Significance of Cholesterol Assays in the Investigation of Hepatic Lipidosis and Atherosclerosis in Psittacine Birds

The aim of this study was to formulate normal ranges for cholesterol profiles in psittacine patients to aid in the diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia and associated conditions such as atherosclerosis or hepatic lipidosis (Figs 1-4). The effect of different husbandry conditions and species on blood cholesterol concentrations was also investigated. The blood cholesterol profile was used in birds with clinical evidence of liver disease in the author’s practice to assess its diagnostic usefulness.