Cloacal papillomatosis in the absence of herpesvirus and papillomavirus in a sulphur-crested cockatoo ( Cacatua galerita )

Authors: Howe L, Morgan KJ, Gartrell BD, McFadden AMJ, Munday JS
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 57, Issue 4, pp 241-243, Aug 2009
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Avian
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Diagnostic procedures, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Viral, Disease/defect, Infectious disease
Article class: Clinical Communication

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Abstract: CASE HISTORY: A 21-year-old male sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) was presented following the sudden appearance of blood associated with the passage of faeces and urates.
CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: There was fresh blood-staining of the feathers around the vent. The dorsal mucosal wall of the proctodeum was erythematous and roughened in appearance. An endoscopic biopsy was performed, and histological examination revealed multiple fronds of epithelium; the mucosa varied from simple to pseudostratified columnar epithelium, with diffuse hyperplasia of goblet cells. The underlying connective tissue stroma was well vascularised and was infiltrated with mixed inflammatory cells, comprising granulocytic cells and macrophages. PCR testing for both herpesvirus and papillomavirus, using consensus primers, was negative.
DIAGNOSIS: Cloacal papillomatosis.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This case manifested typical clinical signs and histological lesions of cloacal papillomatosis in the absence of demonstrable herpesvirus or papillomavirus. Veterinarians need to consider this disease in the differential diagnosis of blood in the droppings of parrots and cockatoos even in countries where psittacine herpesviruses are exotic diseases.
KEY WORDS: Papillomatosis, exotic disease, Psittacid herpesvirus, cockatoo

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