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Blindness as a sign of proventricular dilatation disease in a grey parrot ( Psittacus erithacus erithacus )
Author(s) -
Steinmetz A.,
Pees M.,
Schmidt V.,
Weber M.,
KrautwaldJunghanns M.E.,
Oechtering G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2008.00608.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pathology , proventriculus , ophthalmoscopy , atrophy , retinal degeneration , anatomy , retinal , ophthalmology
An approximately eight‐year‐old female grey parrot ( Psittacus erithacus erithacus ) was presented with a two months history of blindness. The radiographic examination showed a dilatation of the proventriculus, ventriculus and gut. Ophthalmoscopy and electroretinography revealed degeneration of the retina. A proventricular dilatation disease was suspected. The bird was euthanased because of deteriorating condition and poor prognosis. The pathological examination showed an atrophy of the ventricular muscles and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates of the myenteric plexus of the proventriculus, ventriculus and gut as well as moderate lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates of the cerebrum with moderate neuronophagia. Lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates in the retina, indicating proventricular dilatation disease, and subsequent retinal degeneration were found. A potential common aetiology for proventricular dilatation disease and blindness is discussed.