Congenital Cardiovascular Anomalies, Including Ventricular Septal Defects, in 2 Cockatoos

• Published in: Journal of avian medicine and surgery Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 101 - 106
• Main Authors: EVANS, DAWN E, TULLY JR, THOMAS N, STRICKLAND, KEITH N, WILLIAMS, JAMIE F, RICH, GREGORY A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Association of Avian Veterinarians 01-06-2001
• Subjects: Aorta; avian; Birds; Cacatua alba; Cacatua moluccensis; CASE REPORTS; congenital cardiovascular anomaly; Fetal heart; Heart; Heart murmurs; Heart valves; Liver; Moluccan cockatoo; psittacine; Septum; umbrella cockatoo; Ventricular heart septal defects; ventricular septal defect; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 1082-6742; 1938-2871
• DOI: 10.1647/1082-6742(2001)015[0101:CCAIVS]2.0.CO;2

Cardiovascular anomalies have been reported rarely in psittacine birds. This report describes 2 cockatoos, each presenting with a heart murmur, tachycardia, and a bounding pulse. Clinical signs associated with these patients included cyanosis of the cere and, in 1 bird, ascites. Echocardiographic evaluations of both birds suggested ventricular septal defects, which corresponded to radiographic evidence of an enlarged cardiac silhouette. Pathologic evaluation revealed a ventricular septal defect and persistent truncus arteriosus in an umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua alba), whereas a Moluccan cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) had a subvalvular septal defect and aortic hypoplasia. Congenital cardiovascular anomalies should be considered when young psittacine birds are presented with heart murmurs and signs of circulatory dysfunction.