House Finch

[http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_finch/id]

House Finch: Haemorhous mexicanus

House Finches are small-bodied finches fairly large beaks long, flat heads. Short wings which

makes the tail seem long by comparison.

Coloring Males- rosy red face Females- plain

grayish-brown with thick, blurry streaks

Behavior gregarious birds collect at feeders or

perch high in nearby trees

[http://sdakotabirds.com/species/house_finch_info.htm]

Presenting complaints

Severe conjunctivitis

Periocular swelling Right worse than

left Wound on right

carpus

[http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/3/3/97-0318-f1.htm]

Presumed Diagnosis: Mycoplasmosis

Mycoplasma gallisepticum Infected birds present with red,

swollen, runny, or crusty eyes. If severe enough it can lead to

functional blindness Birds usually die by starvation,

exposure, or predation

Textbook case!

Spread of Mycoplasma

Infected birds carry M. gallisepticum for life and remain asymptomatic until stressed.

Disease transmitted by close contact between birds and fomites. Roosting sites and bird feeders (tubular

feeders)

Spread of Mycoplasma

Historically, it was a respiratory disease of poultry and captive game birds.

1994 – Cases were reported in songbirds

[http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/field_manual/chapter_11.pdf]

Treatment of Mycoplasmosis

Difficult to treat▪ No cell wall▪ Facultative intracellular

Antibiotics Long term Topical and systemic

Highly transmissible Concerns in hospital

setting

[http://footage.shutterstock.com/clip-287680-stock-footage-male-and-female-house-finches-eating-sunflower-seeds-at-a-bird-feeder.html]

Treatments

Meloxicam PO SID 1.5mg/mL, 1mg/kg body weight

(0.012ml) Tylosin OU TID

10mg/ml, 1:10 dilution in sterile water (1 drop)

Tylosin nebulization q12hrs for 10 minutes 10mg/ml, (dilute 0.4mL in 2 mL saline)

Doxycycline SID in water 250mg/ml (1.25mL in 50ml drinking

water)

Outcome

Finch progressively lost weight 17grams down to 13grams

Passed away overnight six days after intake

Necropsy not performed

Source for Presumptive Diagnosis

http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/field_manual/chapter_11.pdf Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases ▪ Free online – good source