Pinching-Off Syndrome

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The pinching-off syndrome (German for "pinch-off disease complex") is a severe fletching disorder that occurs in wild, nestling sea ​​eagles ( Haliaeetus albicilla ). The disease has so far only been detected in Central and Western Europe.

White-tailed eagle with pinching-off syndrome. All swing arms and control springs have failed. The flightless bird was found on the ground at the beginning of October and was therefore on foot for several months after leaving the nest around the beginning of July.
Underside of the cover feather of this year's sea eagle with pinching-off syndrome (same bird as above). The pathological keratin deposits on the underside of the quill and its splitting are clearly visible.

root cause

So far, no pathogen has been found to be the cause of the disease, so a genetic defect is assumed to be the cause.

Diagnosis

Nesting sea eagles with pinching-off syndrome show massive pathological changes in the large plumage, which are particularly noticeable in the wings and the tail feathers. The feathers are usually significantly shortened, the feathers and the quills are very soft and limp. The underside of the quills is split open and shows strong keratin deposits. The spring coil is usually too short and the pushing springs open very late, which means that the spring sheaths are very long.

These spring changes normally lead to the failure of all or most of the rockers and the control springs during the nestling or branching period . The failed springs usually show a characteristic constriction at the end of the coil, to which the name of the disease refers. Since the regrowing feathers are also changed accordingly and usually also fail again quickly, the birds are in a permanent moult . However, the young birds never reach the ability to fly, so the disease is ultimately fatal .

Epidemiology

The disease has only occurred in Europe so far. The first case was documented in 1975, up to 2006 a total of 32 cases were recorded, 17 of them in Germany, 11 in Poland, 3 in the Czech Republic and 1 in Great Britain.

therapy

Therapy is not yet possible.

literature

  • K. Müller, R. Altenkamp, ​​L. Brunnberg, L. Fasungová, H. Freymann, K. Frölich, R. Kollmann, O. Krone, I. Literák, T. Mizera, P. Sömmer and E. Schettler: Pinching off syndrome in free-ranging white-tailed sea eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Europe: frequency and geographic distribution of a generalized feather abnormality. J. Avian Med. Surg. 21, No. 2, 2007: pp. 103-109.
  • K. Müller, E. Schettler, H. Gerlach, L. Brunnberg, HM Hafez, K. Hattermann, R. Johne, R. Kollmann, O. Krone, M. Lierz, S. Linke, D. Lueschow, A. Mankertz , H. Müller, C. Prusas, R. Raue, D. Soike, S. Speck, P. Wolf and K. Frölich: Investigations on the aetiology of pinching off syndrome in four white-tailed sea eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) from Germany . Avian Pathol. 36, Issue 3, 2007: pp. 235-243.