title: Myopathy of the Pipping Muscles, Hepatosis Dietetica, and Cataracts in Emu Chicks (Dromaius Novaehollandiae).
abstract: Seven emu chicks (Dromaius novaehollandiae) from a farm with poor hatchability (16-18%) and increased neonatal mortality were presented for necropsy with a history of death at or within a few days after hatching. Macroscopic examination revealed subcutaneous edema and hemorrhages and swelling of the pipping muscles in the proximal neck (71%), pale liver with hemorrhages (71%), noninternalized residual yolk sac (86%) and anasarca (14%). Histologically, the most remarkable findings were necrosis of the musculus complexus (100%) of the pipping muscles, as well as myocardial necrosis and mineralization (29%). Liver contained severe multifocal hepatocellular necrosis and hemorrhages (57%), and both eyes exhibited swollen and vacuolated lenticular fibers in 5 chicks (100%) in which the eyes were examined. The lesions observed here are suggestive of a nutritional deficiency. The deficiency was confirmed by finding low levels of vitamin E in the liver, and vitamin E and vitamin A levels in the feed.
authors.affiliation: California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Tulare Branch, Tulare CA, USA; School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Tulare, CA, USA California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Turlock branch, Turlock, CA, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crispo
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.affiliation: California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Tulare Branch, Tulare CA, USA; School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Tulare, CA, USA hlshivaprasad@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Shivaprasad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D020312:Dromaiidae; D005260:Female; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: cataract; emu; eye; hepatosis dietetica; liver; myopathy; pipping muscle; tocoferol; vitamin deficiency