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This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only. You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet. A new neurological disease was described in Pheasants in the UK in 2000 Pheasants aged 7-26 weeks bred from captive stock in 24 rearing units were observed to develop a neurological condition causing signs ranging from mild ataxia and loss of balance to recumbency and torticollis. The authors of the report (Welchman D. de B, et al Veterinary Record (2000) 147, 93-97) were unable to identify a specific infectious agent or other cause, and on post-mortem a non-suppurative meningoencephalitis was present (mainly affecting the cerebellum) and myelitis of the spinal cord was also evident in some of the birds. Because of similarities to neurological signs sometimes seen in pheasants due to Newcastle Disease this possible cause was ruled out by testing for the virus. Further work is necessary to determine the cause, and the true incidence of the disease (which appears to be low) in the captive population. The cause of this condition is still unknown. Updtaed November 2013 | |||