspectacular abscess 5. Retrobulbar abscess 6. Trauma

Question 49

What are 5 common skin conditions of pythons

Answer 49

``` 1. Mites ○ Ophinoyssus natricis 2. Trauma ○ Burns, bites from prey, escape attempts, co-feeding, handling 3. Scale rot ○ Ventral dermatitis 4. Blister disease ○ Humidity too high/wet substrate ○ Burns ○ Migrating nematodes 5. Dysecdysis ○ Systemic disease ○ Vivarium set up ○ Overhandling ```

Question 50

What are the 4 main skin conditions of turtles

Answer 50

``` 1. Shell rot ○ Water quality/diet/UV 2. Oedema 3. Scale and carapace deformities ○ Malnutrition/injuries 4. Trauma ○ Co-inhabitants ○ Tank design ○ Gardening injuries ```

Question 51

Rabbit what are the 4 main ectoparasites, clinical signs and diagnosis/treatment for all

Answer 51

1) Fur mite – Cheyletiella parasitovorax - waling dandruff, mild pruritis and alopecia 2) Fur mite – Leporacarus gibbus - salt and pepper look 3) Ear mite – Psoroptes cuniculi - crusty exudate in ear, intensely pruritic and painful 4) Rabbit fleas (and cat and dog fleas) - pruritis Dx -> sticky tape prep Tx -> selamcentin (revolution) - advantage for flea NO FIBRONIL IN RABBITS

Question 52

Guinea pigs what are the 2 main ectoparasites, clinical signs, diganosis and treatment

Answer 52

``` 1) fleas - pruritis, dull coat, patchy alopecia Dx - visualisation, flea dirt 2) scabies - pruritis and alopecia Dx - deep skin scrap, clinical signs Tx -> both selamectin (revolution) ```

Question 53

Ferrets what are the 3 main ectoparasites, clinical signs, diagnosis/treatment

Answer 53

``` 1) Sarcoptic Mange “Foot rot” - alopecia, intense pruritus, pain, nails can slough Dx - deep skin scrap Tx - ivermectin 2) Ear mite – Otodectes cyanotis - head shake, scratch, pruritis Dx - smear Tx - adovate (moxidectin) 3) Fleas (Dog & Cat) Dx - visualisation Tx - advantage (imidacloprid) ```

Question 54

Mice and rats what are the 3 main ectoparasites, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 54

1) Fur mites (multiple species) - greasy pruritic dermatitis, ulceration Dx - sticky tape prep Tx - ivermectin 2) Fleas (Dog, Cat, Wild rodent fleas) - dull coat Dx - visualisation Tx - frontline (fibronil) 3) Lice (Pediculosis) - weight loss, alopecia Dx - exclusion and treatment trail Tx - ivermectin

Question 55

Neoplasia what type common in rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and rodents

Answer 55

- Rabbits – none specifically more common - Ferrets – mast cell tumours common - Guinea pigs – trichofolliculoma ○ Benign basal cell epithelioma, surgical excision usually curative though not always needed as not likely to metastasise and rarely locally invasive - Rodents – Mammary neoplasia ○ Mice = malignant (usually) - not a good prognosis ○ Rats = benign ○ Both sexes can be affected ○ Vast distribution of mammary tissue means they can be almost anywhere on the body

Question 56

Ferret canine distemper virus clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment

Answer 56

``` Clinical signs - Conjunctivitis and rhinitis initially - Pyrexia - Mandibular and inguinal rash - Hyperkeratotic lesions of the nose and foot pads with brown crusting - Neurological signs prior to death Diagnosis – can do serum antibody titres Treatment – euthanasia is only humane option ```

Question 57

Alopecic syndrome in ferrets what are the two main ones and their cause

Answer 57

1) hyperoestrogenism (female) - persistent oestrus- need to be mated 2) adrenocortical disease (male) - early neutering, increased adrenal cortex, stimulation by FSH and LH, overproduction of androgens and oestrogens

Question 58

Hyperoestrogenism in female ferrets clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 58

Clinical signs - swollen vulva, weight loss and lethargy, bilaterally symmetric alopecia diagnosis - low PCV and pancytopenia Treatment - spey prior to oestrus, mate to vasectomised male

Question 59

Adrenocortical disease in male or female ferrets clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 59

CS - Swollen vulva (F) Urethral obstruction (M) Weight loss and lethargy Bilaterally symmetric alopecia D - low PCV and pancytopenia, adrenal mass Treatment Surgical - not without potential complication - can lead to haemorrhage can be curative Medical - Deslorelin implant (GnRH agonist)

Question 60

Hypovitaminosis C in guinea pigs what is the requirement, how receive, definciency leads to, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 60

- Absolute requirement of 10mg/kg/day - Should source vitamin C from fresh fruits and vegetables - Deficiency predisposes to range of infectious disorders Clinical signs - Rough coat with scaley pinnae - Ecchymoses, petechiae and haematomas - Painful and swollen joints Diagnosis – not really necessary, just supplement Treatment – correct the diet and supply 50-100mg/kg/day during initial phase of dietary correction

Question 61

What drug avoid in rabbits and guinea pigs

Answer 61

corticosteroids

Question 62

Encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits transmission, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 62

- Can be asymptomatic carriers - Speculated to be vertically acquired in utero Clinical signs - More commonly head tilt and neuro signs, renal signs - If ocular, then unilateral disease usually with cataract formation - Can see spontaneous lens rupture - Iris abscess, hypopyon possible - Acute uveitis (hyperaemic iris) with progression to chronic indicated by synechia or glaucoma Diagnosis - challenging! -> as already exposed so antibodies doesn't help, if suspicious just treat Treatment - Fenbendazole for 30 days to kill parasite - Symptomatic treatment for inflammatory response - NSAIDS

Question 63

conjunctivitis in guinea pig common agent, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 63

Chlamydial conjunctivitis ○ PCR (Chlamydia caviae) ○ Tetracycline based ophthalmic preparation - chlorsig or ocuflox and oral doxycycline if severe Always check for corneal ulceration as well

Question 64

Pasturellosis how common in rabbits, transmission, zoonotic and what affects the disease

Answer 64

- Gram -ve bacterium - most common cause of respiratory disease in rabbits - Commensal - Transmission - nasal, oral fomites, vertical - Very rarely may be zoonotic - Course of disease varies with ○ Strain virulence ○ Host immune response ○ Additional stressors

Question 65

Guinea pig respiratory disease what are the 4 main differential diagnosis and things within

Answer 65

○ Infectious § Bordetella (rabbit harbour this bacteria so don't house together) § Adenovirus - sudden death § Fungal - less common ○ Inflammatory § Allergic suspected ○ Neoplastic § Primary respiratory adenocarcinoma § Metastatic mammary neoplasia - RARE § Lymphosarcoma and leukemia leading to dyspnoea as affect mediastinal lymph nodes ○ Diseases affecting other systems - heat stress, pain

Question 66

Ferret cardiac disease how common, normal HR, clinical signs, diagnostics and types

Answer 66

- COMMON - Heart more caudal - Normal HR = 180-250bpm - Clinical signs - exercise intolerance, dyspnoea, weakness, pallor with prolonged CRT - Diagnostics - radiograph and echocardiography types - DCM common then endocardiosis (mitral valve)

Question 67

what is the most common respiratory pathogen in rats, transmission, leads to,

Answer 67

- Mycoplasma pulmonis Transmission via direct contact, aerosolization and transplacentally - MOST RATS EXPOSED EXCEPT FOR SCIENTIFIC FREE - Usually sets up a persistent infection - Causes: ○ Acute: tracheobronchitis or pneumonia ○ Chronic: airway inflammation, bronchiectasis ○ Sometimes middle ear infection - Like asthma - potentiates neurogenic infection - get hypersensitivity - Like chronic bronchitis - ongoing pulmonary infeciton - Biofilm created allows bacterial colonisation

Question 68

Rodent respiratory disease what are the 6 main treatments needed

Answer 68

1. Supportive care (oxygen, fluids, nutritional, pain relief) 2. Antimicrobials ○ Doxycycline (anti-inflammatory action and penetrates the biofilm) ○ Enrofloxacin in combination with doxycycline ○ Azithromycin 3. Bronchodilators (can be given orally or nebulised) – oral dose theophylline concurrently with enrofloxacin then reduce the theophylline dose by 30% 4. Nebulisation (small particle size <3um) with ○ bronchodilators (aminophylline) 5. Anti-inflammatories ○ Meloxicam 6. Environmental management - important - good ventilation and husbandry

Question 69

What are the 6 main injection sites for marsupials and which marsupials use with each

Answer 69

1. Lateral coccygeal vein in macropods (along either side of the tail). 2. Ventral coccygeal vein (as for rodents) is useful for smaller marsupials e.g. possums, gliders, small carnivorous marsupials. 3. Femoral vein/artery. (Direct needle at pulse felt in inguinal region.) Arterial blood is often obtained and digital pressure is required to prevent haematoma formation. ○ This vessel is good in koalas and bandicoots, but general anaesthesia is required to access it. 4. Medial metatarsal vein (small vein along medial aspect of hindleg). Good for wombats. 5. Cephalic vein can be used in macropods, koalas, wombats (with some difficulty). 6. Jugular vein -> for those with necks (kangaroos), NOT WOMBATS

Question 70

What is important with diagnostics for GIT diseases in exotics

Answer 70

○ Blood work: WBCC (is it anaemic), glucose (high glucose worse prognostic), lactate (not as good), liver enzymes, electrolytes, protein ○ Faecal: float (rule out coccidia), direct smear, centrifuge, gram stain, culture ○ Imaging: ultrasound, radiographs (gut stasis not good), CT, MRI, fluoroscopy ○ Endoscopy/exploratory laparotomy: cytology, histopathology

Question 71

Gut stasis rabbits common TPR findings and 6 main treatments, what is most important

Answer 71

○ TPR: (HR <180bpm bradycardia, T <35.1 hypothermia, RR tachypnoea) 1. Rehydration - IV if possible, 2-3XM) - use ear vein -> INITIAL ○ Can also use subcutaneous fluids 2. Analgesia - opioids (GIT issues so only initially) vs NSAIDS (do well) - INITIAL ○ Buprenorphine, meloxicam 3. Prokinetic - varies on area of GI tract ○ Metaclopramide (proximal GI) vs Cisapride (whole GI) ○ Ranitidine (whole GI and inhibits acid secretion) 4. Food - syringe feed critical care - 3-4 big meals per day ○ 10-15 mins/kg QID-BID 5. Treatment -> for other concurrent disease - IMPORTANT 6. Decompress stomach if severe tympany Will not get better without treatment but shouldn't treat quickly

Question 72

What are the 3 main GIT problems that can have medical management and what are the options

Answer 72

1) trichobezoar 2) foreign body 3) caecal impaciton Medical generally first options for above - Fluids: 2-3X M - Prostaglandin F2 alpha (0.2mg/kg) - Pineapple juice for trichobezoars - Mineral oil

Question 73

What is FRECV and FRSCV what animal effect, effects, diagnosis and treatment

Answer 73

1. FRECV -> older ferrets, highly contagious!!! ○ Green mucoid diarrhoea (destroys gut lining - villus atrophy) 2. FRSCV -> younger ferrets ○ Abdominal polyadenomegaly, weight loss, anorexia Both -> fever, hyperproteinaemia (WOULD THINK OTHERWISE), Anaemia Diagnosis - ultrasound, histopathology GI/lymph nodes Treatment - none, aim only to reduce inflammatory response and support, usually fatal weeks to months - euthanasia

Question 74

Antibiotic induced GIT disease in exotics what can result, affected species and main drugs

Answer 74

- Fatal clostridial enterotoxaemia, enteritis, colitis - Affected species: rabbit, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters - Main drugs: beta lactams: oral penicillins (can give injectables), oral cephalosporins, macrolides (erythromycin), lincosamides, tylosin, tetracyclines (GP)

Question 75

What are the 7 steps in the treatment of a dental abscess

Answer 75

1) identify the teeth involved 2) extract the tooth 3) instill proloxamer gel or marsupilise 4) check other teeth and other effects 5) pain relief - buprenorphine 3d, meloxicam 2 weeks 6) gut support - syringe feed 7) antibiotics - based on culture for 2 weeks min

Question 76

Rabbits what thinking with haematuria and discoloured urine

Answer 76

- Haematuria ○ Think adenocarcinoma in entire females rabbits 4 years and older ○ Less common causes are UTIs - Discoloured urine ○ Pigments and minerals are a normal finding in rabbits urine ○ Need to differentiate if true haematuria or plant porphyrins by using cytology or UV light - porphyrins fluorece

Question 77

Guinea pigs main uroliths and causes of haematuria

Answer 77

- Urolithiasis ○ Calcium carbonate and oxalate stones -> Required surgical removal ○ Common in both sexes over 2 years of age ○ Some are dissolvable by diet - Haematuria ○ UTIs, uroliths, pyometra

Question 78

3 ways to try to stop egg laying behaviour

Answer 78

1. Superlorin (GnRH agonist) - initial stimulation then negative feedback of FSH and LH ○ Should last about 4-6 months ○ Goes IM and will self dissolve (cannot remove as get stuck to skin and causes more damage when try) 2. leuprolide acetate (Lupron®) ○ a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, that acts by down-regulating pituitary GnRH receptors ○ Give on day 0,10,30 and then after that whenever needed ○ Injection - hard to get as small injection for large volume - avian vets 3. Ensure photoperiod is regular ○ 12 hour photoperiod is idea?