Investigations on the aetiology of pinching off syndrome in four white-tailed sea eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) from Germany.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the aetiology of the pinching off syndrome (POS), a generalized feather abnormality affecting free-living nestling of the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Europe. For the first time, extensive clinical, haematological, biochemical, virological, bacteriological, nutritional, histopathological, parasitological and electron microscopical examinations were performed on three females and one male suffering from POS. Early and increased cytokeratin formation at the base of regenerating feathers and their follicle was observed in affected birds. Ultrathin sections of the feather papillae revealed an extended stratum transitivum and a compact, thickened keratinized stratum corneum. The transitional cells in POS feathers contained vacuoles often associated with the nucleus. Lipofuscin accumulations in neurons, glial cells and islet cells of the pancreas were found in all examined birds. It was not clear whether there is an association between the occurrence of lipofuscin and POS. No evidence was found to suggest that infectious agents (parasites, bacteria, fungi or viruses), malnutrition or hormonal imbalances are involved in the aetiology of POS in white-tailed sea eagles. It remains unclear whether there is a genetic background of POS.
Müller
Kerstin
K
Small Animal Clinic, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Muellerkerstin@gmx.de
Schettler
Elvira
E
Gerlach
Helga
H
Brunnberg
Leo
L
Hafez
Hafez Mohamed
HM
Hattermann
Kim
K
Johne
Reimar
R
Kollmann
Rainer
R
Krone
Oliver
O
Lierz
Michael
M
Linke
Sonja
S
Lueschow
Dörte
D
Mankertz
Annette
A
Müller
Hermann
H
Prusas
Christina
C
Raue
Rüdiger
R
Soike
Dirk
D
Speck
Stephanie
S
Wolf
Petra
P
Frölich
Kai
K
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D020307:Eagles / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005241:Feathers / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D013974:Thyroxine