CT-ASSISTED VERSUS SILICONE-RUBBER CAST MORPHOMETRY OF THE LOWER RESPIRATORY-TRACT IN HEALTHY AMAZONS (GENUS AMAZONA) AND GREY PARROTS (GENUS PSITTACUS)

The objective of this study was to examine the normal respiratory trac t of grey parrots and amazons by using two different methods. The lowe r respiratory tract of five amazons and four grey parrots, all healthy , were investigated applying computerised tomography (CT). Volumes and densities of the body, the body cavities, the normal lungs, and the a irsacs in the living animals were defined as reference values of healt hy birds to give a basis for future CT-diagnosis of respiratory diseas es and their precise locations in parrots. In a parallel study, the lu ng and air sac volumes of six amazons and two grey parrots were measur ed using silicone rubber casts produced after the method described by H.-R. Duncker. Values for identical respiratory structures gained by t hese different methods were compared.