VETERINARSKI ARHIV 68 (4), 134, 1998

BOOK REVIEW

ISSN 0372-5480
Printed in Croatia

Krautwald-Junghanns, Maria-Elisabeth: Computed tomography of the respiratory tract in birds. Research into the anatomy and pathology of the lower respiratory tract of grey parrots and Amazons by means of computed tomography and by comparison with other methods of presentation (casting technique and conventional X-ray diagnostics). (German language). Original title: Computertomographie des aviären Respirationstraktes. Untersuchungen zur Anatomie und Pathologie des unteren Respirationstraktes von Psittacinae- und Amazonae-Arten mit Hilfe der rekonstruktiven Röntgen-Transmissionstomographie mit anderen darstellenden Methoden (Ausgussverfahren und herkommliche Röntgendiaggnostik). Blackwell Wissenschafts-Verlag. Berlin-Wien, 1997. 196 pages, 10 tables and 66 photographs, 17×24 cm. Soft cover. ISBN 3-8263-3173-7. Price: DEM 56.00/ ÖS 423.00/ SFr 53.50

In Germany and in other countries the number of birds kept as house pets is on the increase. The main causes of disease and death in these birds, as well as in other tropical birds, relate to affections of respiratory tract. This fact prompted the author to commence her work with a systematic research of the anatomy and pathology of the respiratory tract in the grey parrot and in the Amazon, which resulted in detailed presentations of the anatomy of their respiratory tract. The morphological presentation of the respiratory tract was achieved by the silicon moulding technique in combination with various photographic techniques and computed tomography. Prior to presenting her own research the author, through a brief review of relevant literature, relates to the anatomy of the respiratory tract in birds, to etiology, to clinical symptomatology and to diagnostic possibilities for respiratory tract diseases, particularly in larger parrots. The literature review gives a presentation of results achieved by individual authors who have, in their research and presentation of anatomy and pathology of the respiratory tract in different types of birds, applied conventional roentgenography and computed tomography (CT)

In the third chapter of the book, in which the author presents results of her own research, she first describes the method of computed tomography, followed by a description of conventional roentgenography and the technique of silicon-rubber moulding presentation of the respiratory tract anatomy. The application of those procedures resulted in images of transversal and longitudinal sections of the normal morphology structure of different parts of the respiratory tract. Computed tomography enabled her to measure the density of different parts of the respiratory tract, and obtained results were then compared with results obtained through conventional roentgenography.

Presentation of the normal morphology of the respiratory tract is followed by descriptions of pathological changes in diseased grey parrots and Amazons. Earlier research of the normal anatomy of the respiratory tract of birds, in combination with the mentioned procedures, has assisted in the discovery of different pathomorphological changes.

Uncertainty with regard to symptoms, and the limitations of diagnostic tools available for non-domesticated birds, have made the diagnosis of tropical birds extremely difficult, which has led to many diseases being either overlooked or wrongly diagnosed The application of conventional roentgenography and computed tomography has widened the diagnostic possibilities of pathological changes in the respiratory tract.

The author concludes the presentation of the results of her research by comparing the results obtained through computed tomography and those obtained through conventional roentgenography. Compared to conventional roentgenography, CT is able to provide images of pathological changes in much finer detail, thereby constituting a great advance in avian medicine.

By applying the same techniques (CT and conventional roentgenography) in the examination of a living bird, different pathomorphological changes can be diagnosed which, for ornithologists and all those who are, or who will be dealing with birds, is of vital importance in deciding on the correct therapy. The book provides a wealth of excellent photographs of the anatomy of all parts of the respiratory tract of birds. It is also an excellent source of information both for undergraduate students and post-graduate students who wish to specialise in avian medicine.

Mensur Šehic