title: Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in a Flock of Pied Imperial Pigeons (Ducula bicolor).
abstract: Five juvenile pied imperial pigeons (Ducula bicolor) presented with neurological signs including torticollis, ataxia and poor flying ability. All were humanely destroyed and submitted for post-mortem examination. Microscopically, the most significant findings were in the brain and spinal cord. Spheroid formation was evident within the medulla, pons, diencephalon, cortical grey and subcortical white matter, spinal cord white and grey matter and the granular and molecular cell layers of the cerebellum. There was no evidence of associated inflammation. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive labelling within the spheroids for S100 axons and phosphorylated neurofilaments including SMI31, neurofilament cocktail and microtubule-associated protein 2. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the light microscopical findings of frequent axonal spheroids. These results are consistent with neuroaxonal dystrophy, which has not been described previously in pigeons. This highlights the importance of considering neuroaxonal dystrophy in juvenile birds with neurological signs. A genetic basis is suspected in this group.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Zoological Society, Clifton, Bristol, UK. Electronic address: mbarrows@bristolzoo.org.uk.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrows
authors.affiliation: Bristol Zoological Society, Clifton, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Killick
authors.affiliation: Bristol Zoological Society, Clifton, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: Bristol Zoological Society, Clifton, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baiker
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Infection and Public Health, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ressel
authors.affiliation: International Zoo Veterinary Group Pathology, Station House, Parkwood Street, Keighley, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Denk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010856:Columbidae; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019150:Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: immunohistochemistry; neuroaxonal dystrophy; pied imperial pigeon; spheroid formation