Learned something new about HH species

[Crazy Bird Lady]

Yesterday Dr Scott McDonald, who is a specialist in Avian Laparoscopy, was in town doing a clinic. I took Zoey in to have her micro chipped. While she was under he did a general exam. He told me the Hawk Heads are prone to Papilloma virus. He examined her and said she did not have it. That is something I had not heard from my regular avian vet. Maybe it is something they check for in all birds at their annual exam but I found it interesting that HH's are prone to have it. He even noted the "negative" on her exam record. Not sure what it does to them if they do have it. Should have asked him but at that point she was under and looked like road kill, could hardly keep my wits about me! Has anyone heard more about this

 

[Thugluvgrl187]

Interesting. I had never heard of this either.

 

[Birdlover]

I hadnt heard that before but the article below concurs.

Old World Aviaries: Investigations into the Etiologic Agent of Internal Papillomatosis of Parrots...

Internal papillomatosis of parrots (IPP) is a disease of new world parrots and predominately affects macaws (Ara sp.), conures, and Amazon (Amazona sp.) and hawk-headed (Deroptyus accipitrinus) parrots.1,2,3 This disease is characterized by papillomas, pink to grey tan, wart-like growths, of the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity, lacrimal system, esophagus, stomach and cloaca.4 In Amazon parrots, papillomas are found predominately in the cloaca. These lesions will vary in size and extent. In the early stages of the disease a diffuse cobblestone appearance to the cloacal may be the only indication that the bird has IPP. As the disease progresses, papillomas generally enlarge and protrude through the cloaca. These large pink to red masses ulcerate and bleed causing considerable discomfort. In the authors experience, cloacal papillomas in Amazon parrots may persist at this stage or cyclically shrink and enlarge again.

 

[expressmailtome]

Thank you for sharing this information. It is always nice to learn new things.

Matt

 

[Jan]

I had not heard anything myself about HH's being prone to getting it. However, I did have a female Green Wing Macaw that had it for a few years... just had her put down about 4 to 5 months ago as it was not a pretty picture for her. First it was evident in her eyes and of course in her vent. The male who I still have named Sam, he never has shown any signs of it and still to this day looks fine visually. I had him tested for the herpes virus when I had Del put down and he came back positive with the herpes virus. You can view some of her photos here on my link on my site, this was a short while before she was put down. Sam & Del She had got even thinner and her eyes worse. She was starting to be more and more uncomfortable with it, it broke my heart to see her like this.... now how did she get it? Okay a few or more like several years ago when I bought her and Sam from a breeder... I think I was taken for a ride and had no idea for a while until she started showing signs of it. I did not have them vet checked when I first bought them, this was s mistake. This is why he must have got rid of the pair and she was suppose to have just come off of some infertile eggs, so he said. So they had just remained aviary residents. I had even went through a series of shots for nearly a years time and it did not help her at all, so I just let her ride out her life up until I thought she was starting to suffer more so.

So as for HH's, can't say just how true but I think in any specie, anything can be possible. Do I worry about any of my other pairs getting it in the same aviary? NO, as long as there is no contact between the pairs, it is fine.

 

[Mystics Mom]

Dr.Mac had told me the same thing about Zeva(the hawk head here) she had already been checked for it