If your
vet is interested infinding out what a liver looks like with Aflatoxins ask him for his fax number and I will fax as many reports on this as he wants. It may be able to bring things into focus for him.
Here is part of what an H&E report would look like reguarding the liver.
[Microscopic Diagnosis:
Liver: Markedly severe, chronic, diffuse, hepatopathy characterized by (in order of severity) focal to zonal hepatic necrosis, biliary hperplasia with bridging (or non bridging) portal fibrosis, megalocytosis mecronodular hepatocellular regeneraton, focal vacuolar degeneration and cholestasis.
Heart: Focal, acute, fibrinopurulent, endocarditis with thrombosis and locally adjacent fibrinopurulant pericarditis.]
On gross necropsy this glider demonstrated markedly severe non-inflammatory lesions most suggestive of a
toxic hepatopathy. Sterotypical lessions of chronic hepatotoxicity demonstrated by this liver include focal necrosis,fibrosis bile duct hyperplasia, and cholestasis.
This is most frequently associated with chronic aflatoxin or pyrrolizine alkaloid ingestion.
All of the ones Bruce has read and other Pathologist have read are like the above (but with more detail).. With the exceptions of accidental deaths and those who died of protozonites.
The liver seems to be a very effected organ in this little ones.
From reading your earlier post when your glider was found so ill, I think if you go back and check several of us suggested that it could be aflatoxins.
What ever bugs you have on hand now I would destroy and not give any to your others for a period of time. Also suggested you increase the herptivite to 2 teaspoons per batch for the next month.
I am so sorry this has happened to you. I am sorry for all of us..The way you found your little one was the way mine all died. Except I found them on the perch and held them for a couple of hours while they died. The finial stage was mouth breathing and instability. They never left my hand.
I hope this information will be helpful to you and your
vet. Please feel free to call me if you or the
vet (or lab) have any questions. 757-340-6768.
Again, I am so very sorry.
<small>[ 08-24-2002, 11:53 AM: Message edited by: Ellen ]</small>