Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteodystrophia fibrosa in a Hodgson's hawk-eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis)

Abstract

A Hodgson's hawk-eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis) reared by a falconer showed severe weakness with multiple fractures of bone. It had a history of being fed an all-meat diet. Serological examination revealed a hypocalcaemia (72.0 microg/ml), and hypophosphataemia (29.0 microg/ml). Gross and microscopic examinations demonstrated severe osteodystrophia fibrosa (fibrous osteodystrophy) characterized by osteoclastic bone resorption and intertrabecular fibrosis with unmineralized trabecular bone containing a large amount of unmineralized osteoid. There was also hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands, which is consistent with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism.