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Abstract
Liver disease is a common malady that afflicts companion birds. Often, non-invasive tests, including history, fecal examination, clinical pathology, and diagnostic imaging can be nonspecific for liver disease. There is a lack of specific information regarding testing for avian liver disease. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of hepatic testing in companion birds. Thirty Indian ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri manillensis) were subjected to acute liver disease (traumatic liver injury or aflatoxicosis) to evaluate for changes in hepatic function tests reported to be of use in birds. The hepatic function tests were correlated with hepatic histopathology. The only significant changes in the variables measured andattributable to liver disease were sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH). Based upon the two models of acute liver injury, overall findings suggest hepatic function testing is insensitive in detecting mild liver disease.