title: Ventral dermatitis in rowi (Apteryx rowi) due to cutaneous larval migrans.
abstract: The rowi is a critically endangered species of kiwi. Young birds on a crèche island showed loss of feathers from the ventral abdomen and a scurfy dermatitis of the abdominal skin and vent margin. Histology of skin biopsies identified cutaneous larval migrans, which was shown by molecular sequencing to be possibly from a species of Trichostrongylus as a cause of ventral dermatitis and occasional ulcerative vent dermatitis. The predisposing factors that led to this disease are suspected to be the novel exposure of the rowi to parasites from seabirds or marine mammals due to the island crèche and the limited management of roost boxes. This is the first instance of cutaneous larval migrans to be recorded in birds. Severe and fatal complications of the investigation resulted in the death of eight birds of aspergillosis and pulmonary complications associated with the use of bark as a substrate in hospital. Another bird died of renal failure during the period of hospitalisation despite oral and intravenous fluid therapy. The initiating cause of the renal failure was not determined. These complications have the potential to undermine the working relationship between wildlife veterinarians and conservation managers. This case highlights that intensive conservation management can result in increased opportunities for novel routes of cross-species pathogen transmission.
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gartrell
authors.affiliation: Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Argilla
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand ; Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Finlayson
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gedye
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand ; Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gonzalez Argandona
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservation, Franz Josef Office, State Highway 6, Franz Josef Glacier, 7856, New Zealand.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lenting
authors.affiliation: Science and Capability Group, Department of Conservation, National Office, 18-32 Manners Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makan
authors.affiliation: Science and Capability Group, Department of Conservation, National Office, 18-32 Manners Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McInnes
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand ; Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand ; Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sijbranda
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Zyl
authors.affiliation: Wildbase, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ward
keywords: Apterygiformes; Aspergillosis; Cutaneous nematodiasis; Kiwi; Operation nest egg; Trichostrongylus
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