Myxomatous degeneration of the left atrioventricular valve in a true parrot (Amazona aestiva): a case report

Abstract

Owning wild species as pets is becoming more and more common. Consequently, experience in caring for them has grown, resulting in the diagnosis of numerous diseases. Among these are cardiovascular disorders, especially in parrots. However, the lack of specificity or the absence of clinical signs of these diseases make it difficult to assess cardiovascular issues during the physical examination of birds. This leads to underdiagnosis of these conditions, with the majority being diagnosed post-mortem. This study reports the cardiovascular findings in post-mortem examinations of individuals of the species Amazona aestiva (true parrot) of Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres do Rio de Janeiro (CETAS-RJ) and is the first record of myxomatous degeneration of the left atrioventricular valve in this species.

Keywords

• psittacine
• endocardiosis
• congestive heart failure