|  | Family Health | Health Care

Common Findings of a Choanal Sample

A choana connects the nasal cavity with the throat. Since the posterior part of the human nasal cavity is divided in two by a bone called the vomer, human beings have two choanae, one for each side of the nose. The choana occurs in other air-breathing vertebrates. In birds, the choana appears as a groove or slit in the roof of the mouth. Veterinarians swab the avian choana and use the resultant choanal sample as a diagnostic tool for various bird diseases.

  1. Mycoplasma Synoviae Diagnosis

    • Like rickettsia and chlamydia, mycoplasma is considerably smaller than other bacteria. Because of their small size, they elude detection by a perfunctory microscopic examination, and since they lack a cell wall, a Gram's stain does not reveal their presence. The species Mycoplasma synoviae infects poultry, such as turkeys and chickens. It causes pneumonialike symptoms and also infects joints and tendons. To diagnose the disease, the veterinarian swabs the choanal cleft of the bird and subjects the resultant sample to sophisticated tests involving antibody detection.

    Chlamydia Infection

    • Chlamydia psittaci is an avian respiratory disease that often results in death. Pet parrots often contract this disease. It can also spread to human beings and such animals as cats. In cases of possible avian infections, veterinarians use choanal samples to check for antibodies that the bird produces in reaction to this disease. The application of fluorescein stains make it possible to observe the antibodies. However, diagnosis is difficult, and the findings of the choanal sample must be supplemented by other tests. In human beings, clinical samples are not usually collected from the choanae, but from easily accessible sources, such as the sputum or spit.

    Bordetella Avium

    • The bacterial genus Bordetella causes respiratory infections. For example, Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of whooping cough in human beings. Bordetella avium infects the respiratory tract of turkeys, causing a disease called turkey coryza. Choanal samples serve as a diagnostic tool.

    Virus Diseases

    • It is not possible to see a virus with a light microscope. For this reason, the presence of a virus is usually inferred by examining the antibodies produced as a defense mechanism. Choanal samples help detect certain avian viruses, such as atadenovirus and psittacid herpesvirus. Atadenoviruses infect hens, geese and ducks. They cause decline in egg production and the production of abnormal eggs. Psittacid herpesvirus causes a respiratory infection in such birds as parrots and parakeets.

Health Care - Related Articles