OBJECTIVE: To compare the reliability of quantitative image analysis of histologic sections versus chemical analysis for determination of the iron content of serial liver biopsies taken at regular intervals after the onset of treatment, in a case of hemochromatosis in a channel-billed toucan treated with deferoxaminemesilate in combination with a low-iron diet.

STUDY DESIGN: Two different image analysis systems were used, one developed for working with black-and-white pictures and another capable of processing colored images. Using Pearson's correlation test, the results with both quantitative image analysis systems were compared to the results obtained by chemical analysis.

RESULTS: There was a good correlation between the results of chemical analysis and those obtained with each of the two image analysis systems (0.86 and 0.89, respectively, with a confidence interval of 95%). The results of these serial liver biopsies indicated that the bird responded well to treatment.

CONCLUSION: Quantitative image analysis can be used to evaluate follow-up of this disease in toucans as an alternative to chemical determination of the iron content in biopsies of the liver. this technique may have potential value in follow-up of hemochromatosis in humans.