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At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Survey for Newcastle disease virus in northern Queensland birds.

Of 1,235 individual birds from 130 species tested for haemagglutinating virus and/or NDV antibody in far northern Queensland, none gave a positive response. On available evidence pittas and rainforest pigeons are considered the species most likely to bring virulent NDV into Australia followed by gulls and night herons which move between dense seabird breeding colonies and other avian communities. Both can easily be monitored by strategic sampling along migratory pathways or at breeding islands. Wild parrots, waterfowl and migratory waders appear to present a minimal threat.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Doxorubicin pharmacokinetics following a single-dose infusion to sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin in sulphur-crested cockatoos, so that its use in clinical studies in birds can be considered. DESIGN: A pharmacokinetic study of doxorubicin, following a single intravenous (i.v.) infusion over 20 min, was performed in four healthy sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita). PROCEDURE: Birds were anaesthetised and both jugular veins were cannulated, one for doxorubicin infusion and the other for blood collection. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (2 mg/kg) in normal saline was infused i.v. over 20 min at a constant rate. Serial blood samples were collected for 96 h after initiation of the infusion. Plasma doxorubicin concentrations were assayed using an HPLC method involving ethyl acetate extraction, reverse-phase chromatography and fluorescence detection. The limit of quantification was 20 ng/mL. Established non-parametric methods were used for the analysis of plasma doxorubicin data. RESULTS: During the infusion the mean +/- SD for the Cmax of doxorubicin was 4037 +/- 2577 ng/mL. Plasma concentrations declined biexponentially immediately after the infusion was ceased. There was considerable intersubject variability in all pharmacokinetic variables. The terminal (beta-phase) half-life was 41.4 +/- 18.5 min, the systemic clearance (CI) was 45.7 +/- 18.0 mL/min/kg, the mean residence time (MRT) was 4.8 +/- 1.4 min, and the volume of distribution at steady state (V(SS)) was 238 +/- 131 mL/kg. The extrapolated area under the curve (AUC(0-infinity)) was 950 +/- 677 ng/mL x h. The reduced metabolite, doxorubicinol, was detected in the plasma of all four parrots but could be quantified in only one bird with the profile suggesting formation rate-limited pharmacokinetics of doxorubicinol. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Doxorubicin infusion in sulphur-crested cockatoos produced mild, transient inappetence. The volume of distribution per kilogram and terminal half-life were considerably smaller, but the clearance per kilogram was similar to or larger than reported in the dog, rat and humans. Traces of doxorubicinol, a metabolite of doxorubicin, were detected in the plasma.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

Cloacal resorption of salt and water in the Galah (Cacatua roseicapilla).

1. The transmural net flow of salt and water in the coprodeum and large intestine of the Galah (Cacatua roseicapilla), an Australian xerophilic parrot, was measured by an in vivo perfusion technique. The main goal of the study was to understand what happens when the hyperosmotic ureteral urine formed in the dehydrated state is regurgitated into the cloaca. Buffered perfusion fluids, hyper- and isosmotic to plasma, with varying NaCl and KCl concentrations, were used. [(14)C]polyethylene glycol served as an unabsorbable water marker.2. The cloacal Na(+) and Cl(-) absorption rates were nearly parallel and at low luminal concentrations roughly proportional to the intraluminal concentrations. At higher concentrations the Na(+) absorption rate showed saturation. The maximal Na(+) flow was 217 muequiv/kg.hr, the concentration at half maximal flow 181 m-equiv/l. The Na(+) absorption rate was not impaired by a high K(+) concentration. K(+) was secreted into the intestine, except at high intraluminal K(+) concentrations where resorption was observed.4. The apparent osmotic permeability coefficient was 0.85 mul./kg.hr.m-osmole at an average osmotic difference of 446 m-osmole between lumen and plasma; it was higher at lower differences. In the (near) absence of an osmotic difference across the cloacal epithelium the solute-linked water flow was 5.0 mul. H(2)O/muequiv Na(+).5. It is concluded that the hyperosmotic ureteral urine formed in the dehydrated state can pass into the cloaca without a water loss. A Na(+) absorption of around 70% of the ureteral output is likely.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Three cases of psittacosis].

Case 1 was a 55 year old female whose primary complaint was pyrexia. Anamnesis consisted of a fever at a 39 degrees C level beginning on September 15, 1987 with headache and muscle pain. The patient was examined by a nearby physician. Despite taking medication, there was no break in the fever. The patient was examined and admitted to this institution on September 18. Case 2 was a 32 year old female whose primary complaint was pyrexia and an abnormal sensation in the pharynx. Anamnesis consisted of a fever at a 39 degrees C level beginning on February 13, 1989 and the manifestation of a cough beginning on February 17. Although the fever broke on February 20, as the abnormal sensation in the pharynx persisted, the patient was examined and admitted to this institution on February 21. Case 3 was a 42 year old male whose primary complaint was pyrexia. Anamnesis consisted of a fever of 38 degrees C, cough and a sensation of pressure in the right precordia beginning on November 18, 1989. The patient was examined and admitted to this institution on November 21. Chest X-rays revealed the presence of atypical pneumonia in all three cases. As a significant rise in antibodies to the Chlamydia of parrot fever was observed in the cases at the time of admittance as well as after admittance, treatment was begun by administration of Minocycline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Risk of acquiring zoonoses by the staff of companion-animal hospitals.

The aim of this study was to obtain information on the risk of companion-animal hospital staff members acquiring zoonotic diseases. We surveyed veterinary technicians to estimate the rate of acquisition of zoonoses from pets while working in companion-animal hospitals. About one in five veterinary technicians (19.4%) reported acquiring zoonotic infections in their small-animal practice. The rate of acquisition of zoonoses by those who had worked for more than 5 years was significantly higher than by those who had worked for less than 1 year (p < 0.001, odds ratio: 6.74). The list of zoonoses included the flea bites (62.3%), dermatophytosis (26.9%), cat-scratch disease (16.0%), tick bites (9.0%), and pasturellosis (6.1%). A small number of veterinary technicians had been infected with Q fever, toxoplasmosis, parrot fever, salmonellosis, tetanus, campylobacteriosis, or scabies.

Animal Technicians↗
PubMed2004

Development of auditory sensitivity in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).

Auditory feedback influences the development of vocalizations in songbirds and parrots; however, little is known about the development of hearing in these birds. The auditory brainstem response was used to track the development of auditory sensitivity in budgerigars from hatch to 6 weeks of age. Responses were first obtained from 1-week-old at high stimulation levels at frequencies at or below 2 kHz, showing that budgerigars do not hear well at hatch. Over the next week, thresholds improved markedly, and responses were obtained for almost all test frequencies throughout the range of hearing by 14 days. By 3 weeks posthatch, birds' best sensitivity shifted from 2 to 2.86 kHz, and the shape of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiogram became similar to that of adult budgerigars. About a week before leaving the nest, ABR audiograms of young budgerigars are very similar to those of adult birds. These data complement what is known about vocal development in budgerigars and show that hearing is fully developed by the time that vocal learning begins.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Perception of complex sounds in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with temporary hearing loss.

Songbirds and parrots deafened as nestlings fail to develop normal vocalizations, while birds deafened as adults show a gradual deterioration in the quality and precision of vocal production. Beyond this, little is known about the effect of hearing loss on the perception of vocalizations. Here, we induced temporary hearing loss in budgerigars with kanamycin and tested several aspects of the hearing, including the perception of complex, species-specific vocalizations. The ability of these birds to discriminate among acoustically distinct vocalizations was not impaired but the ability to make fine-grain discriminations among acoustically similar vocalizations was affected, even weeks after the basilar papilla had been repopulated with new hair cells. Interestingly, these birds were initially unable to recognize previously familiar contact calls in a classification task-suggesting that previously familiar vocalizations sounded unfamiliar with new hair cells. Eventually, in spite of slightly elevated absolute thresholds, the performance of birds on discrimination and perceptual recognition of vocalizations tasks returned to original levels. Thus, even though vocalizations may initially sound different with new hair cells, there are only minimal long-term effects of temporary hearing loss on auditory perception, recognition of species-specific vocalizations, or other aspects of acoustic communication in these birds.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Biotyping of Chlamydia psittaci based on inclusion morphology and response to diethylaminoethyl-dextran and cycloheximide.

Strains of Chlamydia psittaci from cattle, sheep, pigs, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, and parrots were subdivided based on their biological characteristics. Chlamydiae grown in the yolk sac of chicken embryos were used to infect L cell monolayers. The host cells were infected without further treatment or treated with diethylaminoethyl-dextran, cycloheximide, or both. The following criteria were used for biotyping the strains: the morphology of the inclusions and time after infection at which they appeared, the effect of chlamydial multiplication on the host cell cytoskeleton, and the change in the number of cells infected in response to diethylaminoethyl-dextran and cycloheximide. These properties were determined for 29 strains of C. psittaci. Based on the results, the strains were placed into eight biotypes.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Avian P1 antigens inhibit agglutination mediated by P fimbriae of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Whole egg white from pigeon, dove, and cockatiel eggs, as well as the ovomucoid fraction of pigeon egg white, exhibited strong P1 antigenic activities and inhibited agglutination of human P1 erythrocytes and of digalactoside-coated latex beads by P-fimbriated Escherichia coli strains. In contrast, chicken egg white exhibited only weak P1 antigenic activity and had little impact on P-fimbrial agglutination. These preparations did not affect hemagglutination by E. coli strains expressing mannose-resistant adhesins other than P fimbriae, i.e., Dr, F1845, and S adhesins. Human anti-P1 serum diminished the P-fimbrial inhibitory activities of pigeon egg white and pigeon ovomucoid. Pigeon ovomucoid was equipotent on a molar basis with globoside, and the pigeon, dove, and cockatiel egg white preparations were equipotent with each other in P-fimbrial inhibition. Incubation of p erythrocytes in whole egg whites or in pigeon ovomucoid did not render them agglutinable by P-fimbriated bacteria, whereas incubation in globoside did. These data demonstrate that whole egg whites (and their ovomucoid fraction) from members of the families Columbidae (pigeons and doves) and Psittacidae (parrots) specifically and potently inhibit P-fimbrial agglutination, probably by providing P1 antigen as a receptor for the P-fimbrial adhesin. Avian egg white preparations may facilitate adhesin characterization of wild-type uropathogenic strains and may useful in preventing upper urinary tract infections due to P-fimbriated E. coli.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1988

Immunochemical diversity of the major outer membrane protein of avian and mammalian Chlamydia psittaci.

Immunochemical properties of the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of 16 strains of Chlamydia psittaci isolated from psittacine birds, budgerigars, a pigeon, turkeys, humans, cats, a muskrat, sheep, and cattle and a strain of C. trachomatis, L2/434/Bu, were compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by immunoblotting analysis with hyperimmunized rabbit antisera to strains of parrot, turkey, feline, and bovine origin. The MOMPs of the strains showed variation in molecular weights and immunological specificities. Fifteen of the C. psittaci strains were classified into two avian and two mammalian types based on immunological specificity of the MOMP, whereas the other strain was not classified in this study. Immunological classification based on specificity of the MOMP by immunoblotting proved to be a valuable method to classify various strains of C. psittaci.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Mycobacterium genavense infections in pet animals.

Mycobacterium genavense, a recently reported cause of a wasting illness in patients with AIDS, was isolated from a cervical lymph mode from a dog with severe hind limb weakness and from trachael tissue from a parrot with acute onset respiratory distress. Physicians caring for immunocompromised patients should consider birds and dogs potential sources of M. genavense infection and submit appropriate specimens for culture.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2004

Evidence of unique genotypes of beak and feather disease virus in southern Africa.

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), caused by Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), is the most significant infectious disease in psittacines. PBFD is thought to have originated in Australia but is now found worldwide; in Africa, it threatens the survival of the indigenous endangered Cape parrot and the vulnerable black-cheeked lovebird. We investigated the genetic diversity of putative BFDVs from southern Africa. Feathers and heparinized blood samples were collected from 27 birds representing 9 psittacine species, all showing clinical signs of PBFD. DNA extracted from these samples was used for PCR amplification of the putative BFDV coat protein (CP) gene. The nucleotide sequences of the CP genes of 19 unique BFDV isolates were determined and compared with the 24 previously described sequences of BFDV isolates from Australasia and America. Phylogenetic analysis revealed eight BFDV lineages, with the southern African isolates representing at least three distinctly unique genotypes; 10 complete genome sequences were determined, representing at least one of every distinct lineage. The nucleotide diversity of the southern African isolates was calculated to be 6.4% and is comparable to that found in Australia and New Zealand. BFDVs in southern Africa have, however, diverged substantially from viruses found in other parts of the world, as the average distance between the southern African isolates and BFDV isolates from Australia ranged from 8.3 to 10.8%. In addition to point mutations, recombination was found to contribute substantially to the level of genetic variation among BFDVs, with evidence of recombination in all but one of the genomes analyzed.

Africa, Southern↗
PubMed1992

Characterization and assessment of an avian repetitive DNA sequence as an icterid phylogenetic marker.

The first tandemly repeated sequence examined in a passerine bird, a 431-bp PstI fragment named pMAT1, has been cloned from the genome of the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). The sequence represents about 5-10% of the genome (about 4 x 10(5) copies) and yields prominent ethidium bromide stained bands when genomic DNA cut with a variety of restriction enzymes is electrophoresed in agarose gels. A particularly striking ladder of fragments is apparent when the DNA is cut with HinfI, indicative of a tandem arrangement of the monomer. The cloned PstI monomer has been sequenced, revealing no internal repeated structure. There are sequences that hybridize with pMAT1 found in related nine-primaried oscines but not in more distantly related oscines, suboscines, or nonpasserine species. Little sequence similarity to tandemly repeated PstI cut sequences from the merlin (Falco columbarius), saurus crane (Grus antigone), or Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata) or to HinfI digested sequence from the Toulouse goose (Anser anser) was detected. The isolated sequence was used as a probe to examine DNA samples of eight members of the tribe Icterini. This examination revealed phylogenetically informative characters. The repeat contains cutting sites from a number of restriction enzymes, which, if sufficiently polymorphic, would provide new phylogenetic characters. Sequences like these, conserved within a species, but variable between closely related species, may be very useful for phylogenetic studies of closely related taxa.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Sequence conservation of an avian centromeric repeated DNA component.

The approximately 190-bp centromeric repeat monomers of the spur-winged lapwing (Vanellus spinosus, Charadriidae), the Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis, Phoenicopteridae), the sarus crane (Grus antigone, Gruidae), parrots (Psittacidae), waterfowl (Anatidae), and the merlin (Falco columbarius, Falconidae) contain elements that are interspecifically highly variable, as well as elements (trinucleotides and higher order oligonucleotides) that are highly conserved in sequence and relative location within the repeat. Such conservation suggests that the centromeric repeats of these avian species have evolved from a common ancestral sequence that may date from very early stages of avian radiation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The oscine song system considered in the context of the avian brain: lessons learned from comparative neurobiology.

The oscine song system has emerged as one of the leading model systems for studying motor learning in vertebrates, combining an easily recorded behavior with a discrete neural substrate. That neural substrate seems to be distinct from other structures in the avian brain and thus is often studied in isolation. However, the song system is unlikely to have evolved ex nihilo, and should share some features with the parts of the avian brain from which it evolved. Identification of its evolutionary precursors should help us apply what we know about the song system to other vertebrate motor systems, and vice versa. Here, I review the homologies between parts of the avian and mammalian telencephala and explain where the song system nuclei reside in this context. The organization of the song system is then compared to other parts of the avian brain and the brains of nonoscine birds. Study of the nonoscine brain has revealed a 'general motor pathway' from caudolateral neostriatum (NCL) to intermediate archistriatum (Ai) that resembles the song system motor pathway in its anatomical organization. No part of this motor pathway projects directly to brainstem vocal or respiratory centers in nonoscines, but it does innervate a wide variety of motor and premotor neuron populations that mediate other behaviors. This general motor pathway may be accompanied by an 'anterior forebrain pathway', suggesting that the song system is simply a specialization of a part of this preexisting circuit. This hypothesis has implications for how accessory structures of the song system (e.g. HVc shelf, LMAN shell) are regarded, can help explain how the forebrain vocal control systems of three avian taxa (parrots, hummingbirds, and songbirds) could have evolved independently yet be so similar in organization, and makes testable predictions concerning the anatomy of the song system and the nonoscine brain.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The evolution of cerebrotypes in birds.

Multivariate analyses of brain composition in mammals, amphibians and fish have revealed the evolution of 'cerebrotypes' that reflect specific niches and/or clades. Here, we present the first demonstration of similar cerebrotypes in birds. Using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering methods to analyze a data set of 67 species, we demonstrate that five main cerebrotypes can be recognized. One type is dominated by galliforms and pigeons, among other species, that all share relatively large brainstems, but can be further differentiated by the proportional size of the cerebellum and telencephalic regions. The second cerebrotype contains a range of species that all share relatively large cerebellar and small nidopallial volumes. A third type is composed of two species, the tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) and an owl, both of which share extremely large Wulst volumes. Parrots and passerines, the principal members of the fourth group, possess much larger nidopallial, mesopallial and striatopallidal proportions than the other groups. The fifth cerebrotype contains species such as raptors and waterfowl that are not found at the extremes for any of the brain regions and could therefore be classified as 'generalist' brains. Overall, the clustering of species does not directly reflect the phylogenetic relationships among species, but there is a tendency for species within an order to clump together. There may also be a weak relationship between cerebrotype and developmental differences, but two of the main clusters contained species with both altricial and precocial developmental patterns. As a whole, the groupings do agree with behavioral and ecological similarities among species. Most notably, species that share similarities in locomotor behavior, mode of prey capture or cognitive ability are clustered together. The relationship between cerebrotype and behavior/ecology in birds suggests that future comparative studies of brain-behavior relationships will benefit from adopting a multivariate approach.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Comparative morphology of the avian cerebellum: I. Degree of foliation.

Despite the conservative circuitry of the cerebellum, there is considerable variation in the shape of the cerebellum among vertebrates. One aspect of cerebellar morphology that is of particular interest is the degree of folding, or foliation, of the cerebellum and its functional significance. Here, we present the first comprehensive analysis of variation in cerebellar foliation in birds with the aim of determining the effects that allometry, phylogeny and development have on species differences in the degree of cerebellar foliation. Using both conventional and phylogenetically based statistics, we assess the effects of these variables on cerebellar foliation among 91 species of birds. Overall, our results indicate that allometry exerts the strongest effect and accounts for more than half of the interspecific variation in cerebellar foliation. In addition, we detected a significant phylogenetic effect. A comparison among orders revealed that several groups, corvids, parrots and seabirds, have significantly more foliated cerebella than other groups, after accounting for allometric effects. Lastly, developmental mode was weakly correlated with relative cerebellar foliation, but incubation period and fledging age were not. From our analyses, we conclude that allometric and phylogenetic effects exert the strongest effects and developmental mode a weak effect on avian cerebellar foliation. The phylogenetic distribution of highly foliated cerebella also suggests that cognitive and/or behavioral differences play a role in the evolution of the cerebellum.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

E12 technique: an aid to study sinuses of psittacine birds.

Infraorbital sinus infections, which form the bulk of upper respiratory tract infections in companion birds, are commonly encountered in clinical practice and often require medical and/or surgical management. The infraorbital sinus with its dorsal drainage into the nasal cavity makes it difficult to treat these infections. The sinus has various compartments throughout the skull, and subcutaneous tissue. As an aid in determining the location and extent of the sinuses of the parrot and macaw, a corrosion cast of the infraorbital sinus was made. Also, computed tomography (CT) images of cadaver heads were completed at 2-mm scans. Prior to sectioning for sheet plastination, the infraorbital sinus of one half of the imaged heads was injected with a mixture of colored epoxy. The specimens were frozen (-25 degrees C) prior to sawing 2-mm-thick sections which corresponded to the CT scans. The sections were dehydrated, impregnated and sheets prepared using the standard E12 technique. The slices were used to identify the compartments of the infraorbital sinuses and to aid identification of such on the CT images.

Animals↗