Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Voriconazole treatment for breathing fungal infections in parrots
By Hinkle, Daria & Mans, Christoph·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2024·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective evaluation of voriconazole treatment in psittacines: 14 cases (2012-2023).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A group of 14 pet birds, mostly African grey parrots, showed signs of breathing problems, including difficulty breathing and abnormal lung sounds, likely due to respiratory fungal infections. They were treated with voriconazole, an antifungal medication, given every 12 hours. While some birds improved and lived more than a year after treatment, a few unfortunately did not survive. Overall, voriconazole was found to be safe for these birds, but the chances of full recovery varied, and ongoing monitoring was often needed.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate the clinical use of voriconazole in psittacine patients for the treatment of suspected respiratory fungal infections. ANIMALS: 14 client-owned psittacine birds. METHODS: Medical records were searched from 2012 to 2023 for voriconazole use in psittacines. Species, age, clinical signs, physical examination findings, CT reports, bloodwork results, treatment, and outcome were obtained from the records or client follow-up. RESULTS: African grey parrots were the most prevalent species (8/14). Dyspnea (9/14) and abnormal respiratory auscultation (11/14) were the most common examination abnormalities. An initial CT was performed in all cases, and pneumonia (10/14) and air sac disease (9/14) were the most common findings, with 8 cases having both pulmonary and air sac disease. Voriconazole doses ranged from 10 to 21 mg/kg (median, 16 mg/kg), with most cases prescribed as every-12-hour frequency (12/14). Three of 14 (21%) cases died or were euthanized within 24 days of diagnosis. One case was euthanized at 311 days, and 6 cases were lost to follow-up. Four of 14 (29%) cases lived > 12 months from diagnosis. Two of these cases cleared clinical infection after receiving voriconazole at 17 to 18 mg/kg (q 12 h). No adverse effects attributable to voriconazole were reported. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Voriconazole can be safely used for the treatment of suspected fungal respiratory infection in psittacines. However, the prognosis for resolution is guarded, and prolonged treatment and repeated diagnostic imaging are necessary in many cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38599235/