Considerations regarding gout diagnosis in cage birds

Abstract

Gout represent a metabolic disease that occurs as complication of nephritis and it is caused by the accumulation of uric acid in various tissues, joints and serous. In cage birds the main causes of gout and nephritis are consisting in excessive nutrition with diets containing increased amount of protein and deficiency in vitamins, especially of A vitamin. The most common cases are seen in older budgerigar and nymphs, as well in those water deprived. The aim of this paper consists in showing suggestive clinical symptoms of this pathology that were identified in cage birds submitted to Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Iaşi. Following the physical examination, the main clinical signs were consisting in white-greyish uric acid deposits on leg’s skin, which caused deformation of affected joints. The necropsy and histopathology were performed in order to reveal organic lesions and skin and kidney microscopic lesions, respectively. By histopathology was confirmed the occurrence of intracellular acid uric deposits. In kidneys, lesions of total or partial necrosis of urinary tubes were observed. The skin showed areas of hyperkeratosis with a multitude of keratin fibers. Gout treatment is long-lasting, difficult to apply and with low chances of success, mostly depending on lesions severity and on the moment when bird was presented to physician. It is recommended to rebalance the food diet with the introduction of green food, supplementation with A vitamin and specific medication.