VN July 2023

Vetnuus | July 2023 36 o Probably has an endocrinal origin, but not determined as yet o Usually presented for either infertility investigation, yolk-related peritonitis (see below) or salpingitis (see below) • Neoplasia o Adenomas, adenocarcinomas and leiomyomas have been reported o Usually presented for either abdominal distension, yolk- related peritonitis (see below) or salpingitis (see below) • Salpingitis (inflammation of the oviduct and mesosalpinx), metritis (inflammation of the shell gland) o Aetiology  relatively common conditions in domestic psittacines and backyard poultry o Predisposing factors  Age  Malnutrition  excessive abdominal fat  excessive egg laying  egg-binding  other reproductive disorders o Primary infections  Uncommon in domestic situations  Newcastle Disease virus, Infectious Bronchitis virus o Secondary infection following yolk retention or prolonged/excessive egg-laying  haematogenous or ascending infections  E. coli , Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas spp o History  Often have a history of often extremely good egg production  Often on a predominantly seed diet with inadequate vitamin and mineral supplementation  There may be a history of infertility, or embryonic or neonatal mortality. o Clinical signs  Weight loss, ruffled plumage, anorexia, and lethargy.  If they are still laying eggs, these eggs may be malformed (soft-shelled, stress lines, abnormal shape) or have streaking of blood on the shell.  Chronic egg-binding  Infertility  Distended abdomen  Flaccid vent  Cloacal discharge o Diagnosis  Leucocytosis, either heterophilic or monocytic, depending on the chronicity of the problem  Clinical biochemistries may show a hypercalcaemia (if the bird is still reproductively active) and a hyperamylasaemia (if there is concurrent pancreatic disease associated with a yolk peritonitis)  Radiology may reveal retained eggs, an enlarged oviduct, or the presence of abdominal fluid  Ultrasound can distinguish between fluid enlargement and organ enlargement, and may reveal retained eggs or fluid in the oviduct;  Endoscopy (if there is not free fluid in the abdomen) can demonstrate a swollen and inflamed oviduct  If abdominal fluid is present, abdominocentesis can help to differentiate the inciting causes. o Treatment  Conservative (usually unsuccessful) • Reproductive rest through environmental, nutritional and hormonal manipulation • NSAIDs e.g. meloxicam • Antibiotics (debatable if required, so long as a sterile technique is used when performing coeliocentesis) • GnRH Agonist Deslorelin (Suprelorin 4.7mg implant) • If there is material in the oviduct (e.g. caseous pus, eggs, or fluid) the use of prostaglandins may be indicated. Using PGE2 to relax the uterovaginal sphincter and stimulate oviductal contractility may assist in this regard. Caution must be exercised with this therapy, as chronic cases may have developed adhesions o the oviductal wall, and strong contractions may lead to rupture of the oviduct.  Surgical • In valuable breeding birds an attempt to combine the above therapy with a coeliotomy and retrograde flushing of the oviduct can be made. • Definitive treatment may require salpingohysterectomy o Prognosis  In all probability, a diagnosis of salpingitis or metritis indicates that the bird’s reproductive life is almost certainly complete. If the patient is a breeder or egg layer, this must be communicated Technical I Article