Arteriosclerosis in Birds 109 



Calcifications are not seldom found in this group of birds. In 

 parrots the arterial damage is caused in the arteria carotis or 

 in the small wing arteries, but the most common seat of the 

 process is the lower thoracic region. Galli often demonstrate a 

 vascular disease combined with myocardial disease. Cormo- 

 rants, pelicans and gannets often have arteriosclerotic mal- 

 formations and intimal proliferations. Ducks and geese 

 present a considerable number of cases which demonstrate 

 arteriosclerotic degenerations accompanied by cardiac and 

 general pathology. The character of the lesions is similar to 

 that found in the Accipitres. Arteriosclerosis is common to 

 many zoological orders. Fox gives a good general review of 

 this problem. The order of percentage incidence is Accipitres 

 6-6; Anseres 3-4; Psittaci 1-8; GalK 1-6; Passeres 0-22. 

 Carnivorous birds have^the highest incidence of chronic^ 

 arterial disease. Next in order are the~ungulates, the anserine 

 birds and the carnivorous mammals. Fox remarks on the 

 interesting fact that the orders with great activity, such as the 

 primates and the passeres, are at the end of the list. This is 

 perhaps due to the fact that their food consists chiefly of 

 carbohydrates. 



Arteriosclerosis in mammals and birds in captivity is often 

 accompanied by nephritis, chronic infectious disease or chronic 

 enteritis. 



In some cases of this disease, aneurysm in the vessels can 

 occur. This develops above the valves and arises from a 

 degenerative arteritis. The present author has examined 

 cases of birds with slight, medium, and severe arteriosclerosis. 

 These observations are all autopsies in the Basle Zoo. The 

 animals were vultures, storks, cranes, flamingoes and geese. 



Milder forms of this disease are quite common. In these 

 cases the aorta showed a thickening of the intima and plaques 

 could be seen, especially where the main vessels branch 

 off. In these parts we found small deposits of fat or a 

 pure fibrosis without cholesterol deposits or atheromatous 

 ulcerations. (See Figs. 1-10.) 



