Avian Medicine Q&A 16

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A three-week-old, hand-fed Moluccan cockatoo chick (Cacatua moluccensis) was presented with a three-day history of delayed emptying of the ingluvies. The chick weighed 186g. An aspirate of the ingluvies was performed for cytological evaluation.

Question	Answer		Article
What cytodiagnosis do you make?	The Wright’s-stained smear reveals many oval yeast and hyphae. There is no apparent inflammatory response. The yeast and hyphae are compatible with a severe yeast infection, most likely candidiasis, involving the ingluvies.		Link to Article
What therapy would you recommend for this condition?	An antifungal drug is indicated for the treatment of candidiasis. The presence of hyphae is suggestive of invasion of the mucosa by the yeast and the potential for a systemic infection. Therefore, a systemic antifungal – e.g. itraconazole PO for 7 days – should be used along with a local or topical antifungal, e.g. nystatin BID or TID for 7–10 days.		Link to Article
What predisposing conditions lead to the development of this condition in hand-fed chicks?	Immunosuppressive conditions and trauma to the ingluvies lead to the development of candidiasis. Predisposing factors include hypothermia, feeding a formula that is too cold or too hot, poor nutrition, antibiotic therapy and systemic illness from other causes.		Link to Article