title: Suspected anaphylaxis to leuprolide acetate depot in two elf owls (Micrathene whitneyi).
abstract: Two adult female elf owls (Micrathene whitneyi) were treated with leuprolide acetate depot injections to prevent egg laying. The birds were treated for several years without complications. Several years into the treatment regimen, both birds died immediately after receiving an injection of leuprolide acetate. Remaining drug was analyzed, revealing 95.7% potency. We suspect that either an immediate Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction occurred or a contaminant was present, resulting in the fatalities of these elf owls. No reports of anaphylaxis to leuprolide acetate in birds were identified in the literature. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of anaphylaxis when administering this medication to avian patients.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA. betsy_stringer@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.forename: Ryan S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: De Voe
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Loomis
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020310:Struthioniformes
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D016729:Leuprolide