Neuroaxonal dystrophy in a flock of pied imperial pigeons (Ducula bicolor)

Barrows, M.; Killick, R.; Day, C.; Saunders, R.; Baiker, K.; Ressel, L.; Denk, D.

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.

Citation

Barrows, M., Killick, R., Day, C., Saunders, R., Baiker, K., Ressel, L., & Denk, D. (2017). Neuroaxonal dystrophy in a flock of pied imperial pigeons (Ducula bicolor). Journal of Comparative Pathology, 156(4), 451-457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2017.02.006

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 27, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Apr 6, 2017
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Deposit Date: Apr 13, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Comparative Pathology
• Print ISSN: 0021-9975
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-3129
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 156
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 451-457
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2017.02.006
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/862293
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021997516304996?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in a Flock of Pied Imperial Pigeons (Ducula bicolor); Journal Title: Journal of Comparative Pathology; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2017.02.006; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Contract Date: Apr 13, 2018