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This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Avian Medicine questions |
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. |
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| 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 | |
