Psittacine proventricular dilatation syndrome in an umbrella cockatoo

Psittacine proventricular dilatation syndrome (macaw wasting disease) is a fatal disease of the gastrointestinal tract and, sometimes, the CNS. The disease most often affects macaws and is thought to be of viral origin. An Umbrella cockatoo was referred with signs of neurologic dysfunction. Other unusual findings included flaccid crop, distended duodenum, and acute weight loss. Because treatment has not been reported to be effective, the affected cockatoo was euthanatized to limit spread of the disease.