Transcutaneous ultrasonography of the avian urogenital tract

The purpose of this article is to provide a survey of the diagnostic use of transcutaneous sonographic examination of the urogenital tract of pet bird s. Possibilities and limitations in imaging normal and altered components o f this organ system are discussed, Ultrasonographic examination of the avia n urogenital tract was evaluated in 386 pet birds. Abnormal clinical signs were present in 289 birds; 97 birds were normal. Transcutaneous ultrasonogr aphy proved to be a useful, noninvasive, and fast diagnostic tool, especial ly in imaging laminated eggs and changes of the oviduct. Until now, these p athologic changes were not diagnosable in birds with other common noninvasi ve methods (e.g. radiography), The imaging of low-grade changes of the ovid uct, disorders of the kidney without enlargement of the organ, as well as r oughening of the egg shell proved to be difficult. Sonographic imaging of n either the normal kidney nor the inactive gonads was possible.