Pathologic Findings in Ramphastids from 1994 to 2013

The family Ramphastidae includes toucans (Ramphastos sp), mountain toucans (Andigena sp), toucanets (Aulacorhynchus sp, Selenidera sp), and aracaris (Pteroglossus sp). These birds are endemic to Central and South America and are popular birds for zoological parks and as companion animals. This retrospective study summarizes the histologic findings of 273 toucans, 24 mountain toucans, 240 aracaris, and 64 toucanets (601 total specimens) submitted to 4 diagnostic laboratories from 1994 through January 2013. Infectious diseases were most common (53.1%, 319/601), followed by nutrition-based deposition disorders (36.4%, 219/601) and cardiovascular disease (10.3%, 62/601). Among infectious diseases, bacterial diseases were most common (57%, 182/319, including 45 cases of mycobacteriosis). Mycotic diseases (14.1%, 45/319) included ventricular candidiasis (73.3%, 33/45), aspergillosis (13.3%, 6/45), and undetermined fungus (13.3%, 6/45). Viral infection was limited to 3 cases with 2 cutaneous poxvirus cases and 1 West Nile virus case. Parasitic infections were found in 93 cases, including nematodiasis (64.5%, 60/93, predominantly Capillaria sp). Intestinal trematodiasis, muscle cysts of Sarcocystis sp, hepatic hemoprotozoan macroschizonts, biliary and intestinal trematodiasis, amoebiasis, and cestodiasis represented <5% of cases. Parasitic infections were undetermined in 6.4% (6/93) of cases. Deposition cases included iron storage disease (77.7%, 230/296), gout (14.9%, 44/296), and amyloidosis (7.4%, 22/296). Cardiovascular disease (62 cases) included atherosclerosis (48.4%, 30/62) and degenerative cardiac disease (4.8%, 3/62); 3 cases of dilated cardiomyopathy were found in young aracaris. The results of this study indicate that mortalities could be diminished in < 1 year old birds by improved prevention and treatment of enteric infections and that, in > 1 year old birds, prevention and treatment of Capillaria sp and hemochromatosis may also substantially reduce mortality.