Passerine Aviary Diseases: Diagnosis and Treatment
Janis Robin Scott, DVM, MS,
League City TX

Case 1: Four adult society finches were presented for evaluation when an aviary experienced deaths of nestling society finches at between 10-14 days of age, and Lady Gouldian finches at 3-7 days of age when they had been fostered by society finches. No deaths were seen in Lady Gouldian chicks raised separate from the society finches. Symptoms included yellow-colored diarrhea, mucous discharge in the mouth, regurgitation, weakness, and lethargy. Examination of stools revealed numerous flagellated protozoa. The possible diagnoses included cochlosoma, Trichomonas, and giardia. Use of water-borne and food-borne medications can result in toxic levels in nestlings. Because there were young birds in the aviary, treatment in the water was not used, and all adult and nestling finches were medicated individually with follow-up treatment at two weeks and four weeks. No further deaths were recorded. Society finches may carry cochlosoma without showing symptoms, however when used to foster other finches that are less resistant, deaths may occur in the foster young.

Case 2: Ten canaries were presented for necropsy from October 1994 to July 1995. The birds were from a large aviary of canaries and finches. Deaths were sporadic. The birds showed minimal clinical signs prior to death. Pulmonary acariasis, Sternostoma tracheocolum (air-sac mites), was diagnosed in 20% of the cases. All of the birds had been exposed to Lady Gouldian finches, known carriers of S. Tracheocolum. Candida albicans (yeast) was diagnosed in 30% of the cases. Septicemia (bacterial infection of the blood) was diagnosed in 70% of the cases. All of the affected birds had been recently weaned when they died.
The owner fed the birds four different sprouted seed mixtures on a daily basis. Samples of these food items were submitted for culture. Enterobacter sp. was cultured in 100% of the samples, Klebsiella sp. in 50% of the samples, Pseudomonas sp. Alpha Streptococcus group D., and bacillus sp were cultured from 25% of the samples. All of the birds in the aviary were treated at two week intervals. Recommendations were made to soak the seed in disinfectant (Vanodine V.18) diluted 15 ml in one gallon of water for 15 minutes prior to feeding. In addition the drinking water was treated with 5 ml of Vanodine for each gallon. No further deaths were reported in this aviary.

Summary: Passerine (canary and finch) owners and breeders have historically been less likely than owners of larger birds, to seek veterinary advice and care. Home treatment, while well-meaning, is often counterproductive and may result in development of resistant organisms, secondary infection, and loss of important time when faced with a disease outbreak. With growing interest in avian medicine and research, more information is available to the avian veterinarian concerning the management and treatment of diseases of passerines. Recent advances allow for use of laboratory tests for disease diagnosis previously thought impractical for use in such small patients. A visit to your veterinarian provides the opportunity to diagnose the cause of the  illness and enables the veterinarian to design an effective treatment and management program.