Vitamin E deficiency and pansteatitis in juvenile boat-billed herons (Cochlearius cochlearius)

Steatitis due to vitamin E deficiency occurred in three 10-wk-old boat-bill ed herons (Cochlearius cochlearius) despite daily placement of a powdered v itamin supplement on the fish that was subsequently washed off by the paren ts. Physical findings included emaciation, yellow-brown subcutaneous nodule s, a firm distended coelom, stomatitis, and yellow-white, submucosal pharyn geal nodules. Clinical pathology revealed heterophilic leukocytosis, anemia , hypoproteinemia, and low plasma alpha (alpha)-tocopherol levels (1.94 mu g/ml and 2.14 mu g/ml). Two of the chicks died of severe, diffuse pansteati tis and respiratory aspergillosis.