PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA-ASSOCIATED CORNEAL ULCERS IN CAPTIVE CRANES

Between January 1986 and April 1992 Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected co rneal ulcers occurred in one of 11 Siberian crane (Grus leucogeranus) chicks and two of 21 whooping crane (Grus americana) chicks aged 3 to 18 days. Seventy-seven chicks of nine other crane species and 60 adult Siberian and whooping cranes housed concurrently at the same facility were not affected. Corneal perforation and loss of vision occurred in both whooping cranes despite immediate and aggressive therapy with ap propriate topical and systemic antibiotics and topical antiproteases. Both birds subsequently developed irreparable physeal fractures and we re euthanized. The affected eye of the Siberian crane chick also perfo rated and was enucleated. Predisposing factors to infection in these t wo endangered species may include the bird's age and behavioral traits , which increase the risk of corneal trauma and bacterial inoculation.