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At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Seasonal hypothermia in a large migrating bird: saving energy for fat deposition?

We have tested the hypothesis that a large (2 kg) migratory bird, such as the barnacle goose Branta leucopsis, becomes hypothermic before its autumn migration, when food is not scarce, but when it is necessary to conserve and/or store energy in the form of fat. Abdominal temperature (T(ab)) was measured in wild geese using an implanted data logger. Commencing a few days before and continuing until approximately 20 days after the start of their autumn migration, mean daily T(ab) fell progressively by 4.4 degrees C. Thus, it is suggested that, rather than increasing the rate of pre-migratory fattening, the energy saved as a result of this hypothermia reduces the rate at which fat is used and thus enables its more rapid replacement following and, possibly during, migration. The energy saved may also be used for the replacement of non-fat tissues such as the locomotory muscles and gastro-intestinal tract. These observations are the first of their kind from birds in their natural environment and, together with other data, demonstrate that hypothermia in endotherms is not necessarily related to extremely low environmental temperature, to shortage of food or to the resting phase of the daily cycle. The data also highlight the relationship between hypothermia and fat deposition over extended periods in relatively large, endothermic animals and may have some relevance to obesity in humans.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2006

Histology and ultrastructure of the pineal organ in the domestic goose.

The pineal organs of 14-week-old domestic geese were investigated with light and electron microscopy. The pineals consisted of a wide distal part and a narrow middle-proximal one. The glands were attached to the intercommissural region via the choroid plexus. The pineal parenchyma was formed by round or elongated follicles. The follicular wall was composed predominantly by cells immunoreactive with antibodies against hydroxyindolo-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) or glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP). They formed two or more layers. HIOMT-positive elements were represented by elongated cells bordering the follicular lumen and oval cells located in the external layer of the follicular wall. These cells were identified in ultrastructural studies as rudimentary-receptor pinealocytes and secretory pinealocytes, respectively. Among rudimentary-receptor pinealocytes two types of cells, designed as A and B, were distinguished due to structural differences. Type A cells extended through the whole follicular wall and showed regular stratified distribution of organelles in well-recognizable zones with rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus and mitochondria. Type B cells, like type A pinealocytes, contacted the pineal lumen and showed polarity of their internal structure. However, they were markedly shorter than the cells of type A and lacked stratified distribution of organelles. Secretory pinealocytes contained irregularly dispersed organelles. A prominent feature of all types of goose pinealocytes was the presence of numerous dense core vesicles. The population of GFAP-positive cells consisted of ependymal-like supporting cells and astrocyte-like cells.

Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase↗
PubMed1986

High-altitude respiration of birds. The primary structures of the alpha D-chains of the Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus), the Greylag Goose(Anser anser) and the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).

The primary structures of the alpha D-chains of the minor component Hb D of Anser indicus, Anser anser and Branta canadensis are presented. Following chain separation by RP-HPLC, the amino-acid sequences were established by automatic Edman degradation of the globin chains and the tryptic peptides. The three chains show a high degree of homology. For the high altitude respiration the alpha 1 beta 1 interface at position alpha 119 is important. For the Bar-headed Goose a mechanism for high altitude respiration involving both Hb A having alanine at position 119 and Hb D having proline at that position is suggested. Furthermore, a possible genetical development of the avian alpha D-gene expression based on a new B alpha-box mutation in the three geese and an unusual 5' splice junction (GT/GC-transition) in the duck gene is discussed. We consider the possibility that the alpha D-gene is an intermediate between a functional gene, reduced in its expression, and a pseudogene.

Altitude↗
PubMed2005

Investigation of chromosome abnormalities and early embryonic mortality in goose lines.

Early embryonic mortality and chromosome abnormalities were studied in three goose lines: Grey Landes (line 7), White Polish (line 4) and their synthetic line (line 9). Eggs laid at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the laying season were set. At candling at 5th day after egg set, all eggs (2847) were examined and those showing no normal embryonic development were opened 2847. Dead embryos were classified phenotypically and karyotyped. The mean ratio of embryonic mortality (EM) among fertile eggs was 9.4%, 5.2%, 7.3% in the lines 4, 7 and 9, respectively. The mean ratio of embryos with chromosomal abnormalities (CA) among the dead embryos was 8.0%, 14.8% and 13.1% in the lines 4, 7 and 9, respectively. Gander effect and layer within gander effect on embryo mortality were significant, indicating genetic factors. Father and mother of the layer effects were also significant, showing family effects. Animals producing dead embryos and embryos with chromosome abnormalities in high proportion were selected. In the selected groups the mean EM was 17.7-22.9%, and the mean CA was 11.7-34.7% among the three lines. The repetition of CA was not observed in the reproductive season of following year, while animals repeated the high EM (repeatability coefficient of 0.54). This shows that some part of EM may be resulted from other genetic factors. Ganders and layers progeny of these selected animals showed also high EM. It was concluded that culling pairs giving high EM value in their embryos could increase the average level of embryo viability and that the study of genetic determinism of that trait should be continued in geese.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Influenza A virus surveillance in wild birds in Northern Europe in 1999 and 2000.

Using reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we have screened more than 8500 wild birds in Northern Europe in 1999 and 2000 for the presence of influenza A virus. Although our primary focus was on ducks, geese, and shorebirds, we have also tested thousands of samples from other bird species. Approximately 1% of our samples were positive for influenza A virus by RT-PCR, and from half of these we were able to isolate influenza A virus in embryonated chicken eggs. A wide variety of isolates was obtained representing hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes 1 through 7, 10, 11, 13, an unidentifiable HA, and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes 1 through 8.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Biologic and molecular characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), black-winged lory (Eos cyanogenia), and cats (Felis catus).

Toxoplasma gondii isolates can be grouped into 3 genetic lineages. Type I isolates are considered virulent to outbred mice, whereas Type II and III isolates are not. In the present report, viable T. gondii was isolated for the first time from striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), and black-winged lory (Eos cyanogenia). For the isolation of T. gondii, tissues were bioassayed in mice, and genotyping was based on the SAG2 locus. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 3 of 6 skunks, 1 of 4 Canada geese, and 2 of 2 feral cats (Felis catus) from Mississippi. All donor animals were asymptomatic. Viable T. gondii was also isolated from 5 of 5 lories that had died of acute toxoplasmosis in an aviary in South Carolina. Genotypes of T. gondii isolates were Type III (all skunks, lories, and the goose) and Type II (both cats). All 5 Type III isolates from birds and 2 of the 3 isolates from skunks were mouse virulent.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Combining multistate capture-recapture data with tag recoveries to estimate demographic parameters.

Matrix population models that allow an animal to occupy more than one state over time are important tools for population and evolutionary ecologists. Definition of state can vary, including location for metapopulation models and breeding state for life history models. For populations whose members can be marked and subsequently reencountered, multistate mark-recapture models are available to estimate the survival and transition probabilities needed to construct population models. Multistate models have proved extremely useful in this context, but they often require a substantial amount of data and restrict estimation of transition probabilities to those areas or states subjected to formal sampling effort. At the same time, for many species, there are considerable tag recovery data provided by the public that could be modeled in order to increase precision and to extend inference to a greater number of areas or states. Here we present a statistical model for combining multistate capture-recapture data (e.g., from a breeding ground study) with multistate tag recovery data (e.g., from wintering grounds). We use this method to analyze data from a study of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in the Atlantic Flyway of North America. Our analysis produced marginal improvement in precision, due to relatively few recoveries, but we demonstrate how precision could be further improved with increases in the probability that a retrieved tag is reported.

Animal Migration↗
PubMed1986

Telencephalic bill projections in the Landes goose.

Electrical activity of trigeminal central projection areas was recorded in anesthetized and chronic awake geese. Evoked potentials of telencephalic structures were studied after stimulation of the bill, quintofrontal tract (QF), and several telencephalic structures (nucleus basalis [Bas], neostriatum frontale [NF], paleostriatum augmentatum [PA], and neostriatum caudale [NC]). Short-latency evoked potentials were recorded in Bas after stimulation of the bill or QF; this finding is consistent with a direct connection between the main sensory trigeminal nucleus and Bas. Short- and long-latency evoked potentials were recorded in PA and NC after stimulation of the posterior QF. These potentials are concluded to be due to two different pathways: The shorter-latency response is produced by fibers leaving QF posteriorly, while the longer-latency response is derived from fibers traveling along QF, relaying first in Bas and then in NF. From Bas and NF, two pathways convey impulses to NC; only one is relayed in PA.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1985

Blood sampling from the venous occipital sinus of birds.

Venous occipital sinus blood sampling was demonstrated to be an effective nonlethal method in all species tested including ducks, geese, Chukar partridge, Japanese quail, pea-fowl, pheasants, parakeets, turkeys, and chickens. Maximum blood volume obtained from the occipital sinus of 1-day-old chicks equalled the volume obtained by cardiac puncture and exceeded the volume collected by decapitation. Venous occipital sinus puncture was successfully used to rapidly collect several successive blood samples from individual birds, thus indicating the method's utility for serial blood sampling. Hematocrit values, as well as infectious bronchitis and Newcastle disease virus antibody titers measured in blood samples drawn from the occipital sinus and the brachial vein, were compared. Significant correlation coefficients between the two blood sources for each of the variables measured suggest that occipital sinus blood sampling may be substituted for venipuncture for many routine measurements.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Sensitivity of embryos from duck, goose, herring gull, and various chicken breeds to 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl.

Yolks in embryonated eggs from duck, goose, herring gull, and various breeds of chicken were injected with 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB). Hens' eggs were injected after 4 days of incubation and eggs from the other species were injected after 5 days of incubation. All breeds of chicken tested were very sensitive to TCB. At a dose of 20 micrograms/kg egg the death rate in chick embryos ranged from 70 to 100% at the end of the experiment by Day 18 of incubation. Liver lesions, hydropericardium, subcutaneous edema, shortened beak, and microphthalmia were found in both dead and living TCB-treated chick embryos. Embryos of the other species tested were considerably less sensitive than chick embryos to TCB. The highest dose administered to these species was 5,000 micrograms/kg egg for ducks and 1,000 micrograms/kg egg for geese and herring gulls. These doses did not affect the viability of the embryos and caused no gross abnormalities.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

RAPD-PCR analysis of various goose populations.

The aim of this study was to genetically analyse by the RAPD-PCR method four indigenous Polish goose breeds, Kartuska (Ka), Lubelska (Lu), Kielecka (Ki) and Podkarpacka (Pd), in order to determine the band-sharing frequency as well as bands characteristic of the evaluated breeds. The birds were maintained as conservative flocks, accounting for a reserve of genetic resources. A total of 102 scorable bands were obtained, their number ranging from 0 to 8, depending on one of seven primers used and the group of birds analyzed, within a mean of 3.64. For each genetic group specific bands with given primers were obtained, suggesting their potential for use as population-specific markers, especially in ex-situ conservation methods. The results also suggest that keeping endangered geese as separate flocks is relevant for their preservation.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

The effects of lead poisoning on various plasma constituents in the Canada goose.

Plasma glucose, free fatty acid and uric acid levels were measured in lead-poisoned Canada geese (Branta canadensis). Although plasma glucose levels were only slightly elevated, uric acid was significantly higher and free fatty acids were significantly lower. Altered plasma levels were attributed to increased protein catabolism and perhaps renal disfunction. Plasma level of growth hormone and prolactin was assessed by radioimmunoassay. Growth hormone remained unchanged while prolactin was unusually high. The increased prolactin levels may reflect an effort to stabilize free fatty acids.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

An epornitic of duck plague on a Wisconsin game farm.

In April, 1973, an acute disease with a high rate of mortality appeared in a flock of 233 ducks and geese at a private game farm. Most of the flock (220) were black ducks (Anas rubripes) and mortality was restricted to them. In May, the remaining live birds were placed in isolation but mortality continued in black ducks and occurred in other species. The overall rate of mortality for black ducks was 93% and the case fatality rate was 97%. No hemorrhaging from either the bill or vent was observed. The most commonly observed gross lesions were extensive fibrino-necrotic plaques covering the mucosal surface of the esophagus, posterior colon and cloaca. Petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages on visceral organs, particularly the heart, were also common. Virus isolation was attempted from tissues of three black ducks. Duck plague virus was isolated from liver, kidney, spleen and intestine of each. Sixteen black ducks survived the outbreak. Seven of these birds had significant levels of neutralizing antibody to duck plague virus.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

A hematologic survey of captive waterfowl.

Hematologic parameters were studied in giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima), mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos) and various species of diving ducks at seasinal intervals throughout the year. Highest values for packed cell volume, hemoglobin content and erythrocyte counts were found in the winter and pre-nesting periods. Mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin varied inversely with these values.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Avian pox infection in a Canada goose (Branta canadensis).

Lesions suggestive of Avian Pox were found on a debilitated Canada goose (Branta canadensis). These were demonstrated histologically to be characteristic poxvirus lesions and poxvirus particles were seen using electron microscopy. The virus was successfully transmitted to domestic geese but not to leghorn chickens or to domestic ducks.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Salt toxicosis in waterfowl in North Dakota.

About 150 waterfowl died and another 250 became weak and lethargic from suspected salt poisoning after using White Lake, a highly saline lake in Mountrail County, North Dakota. Frigid temperatures made fresh water unavailable, forcing the birds to ingest the saline waters with resultant toxic effects. Sick birds recovered when removed from the salt water and released into fresh water marshes. Brain sodium levels were higher in dead geese submitted for necropsy than in controls.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Renal coccidiosis and other parasitologic conditions in lesser snow goose goslings at Tha-anne River, west coast Hudson Bay.

Lesser snow goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) goslings, approximately 5 weeks of age, were collected near the mouth of Tha-anne River, Northwest Territories, Canada, during mid-August 1991. Many dead goslings had been observed in the area from 1988 to 1990. Goslings from near the coast, where habitat degradation by grazing geese was severe, were smaller, weighed less, and had a greater prevalence of renal coccidiosis (Eimeria truncata) and cecal nematode (Trichostrongylus spp.) infection than did goslings from inland areas, where habitat destruction was not evident. Prevalence of infection with intestinal cestodes was greater at inland than at coastal sites. Prevalences of gizzard nematodes (Epomidiostomum spp.) and Leucocytozoon spp. were not significantly different at the two sites. Histological examination of kidneys and examination of kidney homogenates for oocysts were more sensitive methods than gross examination of the kidneys for detecting renal coccidial infection. The number of oocysts present in droppings was not a good indicator of the severity of renal coccidial infection in individual birds; however, the average number of oocysts in droppings was indicative of the average severity of infection among groups of goslings.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Lead poisoning in wild waterfowl in Japan.

We collected 430 harvested ducks (Anas sp. and Aythya sp.) from nine prefectures in Japan between 1994 and 1997. Fifteen (4%) of 363 birds harvested during and after hunting seasons had one lead pellet each in the proventriculus and gizzard. In addition, 32 (34%) of 93 swans (Cygnus sp.) and two of 14 geese (Anser sp.) found dead from various wetlands had lesions consistent with lead poisoning. One to nine swans suspected of having toxicosis from ingestion of lead shot were found dead each year. Twenty-seven (84%) of the 32 lead-exposured swans were found in Hokkaido Prefecture. We concluded that lead poisoning is still a serious threat to waterfowl in Japan and that there is considerable need for environmental improvement concerning this problem.

Animals↗