Hepatic cirrhosis in a cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) from Brazil

A 17-year-old male cockatiel ( Nymphicus hollandicus ) was presented with a one-week history of apathy, inappetence, weakness, and reluctance to move, and died shortly afterward. Postmortem examination revealed an overweight body condition, ascites, and a markedly firm, shrunken liver with a diffusely irregular capsular surface and multifocal, well-defined green-to-yellow nodules. On cut surface, these nodules were soft, compact, yellow to tan, and extended deeply into the parenchyma. Histologically, the hepatic tissue was largely replaced by broad fibrous septa that enclosed distinct islands of hepatocytes forming regenerative nodules. Additional findings included bile duct hyperplasia and multifocal infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and occasional macrophages. The remaining hepatocytes exhibited cytoplasmic degeneration or necrosis. Based on the clinical presentation and anatomopathological features, hepatic cirrhosis was diagnosed. Although considered uncommon in avian species, cirrhosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic liver disorders, particularly in aged birds or those with a history suggesting prolonged hepatic injury.