Neurological examination of clinically healthy pigeons (Columba livia domestica), mute swans (Cygnus olor), common buzzards (Buteo buteo), common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) ...

• Main Authors: Feyer, Sina, Loderstedt, Shenja, Halter-Gölkel, Lesley, Merle, Roswitha, Zein, Stephanie, Müller, Kerstin
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Freie Universität Berlin 2024
• Subjects: avian neurological examination; feral pigeons; mute swans; neurology; raptors; 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften630 Landwirtschaft630 Landwirtschaft und verwandte Bereiche; Olor; Accipiter gentilis
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17169/refubium-41985; https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/handle/fub188/42259

Background A neurological examination is essential for determining the localisation of neurological lesions. However, in avian species, quantitative data regarding the practicability and feasibility of neurological tests are very limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish normative data for the neurological examination of clinically healthy birds of different species. Methods Forty-two domestic and feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica), 42 mute swans (Cygnus olor), 12 common buzzards (Buteo buteo), 24 common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and six northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) were examined. All birds underwent a predefined neurological examination. Interobserver variations between three examiners were investigated in 11 pigeons and 11 mute swans. Results All postural reaction tests, except for the drop and flap reaction in mute swans, provoked a consistent response in pigeons and mute swans, whereas postural reaction tests of the legs in raptors were often not performable. Cranial ...