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Goiter in budgerigars
A D V AN C E S
Objectives To describe an outbreak of thyroid hyperplasia with high morbidity and mortality in a large flock of young adult budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).
Procedure An outbreak of goiter with high morbidity and mortality in flock of 45 budgerigars in California is described.
Results Forty-five out of 400 adult birds exhibited signs of illness, weight loss, and enlargement in the crop area. Fifteen of the 45 birds died over a 2- to 3-month period. Diet consisted of a commercial mixture with the addition of broccoli, whole oats, and carrots, but no minerals or supplements were included. Six budgerigars were necropsied. All 6 birds had severely enlarged thyroid glands. Thyroid follicular hyperplasia was histologically observed in all birds examined, while granulomatous thyroiditis and microfollicular adenoma were observed in 2 birds, respectively. Virological, bacteriological, parasitological, and heavy metal analyses were negative or within normal limits. The total iodine in the thyroid glands of affected birds was measured. Following iodine supplementation and removal of broccoli from the diet, the owner reported weight gain and a reduced death rate among clinically affected birds. No additional birds became sick.
Goiter in Budgerigars Background Goiter (abnormally enlarged thyroid) is often the result of dietary iodine deficiency but also has been attributed to consumption of goitrogenic substances, toxicity by iodine and other substances, and to hereditary factors, including autosomal recessive inheritance in goats. Acquired goiter remains endemic in some areas because of a lack of, or despite, iodine supplementation. Goiter outbreaks have not been described previously in any avian species. Goiter has been reported in psittacines (budgerigars and cockatiels) in the form of individual cases, and anecdotal evidence suggests the psittacines are more susceptible to goiter than other avian species. However, reports of epidemiologic analysis and/or inter species prevalence comparisons are lacking.
Author Conclusion Broccoli can bind iodine, and the complete lack of added minerals in a diet containing broccoli can be a predisposing factor for the outbreak of goiter.
Inclusions Three figures, 2 tables, 32 references.
Editor Annotation Thyroid hyperplasia (goiter) is a welldescribed, nutritional-related disease of captive budgerigars. While considered common years ago, the advent of formulated diets and better supplementation of higher-quality, seed-based diets has made cases unusual in clinical practice. In this report, Forty-five birds fed a commercial mixture with the addition of broccoli, whole oats, and carrots showed clinical signs consistent with dietary goiter. Among these birds, 6 underwent nec-
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ropsy and demonstrated greatly enlarged thyroids. Histopathology revealed findings such as thyroid hyperplasia, granulomatous thyroiditis and microfollicular adenoma. Illnesses and deaths ceased after iodine supplementation and removal of broccoli from the diet, which has iodinebinding capacity. This case report illustrates the importance of vigilance in formulating an overall diet for captive birds. While commercial seeds are generally supplemented, the feeding of large amounts of an iodinebinding food (broccoli) and the additional of numerous other non-supplemented foods (whole oats and carrots) caused significant iodine deficiency in this flock. (AML) Loukopoulos P, Bautista AC, Puschner B, et al. An outbreak of thyroid hyperplasia (goiter) with high mortality in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). J Vet Diag Invest 2015;27:18-24.
Objectives To describe an outbreak of thyroid hyperplasia with high morbidity and mortality in a large flock of young adult budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).
Procedure An outbreak of goiter with high morbidity and mortality in flock of 45 budgerigars in California is described.
Results Forty-five out of 400 adult birds exhibited signs of illness, weight loss, and enlargement in the crop area. Fifteen of the 45 birds died over a 2- to 3-month period. Diet consisted of a commercial mixture with the addition of broccoli, whole oats, and carrots, but no minerals or supplements were included. Six budgerigars were necropsied. All 6 birds had severely enlarged thyroid glands. Thyroid follicular hyperplasia was histologically observed in all birds examined, while granulomatous thyroiditis and microfollicular adenoma were observed in 2 birds, respectively. Virological, bacteriological, parasitological, and heavy metal analyses were negative or within normal limits. The total iodine in the thyroid glands of affected birds was measured. Following iodine supplementation and removal of broccoli from the diet, the owner reported weight gain and a reduced death rate among clinically affected birds. No additional birds became sick.
Goiter in Budgerigars Background Goiter (abnormally enlarged thyroid) is often the result of dietary iodine deficiency but also has been attributed to consumption of goitrogenic substances, toxicity by iodine and other substances, and to hereditary factors, including autosomal recessive inheritance in goats. Acquired goiter remains endemic in some areas because of a lack of, or despite, iodine supplementation. Goiter outbreaks have not been described previously in any avian species. Goiter has been reported in psittacines (budgerigars and cockatiels) in the form of individual cases, and anecdotal evidence suggests the psittacines are more susceptible to goiter than other avian species. However, reports of epidemiologic analysis and/or inter species prevalence comparisons are lacking.
Author Conclusion Broccoli can bind iodine, and the complete lack of added minerals in a diet containing broccoli can be a predisposing factor for the outbreak of goiter.
Inclusions Three figures, 2 tables, 32 references.
Editor Annotation Thyroid hyperplasia (goiter) is a welldescribed, nutritional-related disease of captive budgerigars. While considered common years ago, the advent of formulated diets and better supplementation of higher-quality, seed-based diets has made cases unusual in clinical practice. In this report, Forty-five birds fed a commercial mixture with the addition of broccoli, whole oats, and carrots showed clinical signs consistent with dietary goiter. Among these birds, 6 underwent nec-
Page 3
ropsy and demonstrated greatly enlarged thyroids. Histopathology revealed findings such as thyroid hyperplasia, granulomatous thyroiditis and microfollicular adenoma. Illnesses and deaths ceased after iodine supplementation and removal of broccoli from the diet, which has iodinebinding capacity. This case report illustrates the importance of vigilance in formulating an overall diet for captive birds. While commercial seeds are generally supplemented, the feeding of large amounts of an iodinebinding food (broccoli) and the additional of numerous other non-supplemented foods (whole oats and carrots) caused significant iodine deficiency in this flock. (AML) Loukopoulos P, Bautista AC, Puschner B, et al. An outbreak of thyroid hyperplasia (goiter) with high mortality in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). J Vet Diag Invest 2015;27:18-24.