Advanced Approaches to Companion Avian Species Medicine
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Birds".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 131
Special Issue Editor
Interests: avian medicine; exotic animal; wildlife; amphibian; reptile; clinical pathology; ecohealth; biochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Advanced diagnostic techniques in avian medicine allow for precise, minimally or non-invasive invasive evaluation of specialized bird anatomy and physiology, such as air sacs and pneumatized bones, and evaluation of the choana, cloacal, or other normal or abnormal flora in these species. Key techniques include endoscopy, advanced imaging (CT/MRI), molecular diagnostics (PCR), and specialized blood analysis.
This Special Issue welcomes the submission of original research papers and reviews concerning all aspects related to the following research interests:
Imaging Techniques:
- Digital Radiography: Rapid, high-resolution imaging often aided by the bird's natural air sac contrast to visualize organs.
- Computed Tomography (CT): Ideal for 3D visualization of the skull, sinuses, and lower respiratory tract.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Used to detect soft tissue lesions, such as granulomas or tumors in the brain, spinal cord, or coelomic organs.
- Ultrasonography (USG): Limited by air sacs, but useful for evaluating the heart (echocardiography), liver, kidneys, and reproductive tract.
- Contrast Studies/Fluoroscopy: Used to evaluate gastrointestinal transit time, particularly in detecting Pro-ventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD).
Endoscopy and Biopsy
- Endoscopy: A minimally invasive, single-incision technique used to directly visualize the air sacs, lungs, liver, kidneys, and reproductive organs, allowing for targeted tissue biopsies.
- Air-sac/Crop Washes: Used to collect samples for cytology and culture to define respiratory or GI disease.
Laboratory and Molecular Diagnostics
- PCR Testing: A highly sensitive tool for detecting infectious diseases (e.g., Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, Chlamydophila, and Polyoma virus).
- Hematology and Biochemistry: Advanced, small-sample analyzers allow for rapid, complete blood counts (CBC) and blood chemistry panels.
- Avian Specific Serology and Acute Phase indicators.
- Plasma Electrophoresis: Used to analyze protein fractions, which can indicate chronic inflammation or infection.
- Other Body Fluid analysis: Urine, Ceolomic Fluid, Cerebral Spinal Fluid.
Specialized Techniques
- Myelography: Used in larger birds to identify spinal cord compression or trauma.
- Intraosseous (IO) Cannula Placement: Used for emergency, rapid fluid administration and bone marrow evaluation.
Dr. Jennifer Jill Heatley
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- avian clinical medicine
- exotic bird medicine
- diagnostic techniques
- companion avian health
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
