Iron storage disease, or hemochromatosis, has been documented in a number of exotic and domestic species, as well as in man. Various avian species are affected by this condition, most notably mynahs, toucans, birds of paradise, starlings, and hornbills.2,3'7'8 It is characterized by excessive accumulation of iron in parenchymal tissues with associated functional or morphologic damage. Birds with iron storage disease may die with no premonitory signs, or may succumb to hepatic or myocardial failure. Early diagnosis and treatment of hemochromatosis is essential, as the degree of iron overload has prognostic implications. Therapeutic options consist of phlebotomy or iron chelation therapy. Phlebotomy has been employed in avian species, however difficulties arise due to the small size of some patients, the stress of frequent handling, and the uncertainty of the maximum safe volume of blood that can be removed at frequent intervals in a potentially compromised patient. Currently deferiprone (LI, ApotexInc. Weston, Ontario, Canada), which is administered orally, and deferoxamine (DFO, Desferal~R, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Dorval, Quebec, Canada), which must be administered parenterally, are the only two iron chelators available for treating the disease. Neither drug has been studied scientifically in avian species, although there have been two case reports of successful iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine. We conducted a multi-phase scientific investigation into the pharmacokinetic and clinical applicability of deferiprone for the treatment of iron overload in birds. The objectives of the phase of our research reported here were: (1) to evaluate the efficacy of deferiprone to decrease hepatic iron stores in two species after inducing experimental hemosiderosis, and (2) to assess for clinical, toxicologic or pathologic abnormalities associated with drug administration.
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