Egg yolk coelomitis in a North Island brown kiwi
Abstract
In December 2009 at Wellington Zoo a female North Island brown kiwi was diagnosed and treated for egg yolk coelomitis.
The following article will discuss how it was discovered and diagnosed, using computed topography and radiographs. Also discussed is the treatment for this condition, which involved a laparotomy to remove the yolk in the coelomic cavity. The reason this occurs will be discussed and the complications that are associated with egg yolk coelomitis.
The North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) (Figure 1) is one of New Zealand's endangered native birds. Kiwis live in forests and forage on the forest floors, they are unable to fly and have very little defence against predators such as rats, stoats or dogs, and this is the reason for their decline. Kiwis are classified as ratites, however, their large feet and inability to fly are really their only similarities to their larger relative the ostrich.
Kiwis also produce the largest egg in relation to their body size. The egg takes up 20% of the female's body; this is significant compared with an ostrich egg which takes up 2% of the female's body (Morgan, 2008).
At the Wellington Zoo there are five kiwis, two of these are part of a captive breeding programme.
‘Ataahua’ (Maori, meaning beauty) is a 4-year-old female North Island brown kiwi. She is Wellington Zoo's only female and is part of a captive breeding programme. She presented initially in late December 2009 as lethargic and was found in her burrow lying on her side collapsed.
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