DISEASE SUMMARY PAGE

Scalping

Summary Information
Diseases / List of Physical / Traumatic Diseases / Disease summary
Alternative Names	See also Impact Injury.
Disease Agents	Physical injury caused by other animals or impact on wire.
	Infectious Agent (s)	--
	Non-infectious Agent (s)	--
	Physical agents	Accommodation construction Inter/intra specific interaction Non-specific physical trauma
General Description	Tearing of the skin over the head. In waterfowl, most commonly seen on female mallard Anas platyrhynchos due to 'gang rape' by groups of drakes. More likely to occur in captivity, when the female cannot fly away from her suitors (B10.26.w12, P4.1992.w1). Seen in e.g. pheasants and raptors which fly into wire mesh such as that of aviary roofs. (B11.15.w22, V.w5, V.w6).
Further Information	Treatment: suture skin; healing may be assisted by use of a gauze-netting head cap (B10.26.w12). Small wounds may heal spontaneously (B11.15.w22). Spraying the damaged area with 'purple spray' (aerosol preparation containing oxytetracycline hydrochloride plus blue or purple dye, usually in a spirit base, e.g. Terramycin Aerosol Spray, Pfizer Ltd., Sandwich, Kent, UK) helps to dry the wound and disguise the blood, avoiding persecution due to birds pecking at blood, in addition to reducing the attractiveness to flies and the risk of secondary infection. N.B. protect the bird's eyes while applying the spray (V.w5). Skin grafting may be considered for the treatment of larger defects (B11.15.w22).
Techniques linked to this disease	Treatment and Care - Wound management
	Treatment and Care - Wound management
Host taxa groups /species	Waterfowl
	Disease has been reported in either the wild or in captivity in the following WATERFOWL Species:	[N.B. Miscellaneous / Traumatic Diseases tend to be under-reported and the majority are likely to affect all waterfowl species, given exposure to the related disease agents/factors.] Mallard Anas platyrhynchos ducks (B10.26.w12). Further information on Host species has only been incorporated for species groups for which a full Wildpro "Health and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature review has been undertaken). Host species with further information available are listed below:
		Anas platyrhynchos - Mallard
	Disease has been reported in free-ranging populations of the following WATERFOWL Species:	-- Further information on Host species has only been incorporated for species groups for which a full Wildpro "Health and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature review has been undertaken). Host species with further information available are listed below:
		--

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