The Modern Apprentice - Frounce Frounce plaques on the upper mandible. Photo courtesy of Eileen Wicker of Raptor Rehabilitation of KY Inc Flagyl, Spartrix, Metronidazole, Entramin, Emtryl, or Carnidazole (or, less preferred, Enheptin) are typically prescribed for this. One common treatment now is to treat the bird with 25 - 50 mg/Kg of Metronidazole twice a day for 7 - 10 days. A single 250 mg tablet can be dissolved in 10 cc water. A 600 g bird can then be given 1 cc per day of this mixture. Another approach is to, basically, address the infection with a single dosage of 125 mg per kg of bird weight. The infection plaques will die and expose raw skin will need to be protected from any other infection. Plaques in the throat may necessitate smaller bites or food more easily swallowed. Birds who are untreated usually succumb to Frounce within 7 - 10 days. Becky Brunotte recently had a particularly bad encounter with Frounce in her bird.

Her comments on the end of the ordeal: "I took the bird in to see the vet today because the frounce had gotten so large it was shutting off her air passage and she couldn't eat again. The vet removed the frounce pellet and the good news was that the frounce hadn't damaged her sinuses. But the bad news is that the frounce ate away one of the bones that runs on each side of the glottis. It was embedded in the frounce pellet. The frounce is out, but to be safe I'll treat her one more time with Spartrix." She was kind enough to allow me to use the picture of the frounce pellet . You can barely make out the hyoid bone in this pellet. The hyoid in the bird is a Y shape. It is the attachment site for throat and tongue muscles allowing control of swallowing. The bird will function normally after is retrains its muscles to function without that part of the hyoid.

All images and text Copyright © 2004 - 2016 - Lydia Ash Canker, Pigeon Canker, Trichomoniasis, Roup or Frounce Canker, Pigeon Canker, Trichomoniasis, Roup or Frounce Canker, Pigeon Canker, Trichomoniasis, Roup or Frounce Index of Bird Diseases ... Symptoms and Potential Causes ... Bird Species and Diseases They are Most Susceptible to The avian disease Trichomoniasis is also commonly referred to as "pigeon canker" or simply "canker”or “roup,” and, in hawks, it is known as “frounce.” The organism "Trichomonas gallinae" lives in the sinuses, mouth, throat, esophagus and other organs. This disease occurs worldwide in warm climates or during warm weather. In captivity, they may occur at any time of the year. Please note: The images on this page of the infected eagle owl before and after treatment are courtesy of Ian Berwick. Affected Species: Most common among domestic pigeons and wild doves , with some strains having caused high mortality.

Pigeons and doves transmit the infection to their offspring in contaminated pigeon milk that they feed to their chicks. pigeon canker) is the most common disease of pigeons; in fact, approximately 80 percent of pigeons are infected with this organism. Adult pigeons frequently carry the trichomonads without showing signs of disease. However, when a pigeon is stressed by other diseases, parasitic infections or overbreeding, this organism may multiply profusely. Also affects domestic fowl, with severe outbreaks having been recorded in chickens and turkeys . Contaminated water is probably the most important source of infection for chickens and turkeys. Hawks , Falcons and Owls may become infected after eating infected birds. They often show liver lesions, with or without throat lesions. Symptoms Mostly characterized by accumulations in the throat ("lesions"). Birds may stop eating resulting in weight loss . Pigeons may not be able to close their mouths because of lesions in the oral cavity. The lesions may be yellow, rounded, raised areas, with a central conical spur, often referred to as “yellow button.” They may drool and make repeated swallowing movements.

In cases when lesions are located in the sinuses or tissues around the eyes, the birds may have water eyes. Diarrhea, increased water intake and respiratory difficulties may also occur. In serious cases, birds may die from suffocation due to the lesions blocking the trachea. In severe cases, birds become emaciated and is unable or unwilling to fly. The crop may be covered by a yellowish, diphtheritic membrane that may extend to the proventriculus (stomach). Lesions of internal organs are most frequent in the liver; they may consist of a few small, yellow areas to almost complete replacement of liver tissue by necrotic debris. Diagnosis: Diagnosis should be confirmed by microscopic examination of a smear of mucus or fluid from the throat to demonstrate the presence of trichomonads. Trichomonads can be cultured easily in various artificial media such as 0.2% Loeffler’s dried blood serum in Ringer’s solution or a 2% solution of pigeon serum in isotonic salt solution. Good growth is obtained at 98.6°F (37°C). Antibiotics may be used to reduce bacterial contamination. Chronically infected birds should be separated from breeding birds.

Thoroughly clean and disinfect the premises. Ian Berwick, whose images are displayed on this page, followed the following treatment protocol for the Eurasian Eagle featured on this page: .. an injection of Baytril plus a course of Nystan. The Nystran - administered as a precautios - was given orally. (NOTE: Protocol should only be followed under supervision of someone qualified to treat birds.) Administer antiprotozoal drugs, such as dimetridazole (50 mg/kg body wt, PO; or in the drinking water at 0.05% for 5-6 days). and metronidazole (60 mg/kg body wt) - which have been removed from the market. Alternative treatments worth exploring (discuss with vet) include the use of 0.1% copper sulfate (100 mg per 100 ml of drinking water), 0.5% hydrochloric acid or 0.02% mercuric chloride (sublimate). The best time to treat breeding pairs is before breeding commences.

Prevention Practice a high standard of sanitation at all times; do not add birds to an established flock as they may be carriers New birds need to be quarantined for at least 30 days. If possible, depopulate at regular intervals. Provide sanitized dishes and fresh and clean water at all times. Eliminate all sources of stagnant water. \Ref. Merckvetmanual ... Additional information added by Avianweb. Case History - San Bernardino, California / Reported by Alpenhornnews Large number of dead birds appear to literally “fall out of the sky,” with no apparent signs of trauma on their bodies. After some investigation by wildlife experts, the culprit appears to be a little-known bird disease called canker. Diane Dragotto Williams, executive director of Wildhaven Ranch in Cedar Glen, offered answers to the puzzling deaths of local birds. “Whenever there is a concentrated population of wildlife, disease soon follows.” Williams said. Trichomoniasis, more commonly known as “pigeon canker,” affects approximately 80 percent of the pigeon population, Williams said. Canker is microscopic and can lie dormant in adult birds until some moment of stress triggers the outbreak. Once triggered, however, death becomes imminent.

The birds will develop yellow, cheese-like lesions in their throats and will exhibit signs of “panting,” with their mouths open. They may be lethargic and slow to fly away as healthy birds would do when startled. Eventually, the birds will either starve to death or asphyxiate because of the swollen lesions in their esophagus. Williams said there is a large breakout of canker in the San Bernardino Mountains. Since the disease can not be cured and is highly transferable, it is almost impossible to control. Well-meaning residents are unknowingly helping to keep the disease in motion, Williams said. The higher the concentration of infected birds at a feeding station, the greater the chance that the disease can be transferred, she said. Since canker is transferred through the mouth and feces, ill birds can pass the disease to other birds through contact with the seeds in a common bird feeder, since the sick birds cannot swallow and spit the germ-infested seeds back into the feeder. The young of infected birds also contract the disease. As a method of feeding their young, birds regurgitate fat-laden cells that have been sloughed off the inner lining of their throat and into the oral cavities of their babies, transferring the disease.

Wildlife specialists are asking the community for help in controlling the canker outbreak. Residents are being reminded to refrain from feeding local wild birds. There are a few things residents can do to help if there has been a high number of dead birds found near their bird feeders. Wildlife experts at Wildhaven Ranch recommend that the food source be removed for at least a month and that feeding areas be thoroughly disinfected. This disease could affect carrion bird populations eventually, as they could become infected through eating the carcasses of diseased birds, Williams said. Canker, and diseases similar to it, could eventually throw off the ecological balance of the mountains. Seed eaters are the first to be affected, and will transfer the disease to those animals that consider small birds to be prey. It is unknown at this time whether the disease can cross species to such animals as coyotes and raccoons, or how far up the food chain it might eventually move. Dead Birds Q. What should I do if I find a dead bird? A. Check with with your local or state health department for instructions on reporting and diposing of a dead bird.

If you need to pick up a dead bird, or local authorities tell you to simply dispose of it: Avoid bare-handed contact with any dead animals, and use gloves or an inverted plastic bag to place the bird carcass in a garbage bag and dispose of it with your routine trash. Q. How can I report a sighting of dead bird(s) in my area? A. State and local health departments start collecting reports of dead birds at different times in the year. Some wait until the weather becomes warm before initiating their surveillance (disease monitoring) program. For information about reporting dead birds in your specific area, please contact your state or local health department . Q. Why do some areas stop collecting dead birds? A. Some states and jurisdictions are no longer collecting dead birds because they have sufficiently established that the virus is in an area, and additional testing will not reveal any more information. Shifting resources away from testing of dead birds allows those resources to be devoted elsewhere in surveillance and control. NEED A VET?

frounce - definition of frounce in English | Oxford Dictionaries Definition of frounce in English: frounce noun Sport [mass noun] A form of trichomoniasis affecting hawks, resulting in a sore with a cheesy secretion in the mouth or throat. Example sentences ‘The former also produce the disease known as canker in pigeons, or frounce in birds of prey, and are treated with anti-protozoal drugs.’ ‘Raptors may become infected by eating infected birds and in raptors, the disease is often called frounce.’ ‘Frounce is caused by a protozoan called Trichomonas which is frequently present in the crops of pigeons.’ Origin Late Middle English: of unknown origin. Pronunciation Types of Horses and Ponies Which of the following is a type of horse? Cayuse Which of the following is a type of horse? Cleveland bay Which of the following is a type of horse? Welsh mountain pony Which of the following is a type of horse? Dane Which of the following is a type of horse? Appaloosa Which of the following is a type of horse? Creole Which of the following is a type of horse?

Barb Which of the following is a type of horse? Connacht pony Which of the following is a type of horse? Bray horse Which of the following is a type of horse? Andalusian You scored /10 practise again? Retry Trichomoniasis, Canker, Frounce - The Poultry Site Use the above box to quickly switch to another disease Trichomoniasis, Canker, Frounce Order Your Copy Introduction Trichomonas gallinae is a protozoan parasite of pigeons and doves (canker), raptors (frounce), turkeys and chickens. It has variable pathogenicity. Morbidity is high and mortality varies but may be high. Transmission is via oral secretions in feed and water, and crop milk. Signs Drooling and repeated swallowing movements. Loss of conditon. Watery eyes in some birds. Nervous symptoms (rare). Yellow plaques and raised cheesy masses in mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, crop and proventriculus. Raptors may have liver lesions. Diagnosis Lesions, large numbers of protozoa in secretions. Differentiate from Pox and candidiasis.

Treatment Previously approved products included dimetridazole, nithiazide, and enheptin. Organic arsenical compounds (where approved) and some herbal products may be of some benefit in managing this problem in food animals. Prevention DNR - Trichomoniasis DNR (Canker, Frounce) Description Trichomoniasis is caused by Trichomonas gallinae, a single-celled, pear-shaped protozoan with 4 whip-like anterior flagella and a fin-like undulating membrane that extends for approximately 2/3 of the total body length. The protozoan moves by undulation and flagellar action. Trichomoniasis is also known as Canker (in doves and pigeons) and as Frounce (in raptors). T. gallinae is a parasite of the upper digestive tract of many avian species causing accumulation of necrotic material in the mouth and esophagus. It is principally a disease of young birds and is often fatal. Nearly all pigeons and doves harbor the organism and can be a source of infection (in one case, 80-90% of adult pigeons were infected, but exhibited no clinical signs).

There are avirulent strains which do not cause disease and highly virulent strains that circulate within bird populations causing disease and death. The severity of the disease to the bird depends on the susceptibility of the bird and the pathogenic potential of the strain of the parasite. Distribution Trichomoniasis is cosmopolitan in distribution. In captive birds, the disease has been found in domestic or common pigeons, doves, quail, turkeys, chickens, falcons, hawks, various finches, the Java sparrow, and canaries. In wild birds, the disease has been found in doves and feral pigeons throughout the U.S. In Michigan, mourning doves and feral pigeons have been positive for trichomoniasis. The disease is believed to have been first introduced to North America when infected doves were brought from France to Nova Scotia in the early 1600's. Trichomoniasis is the most important disease of Mourning Doves in North America. Transmission Transmission of T. gallinae occurs by discharge of bodily fluids in one of four ways.

Adult doves and pigeons infect their offspring during feeding, infect other adult birds through contaminated food, water, and bedding and via courtship behavior. Raptors are infected through consumption of infected doves or pigeons. This is a disease primarily of doves and pigeons and is transmitted from the adult to their offspring by the regurgitational method of feeding used by these birds. T. gallinae is present in the back of the throat of carrier birds (carrier birds may carry the infection for a year or longer). The trichomonads can easily mix with food and the pigeon milk that is produced in the crop of the bird and be transmitted when the parent bird regurgitates this mixture to its offspring. Often times the offspring is infected at its first feeding which can occur minutes after hatching. This infection may become asymptomatic or may progress to a fatal case in 4 to 18 days post-infection. Transmission via contamination of food and water occurs when the bird has extensive oral lesions and is unable to swallow food material or water. This results in pieces of grain or water being placed in the mouth, contaminated by organisms, and then dropped back on the ground, in the feeder, or in the water source.

When another bird feeds or drinks in this location, T. gallinae is ingested and an infection may result. This organism can live at least 5 days on some moist grains and 20 minutes to several hours in water. The organism is extremely sensitive to desiccation (drying) as there is no cyst or resistant stage of the life cycle. Bedding is infected with the organism via fecal contamination. During courtship, doves and pigeons have direct bill to bill contact during cross feeding and billing (touching of bills). Birds of prey contract an infection by consuming infected doves or pigeons. Clinical signs Birds infected with T. gallinae display a variety of clinical signs. The birds are depressed, salivate excessively, are emaciated, appear listless, ruffled and dull, have difficulty closing their mouth, display repeated swallowing movements, exhibit open mouth and noisy breathing, have watery eyes, have difficulty eating and drinking, have difficulty standing or maintaining their balance, have diarrhea, may have a puffy appearance of the neck, exhibit a sunken and empty crop and have a fetid odor.

Birds will usually die from starvation due to the blockage of the esophagus or from suffocation caused by blockage of the trachea by the caseous (cheese-like) necrotic masses in the mouth commonly seen with this disease. Pathology The pathology associated with trichomoniasis in doves and pigeons usually involves young birds and consists of the formation of caseous necrotic masses in the upper digestive tract and occasionally in the viscera. The first (acute) lesions appear in the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, and crop and consist of inflammation and development of creamy-white, wet, and sticky exudate on the mucosal surface (lining). The lesions progress to small, well-defined raised yellow-white ulcers. As the disease progresses further (chronic), the mucosal lesions become yellow in color, larger in size, hard, caseous coalesced masses that may invade the sinuses of the skull, extend externally to the beak and eyes, penetrate through the base of the skull into the brain and penetrate the viscera causing necrotic areas in the liver, spleen, pancreas, heart, lungs and air sacs.

In raptors, liver and abdominal lesions are the main pathological changes that occur. Diagnosis Diagnosis of trichomoniasis is based on history, clinical signs, lesions and identification of the organism microscopically and by culturing. Gross lesions consist of yellow-white caseous necrotic obstructive nodules in the oral cavity, esophagus and crop. Microscopically (under low power magnification) the trichomonad organism can be found in the saliva (often-times stained green) or in smears of the cheese-like necrotic lesions in the upper digestive tract. These samples must be collected within 48 hours of the bird's death to be viable. Treatment Treatment is only feasible in captive birds because the drugs used for treatment must be administered orally, either by force feeding or by treating the food and/or water. Antiprotozoal medications that have been used are Dimetridazole, Metronidazole (Flagyl), Copper sulfate, Quaternary Ammonia, Carnidazole, Enheptin (curing carrier birds), Emtryl (1,2-dimethyl-5-nitroimidazole), and Aminonitrothiazole.

Some of these medications are under review and some can be specifically used only on non-food birds (Metronidazole). Treatment of wild birds is difficult because of the availability of natural food and water sources. Control In order to control trichomoniasis, sources of infection need to be eliminated. In captive birds, cull or treat carrier birds, cull adults whose offspring become infected, regularly disinfect food and water sources with 10% bleach solution, screen out (exclude) wild birds to protect from contamination by wild pigeons and other birds, segregate young birds from adults, and segregate susceptible birds from recovered or carrier birds. In wild birds, minimize dove and pigeon concentrations at feeders (or don't feed) and water receptacles, stock tanks, livestock feedlots and grain storage facilities. Severely affected captive or wild birds should be euthanized. Mild infections will produce an immunity to more virulent strains of T. gallinae. Significance Trichomonas gallinae has never been reported to infect humans and is of no public health significance. In isolated populations of doves, trichomoniasis can serve as a significant mortality factor.

Research on Cooper's hawks in urban areas of Tucson, Arizona reported high mortality in nestlings due to trichomoniasis infection. In Michigan, peregrine falcon chicks handled for banding purposes are treated with metronidazole to prevent infection. For questions about wildlife diseases, please contact the Michigan DNR Wildlife Disease Laboratory . Related Content Parasites of Raptors | Falconry related information, laws, supplies for sale. Parasites of Raptors Jan 11, 2012 by Admin Any parasite relies on survival of the animal in which it lives in order to survive itself. It is therefore not normal for a parasite to lead to the death of the host in which it lives. Under normal circumstances parasite and host will live in a balanced harmony. The exception arises when the normal hosts resistance against the parasite, which usually keeps it’s infestation under some semblance of control, is reduced allowing the parasite to gain the upper hand. Such situations arise when wild birds are short of food, following migration, accident, injury or during extended periods of inclement weather. For the falconer’s bird training, chilling, accident, or other causes of stress may trigger off the same situation.

There are exceptions to this rule, where even a small number of parasites can cause disease; this arises where the parasite only needs to live in that host for a short period, in order to complete a life cycle, this done he does not mind if the host becomes diseased and dies. Recently parasitic diseases have been increasing in incidence in captive bred birds, this is as a consequence of increased levels of exposure to the parasite, as a consequence of increased contamination of the aviary by the parents. External Parasites A large ecto parasites infestation on a bird is typically a sign of the bird being ill for other reasons, as any fit bird will usually control it’s own parasites. So rather than treating the parasite alone, one should always look for a further cause of illness. Hippoboscids (keds or flat flies) are perhaps the commonest parasites of raptors. They are blood suckers, although they rarely cause any significant blood loss. There is however now evidence to suggest that they can and do carry blood borne parasites between one bird and another. In particular the blood parasites ‘Leucocytozoon’, ‘Plasmodium, ‘Sarcocystis’ as well as other blood borne infections.

In the United Kingdom such blood borne parasites are rare, however in warmer climates such as USA diseases such as malaria are highly significant. After the warmer summers of 1994/95, the incidence has increased, affecting birds aged 3-5 months, to date owls (especially snowy), Harris Hawks and Gyr Falcons have been affected. In one case, the affected bird had caught a magpie only nine days earlier, which had a heavy infestation of hippoboscids, in time it became evident that these had carried a blood parasite infestation, which caused a dramatic and fatal infection of the Harris Hawk in a very short time. Lice are also a common ecto parasite of raptors. Lice feed off skin debris and feathers, they do not however survive off the host for long, and hence treatment with routine insecticide preparations is relatively easy. Conversely Dermanyssus gallinae the ‘Red Poultry Mite’, does survive off the host for considerable periods.

This mite lives in crevices in the wood work and usually only comes out at night to feed, as such a feather plucking bird may appear free of parasites when examined during the day, whilst the same bird is crawling with them at night. Any ecto parasite which actually sucks it’s hosts blood can be easily and readily controlled by use of the cattle wormer ‘Ivomec’ (MSD AgVet), however this will need to be diluted, doses and suitable diluants can be arranged by your veterinary surgeon. Other ecto parasites are best controlled by the use of insecticides, however great care must be taken that only safe preparations are used. Some sprays contain either active ingredients or propellants, which can lead to toxicity or irritation to the air sacs. The new cat and dog flea preparation Frontline’ has proved safe and effective in over 100 birds on which we have used it. It appears to be not only more effective but also far safer than previously recommended ectosparasite preparations. Internal Parasites Many bird keepers, falconers and rehabilitators simply worm their birds annually or when they are handled and believe that all is then well.

This concept is seriously flawed, and can on occasions lead to serious repercussions. Fluke: fluke are a relatively common although usually non-pathogenic parasite of raptors. They may inhabit the small intestine or the bile ducts. Diagnosis is made only on faecal examination, and although usually non-pathogenic, when found treatment should be given. The drug which is most commonly used is rafoxanide at a dose of 1Omg/kg, or praziquantel (droncit) 5-10mg/kg daily 14 days or chlorsulon (Curatrem) 20mg/kg by mouth 3x at 2 week intervals. Both the diagnosis, advice on treatment and the drug will be available from your vet. Tapeworms: tapeworms are a relatively common parasite, but are rarely pathogenic. Clinical illness will only occur in situations in which there is very heavy infestation, which can lead to an obstruction of the small intestine.

Treatment is by the use of Praziquantel (Droncit, Bayer), which is available in injection or tablet form, and birds should be dosed at 5-10 mg/kg or chlorsulon as above. Roundworms: these are the largest and most significant group of endo parasites. The group includes the ‘Syngamus trachea’ and ‘Serratospiculum sp” which affect the wind pipe, and air sacs respectively. Both will cause respiratory signs in infected birds, however in both cases it is particularly important that the diagnosis is made prior to treatment being given. In the case of Syngamus even after the worms are killed they will remain in the airways for up to six weeks slowly rotting away causing respiratory signs and occasionally pneumonia in the meantime. Serratospiculum is most commonly found in this country in imported birds (coming from warmer countries) The worm itself does not usually cause any clinical signs, and may live in the air sacs happily for several years. However if the worm is killed it will rapidly putrefy often causing a severe air sacculitis and death.

If the worm is diagnosed then the preferable treatment is to treat the bird with wormer daily for 14 days and then to surgically remove the worm from the air sac. Drugs which have been used in the treatment of roundworms include pipeazine, levamisole, benzimidazoles (e.g. Panacur or Mebenvet or Pyrantel) and ivermectin (Ivomec). Some of these are now old fashioned and ineffective, others have very narrow safety margins and can be dangerous, others are potentially toxic at certain times of year (especially during the moult), others are safe. Protozoa: This group of parasites includes ‘Trichomonas gallinae’ the agent which causes ‘Frounce’. The most common source of infection is from pigeons. Many falconers believe that just because the pigeon looks clean, or by avoiding feeding the crop, the disease can be avoided; this is not invariably the case – even the breast muscle itself can carry the infective agent. Any pigeon fed to raptors should be frozen first as this freezing kills off virtually all the organisms. The disease is seen as white plaques in the mouth, throat or crop.

However the condition must be differentiated from infection with Capillaria, Candida or Vitamin A deficiency or owl Herpes Virus (in owls). The differential diagnosis can be easily made by your vet. Treatment is with Carnidazole (Spartrix) 25mg/kg once. The single treatment as opposed to the previously recommended daily treatment for 5 days makes therapy a lot easier, particularly for young wild or captive birds still on a nest being fed by the parents. The same group of parasites also includes coccidia, which may be present and cause or not cause disease, depending which exact species of coccidia is involved. Likewise if disease does occur the clinical signs and treatment required will be different. Coccidia have been recognised as increasing due to a build up of infection in captive breeding aviaries. The disease affects primarily young birds, prior to their having developed any immunity of their own. The condition is treated with Toltrazuril (baycox) at 10mg/kg once daily on three consecutive days, or Clazuril (Appertex) at 5-10mg/kg once daily on three consecutive days.

Giardia and Hexamita are two further protozoa, which can cause clinical disease. Coccidiosis in Merlins: as most readers will be aware, coccidiosis in Merlins has been an increasing problem for a number of years. In a paper presented at the Small Falcon Conference in 1991, it was shown by this author to be the single largest cause of death in captive Merlins. Since that time the condition has increased in incidence, and in the last two years has also been shown to be affecting considerable numbers of Goshawks and Peregrines. Although the therapeutic regime recommended above is effective in preventing death in affected birds it is still not effective in totally eradicating the organism from the birds system. As a consequence some months later the bird will start to shed the organism again, (although not becoming ill itself). This shedding will lead to considerable contamination of the aviary, leading to the future infestation of other birds. It is generally only young birds, or those who are ill for any other reason that will actually succumb to the disease. This disease is subject of considerable on-going research at the Clockhouse Veterinary Hospital.

We are still happy to test free of charge mute samples from any captive Merlins, so long as the keepers are prepared to to send samples on a regular monthly basis. It is only by this continued research that we hope we can finally get on top of this disease which has serious future implications for the captive breeding of raptors, not only in the UK but also in other parts of the world. Above all the important fact that all keepers should realise is that no one treatment will be effective against any more than one of these groups of parasites. Treatment will lead to a false sense of security, may be unnecessary, and moreover can be dangerous. Prior to any treatment a faecal sample can be quickly and cheaply examined by your veterinary surgeon who can then advise and supply the most suitable agent.At the Clockhouse Veterinary Hospital, we run a fast, efficient and cheap service for the testing of mute samples for parasites. Keepers sending a sample are requested to telephone after 12 noon on the day (weekday), that we receive the sample, and we will inform them of the result.

Rare and Weird Diseases | strange true facts|strange weird stuff|weird diseases Rare and Weird Diseases 0 Comments Disease is a pathological condition of human or animal organ parts, system of organism that results to various causes, like infections, genetic defects or abnormal development and malfunctions of body organs. Diseases can be caused by injuries, disabilities, disorders, syndromes, infections, isolated symptoms of unknown illness, deviant behaviors and atypical kind of functions and body structures. Syndrome is a medical term for specific symptoms and signs observed by physicians and given details by the patient’s phenomena and characteristics that often occur and presence of featured illnesses. Most rare diseases could be fatal if not given the proper medical attention. Diseases, could be classified as communicable and non-communicable disease. The four types of diseases are as follows: pathogenic disease, hereditary disease, physiological disease and deficiency disease. Patients who died of the disease are commonly declared as “death by natural causes”. 1) Botulism Disease Botulism of a 14 year old patient, with total ophthalmoplegia with Ptosis in the left image and dilated fixed right pupil.

Botulism with infected skin lesions Botulism is a rare paralytic disease caused by botulinum toxins from metabolic wastes produced by the bacterium Chlostridium Botolinum which affects wide range of mammals, birds and aquatic animals like fish. The toxins infects humans and animals through digestive tracts by the bacterium in children or infant botulism and adult intestinal toxemia, by ingesting toxin from contaminated foods, or contamination of open wounds. Person to person contamination seldom occur. Botulism leads to paralysis and begin affecting the face, and spread towards the muscles and limbs. Honey are not advised to be fed on infants. Foodborne Botulism is often caused by food poisoning of contaminated canned foods with low-acid contents such asparagus, beans, beets and corn. Botulism outbreaks come from uncommon sources like baked-potatoes wrapped in aluminum foils, carrot juice, chili peppers and tomatoes. Ptosis or Lazy Eyes Bilateral Ptosis or Lazy Eyes Forest Whitaker, American Actor with Ptosis repaired Ptosis also called “lazy eyes”, is characterized as drooping of eyelid, and could become worse if they stay awake for longer hours and tired the eye muscles, and cause to droop uncontrollably.

2) Minimata Disease Minimata Disease patient with Tomocos hands Minamata disease Minimata disease also known as Chisso-Minimata disease, is a disease of the brain caused by severe mercury poisoning. Infant’s or newly born are can acquire by mother’s contaminated with mercury poisoning, and passes to her unborn baby. The symptoms includes numbness in the hands and feet, ataxia, weakness of muscles, blurred visions, hearing impairment and speech disorders. In some extreme case it leads to coma, insanity, paralysis and death. Minimata was first discovered in Japan in 1956, and the highly toxic waste from Methylmercury of the Chisso Corporation Chemical Factory, and accumulated in shellfish and fish in Minimata Bay and Shiranui Sea, where in the locals consumed the fish and other marine life of the bay area. 3) Thrombosis, Blood Clot Formation Thrombosis, acute arterial thrombosis of right leg (notice the bluish color of the infected leg) Thrombosis of a coronary artery The formation of blood clots inside a blood vessel, blocking the flow of blood through the circulatory system is known as thrombosis.

The injured blood vessel uses the thrombocytes or platelets and fibrin to form blood clots preventing loss of blood. 4) Wilson’s Disease Wilson’s disease, a teenager rock drummer affected with the disease Wilson’s disease, psychiatric manifestations Ataxia Telangiectasia, small dilated blood vessels Wilson’s disease is the excessive content of copper in a human body and builds mainly in the liver, brain, kidneys and the cornea of the eye (first layer of the front eye). The human body needs small amount of copper to stay fit and healthy, and normally the body gets rids of the excess copper in the human body. But in some cases, like the patients with Wilson’s disease, their body cannot get rid of the excess copper, thus it builds mainly in the liver and brain. Spider Angioma Spider Angioma or Spider Naevi Spider angioma also called spider naevi or Nevus Araneus is a telangiestasis found beneath the skin surface, with reddish web-like tiny veins, and believed to be sign and symptoms of liver diseases, but are commonly benign.

5) Achondrogenesis Congenital Disorder Achondrogenesis Type 1, Rare congenital disorder,female baby, died after birth Achondrogenesis Type 2 Achondrogenesis disorder are characterized in three forms according to sign and symptoms and named as Achondrogenesis type 1A, Achondrogenesis type 1B and Achondrogenesis type 2. Sometimes this rare disease is described according to pattern of heredity and genetic causes, but some characteristic have unknown origin. Achondrogenesis have severe forms of congenital chondrodysplasia or deformed cartilages and bones, short limbs, small body and skeletal deformities. Infants with severe Achondrogenesis, are born prematurely, stillborn or die after birth. However, infants who survived Achondrogenesis disorder, could live for a short while with medical support and monitoring from their Pediatricians.

6) Kawazaki Disease Kawazaki Disease, sign and symptoms Kawazaki Disease Kawazaki disease, signs found in tongue Kawazaki disease, otherwise known as Kawazaki syndrome, Lymph Node syndrome and Mucocutaneous Lymph node syndrome, is rare disease that affects the blood vessels with inflammation affecting internal organs, mainly blood vessels, skin and mucous membranes and lymph nodes. Severe Kawazaki disease can affect the heart and can cause fatal coronary artery aneurysm, and viral infections that can lead to its pathogenesis. Most Kawazaki victims are below five year-old children. Kawazaki sign and symptoms start with persistent fever ( 39-40C and non-responsive to paracetamol or fever reliever medications), cough, colds, vomiting, sputum, headache, seizures and aortic aneurysm. Kawazaki disease is sometimes mistaken as scarlet fever, because of sign and symptoms similarities.

7) Scarlet Fever Scarlet fever, with Strawberry tongue symptoms Scarlet symptoms, a rough- reddish rashes on the skin, and sometimes scaly Scarlet dequamation (skin peeling) Scarlet Fever, also called Scarlatina in ancient medical literature, is a disease that discharges elements in the blood vessels into the body tissues and leading to fever, pharyngitis, and scarlatin form of rashes. “Exotoxin” released from discharges and secretions from the nose, ears, throat and skin, producing group A betahemolytic streptococci (GABHS). Scarlet fever includes wound infections or burns, upper respiratory tract infections and there are some reports that it also comes from food airborne outbreaks from contaminated foods. Diptheria Disease Diphtheria, skin lesion on the neck Diphtheria, skin infections Diphtheria is a contagious disease, maybe from a direct contamination from a person with Diphtheria virus or airborne contamination , a disease infecting upper respiratory tract, caused by “Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

The symptoms includes severe case of swollen lymph nodes at the back of the ears, swollen neck (sometimes they call it “bull neck”), difficulty in breathing and swallowing, sometimes can cause paralysis in the eye, neck, throat or respiratory muscles. Infected patients with Diphtheria needs immediate medical attention, due to obstruction in breathing may occur, and the patient must be in ICU or intensive care unit and undergo an “intubation” or “tracheotomy”. Abnormality in heartbeat can occur and may lead to heart failure and cardiac arrest. 9) Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Charcot-Marie-tooth Disease, affected hands Charcot-Marie-tooth disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, is a rare hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN), transmitted as an autosomal dominant characteristic, by wasting far from a point of reference such as on origin or point of attachment or reflexes loss in the muscles and sensory touch of the legs, feet, ankle and also in the arms, wrists and hands. This condition have two types of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) types l and ll.

Features not visible in HMSN ll, are seen in HMSN l, associating with abnormal nerve conduction velocities and nerve hyperthropy. Sensory in the arms and legs are usually damaged, but pain nerves are intact. Cavus feet or high arched is associated with the deformity. Affected legs and limb can activate painful symptoms, numbness to spasm, and painful cramps. This disease is the most common hereditary disease and incurable and was considered as Muscular Dystrophy. 10) Bloom Syndrome Bloom Syndrome Bloom Syndrome Bloom syndrome (BLM) also called Bloom-Torre-Machacek syndrome, is a rare inherited chromosome disorder, with complications that may lead to chronic lung disease, diabetes, mental retardation and cancer that may develop at any age, but sometimes diagnosed, cancer can developed at age 25. Bloom syndrome is described as having short statures, rashes on the face after sun exposure, and the rash can be of a butterfly-shaped reddish patches commonly appearing on the cheeks.

Other symptoms are high-pitched voice, long-narrow face, under size jaw (micrognathism), noticeable eyes and ears, hypo and hyper pigmentation of the skin areas or pigmented birth marks (cafe-au-lait spots or giraffe spots), dilated blood vessels (tangiectasias) that appear not only on skins but also in the eyes. It can also lead to pneumonia, ear infections, inadequate functions of testes (males) or ovaries (female) leading to infertility for men and premature men or menopause for women. 11) Behcet’s Disease / Behcet’s Syndrome Behcet’s Disease Behcet;s Disease, sign and symptoms Behcet’s disease on the neck Behcet’s Syndrome, signs and symptoms The Behcet syndrome is a rare inflammatory disease of the blood vessels of unknown causes and described as muccotaneous ulceration in the mouth, genital areas, uveitis with hypopyon.

The neuro-ocular form can cause death, blindness and inflammation of a synovial membrane or called synovitis, inflammation of veins (thrombophlebitis), gastro-intestinal ulcer, inflammation of retinal vascular with different kinds of causes such as Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Multiple Sclerosis and Chorioretinitis and some infectious diseases. 12) Beckwith- Wiedemann Syndrome Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, genetic disease Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare disease that may developed at birth or after birth. BWS is described as an “overgrowth disorder” and could lead to childhood cancer and congenital characters to the patient.

It was originally called exomphalos (omphalocele)-macroglossia-gigantism (EMG) syndrome, describing the pair features of abdominal wall deformities such as the hernia-exomphalos, macroglasia (enlargement of tongue), gigantism (large body and long limbs, macrosomia (birth weight and length of 90th percentile), omphalocele (midline abdominal-wall defects), umbilical hernia and diastasis recti, ear-pits and ear creases, low-blood sugar at birth, and difficulties in speech, eating, swallowing and sleeping due to abnormal large tongue. 13) Reactive Arthritis Reactive Arthritis causes Keratoma Blennorrhagica Reactive Arthritis or Reiter’s Syndrome Human-geographic tongue, signs and symptoms of Reactive arthritis Aphthous stomatistis, Reactive Arthritis symptoms The Reactive Arthritis, also known as Reiter’s arthritis or Reiter’s syndrome, an autoimmune condition that develops infection in some parts of the body from bacteria and can trigger the disease with signs and symptoms similar to arthritis.

First symptoms can be experienced as a painful urination (dysuria) and frequent urination, inflammation of prostate glands on male (prostatitis), inflammation of fallopian tubes (salpingitis), inflammation of the uterine cervix (cervicitis), and inflammation of vagina (vulvovaginitis) for the female. Followed by painful swelling of joints like the knees and wrist. The oral cavity are also affected showing severe signs such as aphthous stomatitis (mouth ulcers), geographic tongue (tongue erosion) and migratory stomatitis (soft tissues infections). Polyarthritis of the fingers Polyarthritis also called Alpha Polyarthritis syndrome, is an arthritis type of disease involving five or more swollen joints, related with autoimmune disorder (failure of an organism recognizing its own parts) such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, and Lupus Erythematosus and an alphavirus known as Chikugunya virus and Ross River virus (or Ross River Fever), a tropical diseases caused by mosquito bites. Any age and gender can be affected by Polyarthritis.

Psoriatic Arthritis Psoriatic-arthritis of the feet Psoriatic Arthritis is also called arthritis psoriatica, arthropathic psoriasis, or psoriatic arthropathy an inflammatory arthritis may develop to 30% of patients affected by psoriasis, a chronic skin disease. The signs and symptoms of Psoriatic arthritis include swelling, severe pains on affected areas, stiffness and redness of joints (sausage-like swelling) of the fingers and toes, termed as dactylitis, pain around the feet, ankles, tendon in the sole of the feet and changes of the nails separating or pitting out from the nail bed. Also suffering from lower back area or the sacrum. Prolonged swelling and not properly medicated can lead to joints damage. Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheunatoid arthritis in Juvenile with swollen knee joints Rheumatoid arthritis in adult’s hand Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting many tissues and organs but mainly attacking the synovial joints, or called “diarthrosis”, commonly most movable joints in the body.

Inflammatory of the synovium (capsule around the joints), and swelling of hyperplasia (or enlargement of an organ, benign neoplasia or benign tumor) of synovial cells, excess synovial fluids, and the development of pannus in the synovium (granulation of tissues). RA symptoms also include ankylosis (stiffness of the joints because of adhesion and rigidity of bones of the joints), inflammation of lungs membrane (pleura) and pericardium (heart membrane), sclera (white of the eye), and nodular lesions (subcutaneous tissue). The term Rheumatoid is based from Rheumatic Fever, a heart disease which involves swelling of joints. 14) Gangrene Gangrene on the foot Gangrene is a medical condition of mass body tissue dies or called necrosis, and a serious disease and could be fatal. Gangrene form after an unattended wounds or injuries with infected areas that leads to blood clots and reduced the blood supplies in the affected tissues and lead to necrosis. Long term smokers for diabetic patients increase the risk of gangrene infections.

There are different types of gangrene and symptoms, the Dry gangrene, Wet gangrene, gas gangrene, internal gangrene, and necrotising fascitis. Treatments for gangrene includes debridement and amputation for severe cases of gangrene. Dry Gangrene Dry Gangrene or severe necrosis Wet Gangrene wet and dry gangrene of diabetic wound bedsores or decubitus stage 4, can lead to wet gangrene if left untreated Gas Gangrene Debridement of Necrotic tissues, Left leg Maggots Therapy Maggots Therapy or Maggot Debridement therapy (MDT) 15) Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis or Lyell’s Syndrome Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis or Lyell’s Syndrome Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, severe case Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)Toxic Epidermal Necrosis, rare epidermal condition from allergy reactions from medications Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), also called Lyell’s syndrome, is a rare disease but could be life threatening dermatological condition commonly caused by allergy reactions from drugs.

The rare disease is described as “desquamation” of outer skin layer epidermis, from the skin lower layer, the dermis. Nikolsky sign, is the visible in Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, by rubbing the skin slightly, and exfoliation of the outer layer of the skin or epidermis. 16) Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SUS) Steven-Johnson Syndrome (SUS), severe case Stevens-Johnson sybdrome, with conjunctivitis inflammation of the eyes and eyelids Stevens-Johnson syndrome, showing mucosal desquamation Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, second speechless diseases Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are the two kinds of dermatological disorders which is life threatening if left untreated by dermatologist specialist. The cause is unknown, but ,the main causes known is allergy reactions from drugs which are sometimes purchased over the counter or without any prescriptions from the physicians. Some cases are caused by infections, but rarely are benign.

The infections includes: herpes simplex virus, influenza, mumps, cat-scratch-fever, histoplasmosis, Epstein-Barr virus, mycroplasma pneumonia and other diseases. Symptoms are fever, sore throat and fatigue, which is commonly misdiagnosis and often prescribed with anti-biotic medicine. 17) Wegener’s Granulomatosis Disease Wegener’s Granulomatosis, showing affected eyes Wegener’s Granulomatosis, with Sclerokeratitis Wegener’s Granulomatosis, signs and symptoms, eye-areas swollen Wegener’s Granulomatosis, rare chronic disease Wegener’s Granulomatosis Mucosal Ulceration Wegener’s Granulomatosis (WG) or Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), is an inflammation of the blood vessels (vaculitis) an incurable rare disease affecting the nose, lungs, kidneys and other internal organs. This life-threatening disease, requires long term medication due to immune system deficiency and five years survival is about 87% with mortality rate due to treatment toxicity.

First noticeable sign is the rhinitis or stuffy nose, that can lead to chronic renal failure, upper airway, hearing loss and other ear infections, eye diseases such as scleritis, conjunctivitis,uveitis and episcleritis. It also affects the nose causing nosebleeding, saddle-nose deformities due to perforated septum. 18) Myiasis Diseases Myiasis Disease, skin infected by Myiasis maggot Myiasis disease with Tumbo Fly maggot, removed from skin wound Oral Myiasis, caused by O.ovis in Iran (note the maggots on gum) Myiasis disease, caused by African Tumbu Fly Screwworm Larvae or Blowfly Larvae (maggots that feeds on human and nimal flesh) Myiasis is a pathological infectious disease caused by parasitic fly larvae feeding on the host’s living tissues, that includes blowfly strike, fly-blown and fly-strike larvae. Some of these flies lay eggs in open wounds, some invade the broken skin or enter the body through the ears and nose, or maybe swallowed the foods where flies deposited their eggs.

The larvae lacerate the host’s skin and caused skin sores and penetrate through the hosts tissues. The lesions causes skin irritation leading to severe infections and if no medical attention is given it may lead to toxemia or septicemia. This disease could also lead to weakness and anorexia disease and could be very fatal. 19) Herpes Simplex Herpes Labialis of the lower lip Oral herpes or Herpes Labialis, is an infection of the face, commonly the lips or mouth. It is also called “cold sores”, “fever blisters” caused by Herpes simplex virus (HSV1) and a common infections. Herpes Whitlow, affecting fingers or thumb Whitlow or Felon, infection of the tip of finger Herpes Whitlow is a painful infected lesions of the whitlow or thumb, caused by Herpes Simplex virus. Herpes Genitalis (Male) Herpes Genitalis, is an infection and the second form of herpes simplex virus, affecting commonly the male and female genitalia.

Most common genital infection for males, is the penis glans, shaft of the penis or other genital parts; while in female it affects the pubis, labia, clitoris, vulva, buttocks and anus. Herpes Simplex virus, a viral disease with two types, the (HSV1 or Type 1) and the (HSV2 or Type 2), an infection with herpes virus of several kinds of disease based on the kind of viral infections in affected skin areas. 20) Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) Henoch-Schonlein Purpura disease, signs and symptoms in legs Henoch-Schonlein Purpura disease, uncommon and rare disease Henoch-Schonlein Purpura disease, affecting mouth, gum and teeth Henoch-Schonlein Purpura disease (HSP) is uncommon and rare disease affecting most commonly children. HSP is an inflammation of the blood vessels (systemic vasculitis) described as decreased of immune complex that has lgA antibody, and this rare disease have unknown causes.

The HSP, is considered a rare skin disease that cause small hemorrhage suffering from abdominal and joints pain, loss of protein and small amount of blood in the urine, but are commonly unnoticed, and affected kidneys may lead to chronic kidney disease. Related posts:

Question: Frounce is a disease of the mouth and throat of which creatures?
Answer: Birds