title: Use of deferiprone for the treatment of hepatic iron storage disease in three hornbills.
abstract: METHODS
  3 hornbills (2 Papua hornbills [Aceros plicatus] and 1 longtailed hornbill [Tockus albocristatus]) were evaluated because of general listlessness and loss of feather glossiness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Because hepatic iron storage disease was suspected, liver biopsy was performed and formalin-fixed liver samples were submitted for histologic examination and quantitative image analysis (QIA). Additional frozen liver samples were submitted for chemical analysis. Birds also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) under general anesthesia for noninvasive measurement of liver iron content. Serum biochemical analysis and analysis of feed were also performed. Results of diagnostic testing indicated that all 3 hornbills were affected with hepatic iron storage disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The iron chelator deferiprone was administered (75 mg/kg [34.1 mg/lb], PO, once daily for 90 days). During the treatment period, liver biopsy samples were obtained at regular intervals for QIA and chemical analysis of the liver iron content and follow-up MRI was performed. In all 3 hornbills, a rapid and large decrease in liver iron content was observed. All 3 methods for quantifying the liver iron content were able to verify the decrease in liver iron content.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orally administered deferiprone was found to effectively reduce the liver iron content in these 3 hornbills with iron storage disease. All 3 methods used to monitor the liver iron content (QIA, chemical analysis of liver biopsy samples, and MRI) had similar results, indicating that all of these methods should be considered for the diagnosis of iron storage disease and monitoring of liver iron content during treatment.
authors.affiliation: Kleintier- und Vogelpraxis, Tafernstrasse 11b, 5405 Baden-Dättwil, Switzerland. sandmeier@kleintierpraxis.ch
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sandmeier
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clauss
authors.forename: Olivio F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiers
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kienzle
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hatt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001717:Birds; D000077543:Deferiprone; D005260:Female; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D011728:Pyridones; D000077543:Deferiprone