Intradermal skin testing in Hispaniolan parrots (Amazona ventralis)

The purpose of this study was to develop and standardize a protocol for int radermal skin testing in birds. Forty clinically normal Hispaniolan Amazon parrots were anaesthetized and tested by intradermal injection with 0.02 mL of phosphate-buffered saline, histamine phosphate, compound 48/80, codeine phosphate, deionized water, antiavian IgG and rabbit serum. Injection site s were evaluated at 5, 10 and 15 min, 4-6, 24 and 48 h following injection using callipers to measure the diameter of the wheals. A second intradermal skin test was repeated in 20 birds with 0.03 mL of saline, compound 48/80 and codeine phosphate. This study provides the basis for an appropriate pro tocol for intradermal skin testing in parrots, including recommended site ( proventer region), volume of injection (0.02 mt), negative control (saline) , positive control (codeine phosphate 1:100 000 w/v) and optimum reading ti me (5 min). Further study to establish appropriate dosages for test antigen will be required.