Hemochromatosis in Ramphastidae: pathogenesis and treatment, a review

Abstract

Hemochromatosis is a disease that occurs by the excessive deposition of iron in various organs, in special at the liver, at levels that cause pathological changes in the structural and functional organ. This disease usually affects species of Ramphastidae’s family in captivity, it because this animals are omnivorous and they have an efficient mechanisms that can result in with high levels, as overload. The most of the causes of hemochromatosis can be a genetic predisposition, or a consumption of unbalanced diets with a rich tenor or iron, diseases that can causinghemolysis and iatrogenic. The clinical diagnosis could be used as biochemical serum iron. Ferritin, liver enzymes, bile acids, total capacity binding of iron and transferrin saturation index. The diagnosis definitive can be made by the biopsy. But, for an effective treatment, it can do by a use of phlebotomy or the use of metal chelating. We conclude that further studies are needed to facilitate early diagnosis and confirming the effectiveness of treatments since hemochromatosis is common in ramphastidae bred in captivity.