Eye lesions in pet birds.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Ophthalmology
• Avian Pathology

Background:

• Ocular diseases are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in captive birds.
• Understanding the prevalence and types of eye lesions is crucial for avian health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize common eye lesions in birds that died in quarantine.
• To investigate the potential causes and associations of these ocular pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Histopathological examination of ocular tissues from deceased birds.
• Identification of specific lesions such as cataracts, crystal deposition, calcification, and viral inclusion bodies.
• Staining techniques (PAS, Kossa) were used to characterize deposits.

Main Results:

• Cataracts were the most frequent lesion (15.4%), particularly in cockatiels, Amazon parrots, and budgerigars, with males affected more than twice as often as females.
• Corneal crystal deposition was the second most common finding (8.7%), observed across multiple psittacine and finch species.
• Papovavirus-like intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in eyelids and ocular tissues of budgerigars (2.5%).
• Calcification in the retina, iris, and ciliary body was noted in some parakeets.
• No inflammation or neovascularization was associated with cataracts, crystal deposition, or calcification.

Conclusions:

• Cataracts and corneal crystal deposition represent significant pathological findings in captive birds.
• Papovavirus infection should be considered in cases of ocular lesions with inclusion bodies in budgerigars.
• Further research is needed to determine the etiology and clinical significance of these lesions.