In Pacheco's disease, which necropsy finding is typical?

• A. Normal liver
• B. Small spleen
• C. Enlarged/mottled liver
• D. Ovarian degeneration

Answer: (C)

This question is about the typical gross lesion seen with Pacheco disease, a psittacine herpesvirus infection that mainly targets the liver. The hallmark at necropsy is a markedly enlarged liver with a mottled appearance due to multifocal hepatic necrosis and hemorrhage. This pattern—large, irregularly colored liver—is characteristic and helps distinguish it from other conditions.

A normal liver would be unexpected in this acute viral hepatitis. A small spleen or ovarian degeneration doesn’t fit the disease’s primary target and its most consistent lesion is liver-driven, making those options unlikely.