Avian Crop Swabbing
Dr. Alex Kreiss demonstrates how to take a swab sample from a bird’s crop.
Crop swabbing is an important diagnostic tool in the health assessment of avian patients. The crop can harbour pathogens, such as trichomonas and candida. These will create health issues for the bird if left untreated.
After the swab is taken, it can be immediately looked at under low power objective, as a wet preparation (use isotonic sodium chloride to wet the preparation). Trichomonas organisms are easily seen, as they move in a circular motion.
A stained slide can be prepared at the same time, for other organism identification (e.g., candida).
Crop swabbing is a simple procedure, which can be done with the patient restrained or anaesthetised.