BILATERAL NECROTIZING PECTENITIS CAUSING BLINDNESS IN A RAINBOW LORIKEET (TRICHOGLOSSUS-HAEMATODUS)

A rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) in good physical conditi on and otherwise neurologically normal was presented with a history of sudden blindness. Gross abnormalities were not detected at necropsy a nd cultures of aqueous humour and visceral organs failed to yield bact erial growth. In both eyes histopathological examination demonstrated acute necrosis of the pecten associated with a severe heterophilic inf lammation and a myriad of Giemsa and Gram-positive, filamentous, branc hing nocardioform bacteria. In the lungs and kidneys there were severa l nodules of acute, mild granulomatous inflammation composed of macrop hages, giant cells and heterophils. The bilateral nature of the eye le sions was consistent with haematogenous spread of nocardioforms after mild, primary lung infection. The lesions suggest that the vascular ne twork of the pecten may be a site favourable for lodgement of other ba cterial species during episodes of bacteraemia or septicaemia.