The Significance of Serum Ionized Calcium and 25-hydroxy- cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) Assays in African Grey Parrots

AGROUP OF AFRICAN GREY parrots kept indoors on the premises of a parrot breeder in the UK are being studied longitudinally over 3 years to monitor the effects of staged changes in husbandry on calcium metabolism. The study group consists of 100 healthy adult African grey parrots of known sex that were fed a seed diet for 12 months prior to the beginning of the study. Fecal samples were taken from each bird for parasitology and Gram’s stain examination. Blood samples taken from each bird anesthetized with isoflurane were submitted for routine hematological and serum biochemical tests as well as circovirus, polyomavirus and chlamydophila PCR. Each bird was examined clinically and by laparoscopy. On the basis of these tests, only healthy birds were included in the study. Additional serum was assayed for ionized calcium, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and parathyroid hormone levels.