Use of computed tomography in the evaluation of the body condition of blue‐fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the body condition score (BCS) of blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) using computed tomography scans to correlate muscle measurements with BCS and identify the primary fat deposit areas. METHODS: Forty-two blue-fronted Amazon parrots were allocated into five groups based on their BCS: 1 (very thin), 2 (thin), 3 (ideal), 4 (ideal) and 5 (obese). Muscle and fat areas were measured using computed tomography imaging. RESULTS: Significant between-group differences were observed in the width of the pectoral muscles and the muscle area of the left humerus, with a strong positive correlation with BCS. The fat areas in the caudal coelom region, pelvic region and axillary area showed a significant increase in birds with a BCS of 5, with a moderate correlation between fat deposit CT measurements and BCS. LIMITATIONS: Given the minimal differences in weight among animals with a BCS of 2-4, weight was a point of contention when categorising the animals into each score category. CONCLUSION: The pectoral muscle was found to be the most reliable indicator for determining BCS in blue-fronted Amazon parrots. However, the primary fat deposit areas should also be included in the BCS assessment, with the caudal coelom, pelvic region and axillary region being critical areas to consider.