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PubMed2004

[Morphological and cytochemical analysis of neuronal populations in the ganglion cell layer of the cerebellar cortex in birds and mammals living in similar habitats].

Neuron populations of ganglion cell layer of cerebellar cortex were studied in birds and mammals, which were living in similar habitats: air-land habitat (squirrel--Sciurus vulgaris and sparrow--Passer domesticus) and land-water habitat (nutria--Myocastor coypus and goose--Anser domesticus). The following morpho-cytochemical indices were analyzed: density of Purkinje cell distribution per unit gyms length, area parameters, tinctorial properties, protein content of neuron populations of ganglion cell layer. Evaluation of neuronal tinctorial properties has revealed general consistent patterns in the organization of cerebellar ganglion cell layer in vertebrates, while an analysis of protein metabolism has demonstrated specific features characteristic for definite classes irrespective of their habitat.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

Avian hosts for West Nile virus in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, 2002.

West Nile virus (WNV) infections in free-ranging birds were studied in Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, after a human encephalitis outbreak peaked there in July 2002. Seroprevalence in resident, free-ranging wild birds in one suburban site was 25% and 24% in August and October, respectively, indicating that most transmission had ceased by early August. Mortality rates, seroprevalence rates, host competence, and crude population estimates were used in mathematical models to predict actual infection rates, population impacts, and importance as amplifying hosts for several common passerine birds. Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus) were the principal amplifying hosts, but blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) also contributed. The blue jay population was reduced by an estimated 47%. A variety of passerine bird species combined to play an important role as amplifying hosts in the WNV transmission cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Simulation of UV spectra from the wake of a stony meteor in the upper atmosphere].

For stony meteors thrusting through a region with an altitude between 100-90 km in the upper atmosphere at different initial geocentric velocities, the effective temperatures are calculated based on Sparrow's particle-collision theory. Assuming different mixture ratios, particle number densities of certain dominant components that might exist in the wake of a stony meteor at a velocity of 72 km x s(-1) are given. Using a large-scale spectral synthesis code called Cloudy, UV radiation within the 240-400 nm band of the wake of such a meteor is simulated, and relative intensities of several expected strong emission lines are predicted. Comparison shows that our prediction of the spectrum of a meteor wake, which has an effective temperature of 5 680 K and a fractional vapor pressure of 0.1 Pa, is fairly close to the observational results.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2005

Women scientists in typhus research during the first half of the twentieth century.

Several women scientists have contributed to typhus research, which carried an exceptionally high risk of laboratory infection. The work of five of them, Ida Bengtson (1881-1952), Muriel Robertson (1883-1973), Hilda Sikora (1889-1974), Hélène Sparrow (1891-1970) and Clara Nigg (1897-1986), is reviewed and the names of several others are mentioned. The lives of these women seem typical of rickettsiologists and reflect the disasters that befell the world during the first half of the twentieth century.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed2005

[Highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry (fowl plague); implications for human health].

Since 1997, high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) virus infection in poultry "avian plague" has emerged as a potential threat to human health, with some fatal cases of bird-to-human transmission. These sporadic infections are caused by H7N7 and H5N1 viruses in Europe and Asia, respectively. The persistence of H5N1 viruses in poultry in several Asian countries, and their appearance in Europe, has raised concerns that the virus might mutate or recombine to create a human pandemic influenza A virus. Wild waterfowl are the natural reservoir of all influenza A viruses, and rarely develop the disease. Since 2002, some H5N1 HPAI viruses have become lethal for waterfowl, cats and humans, indicating an expanding host range. Transmission of H5N1 HPAI viruses from domestic poultry back to resistant domestic and wild ducks and to terrestrial birds (sparrows, pigeons, falcons, etc.) has increased the risk of geographic spread in Asia. These viruses spread through fecal contamination of the environment (particularly groundwater). Low-pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses cause localized respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infection and, unlike HPAI viruses, are not detected in blood, muscle or eggs. Detection of HPAI viruses in meat, blood and internal organs of chickens and ducks raises public health concerns and underlines the need to thoroughly cook poultry and eggs consumed in Asia. The last case of HPA1 virus infection in France was notified in 1955.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Molecular identification of blood-meal sources in Culiseta melanura and Culiseta morsitans from an endemic focus of eastern equine encephalitis virus in New York.

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus perpetuates in an enzootic cycle involving ornithophilic mosquito vectors, principally Culiseta melanura (Coquillett) and avian amplification hosts. To better understand the role of Cs. melanura and Culiseta morsitans (Theobald) in the epizootiology of EEE virus, we collected blood-fed mosquitoes between 31 May and 15 October 2004 at two sites associated with an EEE virus focus in central New York and identified the source of vertebrate blood by nucleotide sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of the cytochrome b gene. Analysis of 484 Cs. melanura and 122 Cs. morsitans revealed that 94.2% and 86.9%, respectively, acquired blood solely from avian hosts. Blood meals derived exclusively from mammals were detected in 0.8% of Cs. melanura and 1.6% of Cs. morsitans. Individual mosquitoes containing mixed-blood meals from both avian and mammalian hosts were also detected in 5.0% of Cs. melanura and 11.5% of Cs. morsitans. Wood thrush constituted the most common vertebrate host for Cs. melanura (23.6%) and Cs. morsitans (30.9%), followed by American robin, song sparrow, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, and common yellowthroat. Mammalian-derived blood meals were identified as white-tailed deer, horse, domestic cat, and eastern pipistrelle bat. There were three isolations of EEE virus from Cs. melanura and one from Cs. morsitans. These results suggest that wood thrush and a few other passerine birds may play key roles in supporting EEE virus transmission in the northeast and possibly throughout the geographic range of EEE in North America. The frequency of mammalian feedings also suggests that Cs. melanura and Cs. morsitans may play a role in the transmission of EEE virus to equines, in addition to maintaining enzootic transmission among avian hosts. We report the first isolation of arboviruses from mosquito vectors concomitant with the identifications of their blood meal sources.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Deoxygenation-linked association of a tetrameric component of chicken hemoglobin.

Deoxygenation-dependent association of hemoglobin tetramers appears to be widespread among amphibians, reptiles, and possibly all or most birds. The evidence for this conclusion depends largely on oxygen equilibria of whole blood which have Hill coefficients that reach values as high as 5-7 at 80-90% oxygenation. Computer simulation of the sedimentation velocity behavior of the major components A and D of chicken hemoglobin shows that component D but not A self-associates to form dimers of tetramers. The gradient profiles at pH 7.5 were satisfactorily fitted with an association constant of 1.26 x 10(4) M-1 and sedimentation coefficients of 4.63 and 7.35 S for tetramer and (tetramer)2, respectively. Since components A and D share common beta chains we conclude that tetramer-tetramer contacts must depend on surface residues of the alpha chains. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the alpha D and alpha A chains of the hemoglobins from 12 avian species ranging from sparrow to ostrich shows that 20 residues are conserved in the alpha D chains but not in the alpha A chains. Nine of these (45%) are clustered between positions E20 and FG2. Four of the latter, Lys71 (E20), Asn75 (EF4), Gln78 (EF7), and Glu82 (F3) are conserved in all alpha D chains even though they do not appear to participate in intratetramer contacts. Molecular modeling indicates that residues Lys71, Gln78, and Glu82 of the alpha chain are strong candidates for the primary tetramer-tetramer contacts.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1991

[The occurrence of the parasite Collyriclum faba (Bremser in Schmalz, 1831) in wild birds in Switzerland].

The infection of our indigenous wild birds by the parasite Collyriclum faba represents a rare event. The adult trematodes reside in the subcutaneous tissue of the host, where prominent cysts can be found. In summer 1988, two cases were diagnosed, in a house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and in a goldcrest (Regulus regulus), which led us to a description of this unusual parasitic disease, whose cycle still remains unknown, and to a review of the prior known appearances in Switzerland. In the time between 1960 and 1989, a total of 2070 wild birds were examined in our Institute. In only four cases could an infection with C. faba be demonstrated. All of the affected birds belonged to the order of the Passeriformes. The occurrence rate of infestation among all wild birds was of 0.2%, and of 0.6% within the order of the Passeriformes. On the basis of this infection rate in our samples, we conclude that the rate of C. faba infections in wild birds of Switzerland is extremely low.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The characteristics of the relationships of arthropods of the refuge complex with the causative agents of transmissible viral infections in bird rookeries].

The isolation of viruses of tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile fever, and Omsk hemorrhagic fever from arthropods of nests of colonial birds (rook, sand martin, tree sparrow, Laridae) in different zones of West Siberia (from tundra to steppe) has been analyzed. The role of gamasid mites, hematophages and saprophages, characteristic inhabitants of nests of colonial birds, and of the tick Ixodes lividus in connection with their biology, coadaptation with hosts, microclimatic nest conditions, etc. has been evaluated. It has been concluded that the whole nest community of arthropods in a nest rather than one infected individual has to be regarded as an infective unit in colonies.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Validity of self-report of adaptive behavior skills by adults with mental retardation.

The validity of self-reports of 48 adults with mental retardation of daily living competency using the recently revised Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Sparrow, Balla, & Cicchetti, 1984) was investigated. Self-report was compared to standard Vineland interviews of subjects' program counselors and to demonstrated competency in a real-life setting. On domains measuring adaptive skills, the subject and counselor interviews yielded highly consistent results. On the optional Maladaptive Behavior domain, however, the subjects with mental retardation underreported problematic behavior. Response validity and implications for use of self-report for program planning and placement decisions were discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1975

Contamination of some avian species with viruses of the leukosis-sarcoma complex.

Contamination of 8 avian species with leukosis viruses was studied. An insignificant portion of sera from 4 and 24 months old chickens contained neutralizing antibody to 3 sero-types (A, B and D) of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). Sera from guinea-fowl reacted positively in the neutralization test only with the RSV-RAV-1 strain. None of the Peking duck and semi-domestic Maran fowl sera was found to contain antibody to RSV strains. Twenty-five and 6.6% of embryos derived from 7-8 and 24 to 30 months old chickens respectively, 30% of liver specimens from 3-4 months old chickens 3.3% of liver specimens from adult guinea-fowl and 72% of liver specimens from Maran fowl contained the group-specific leukosis complement-fixing antigen (gs-antigen). Duck embryos and livers from 24-30 months old chickens, crows, sparrows, rooks or jackdaws contained no gs-antigen. Duck embryos did not react and ducklings reacted poorly to inoculation with RSV whereas guinea-fowl embryos and chickens proved to be highly susceptible to RSV.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Arbovirus investigations in Argentina, 1977-1980. IV. Serologic surveys and sentinel equine program.

Serologic surveys of wild and domestic birds, wild mammals, and horses were conducted during arbovirus field studies in Argentina from 1977 through 1980, a non-epizootic interval. The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was consistently higher than to western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus in all species and all areas. The presence of antibodies in short-lived avian species and in young unvaccinated horses and the demonstration of seroconversions in horses during the period, indicated that these viruses are either enzootic in, or annually reintroduced into, Argentina. Antibodies to AG80-646, a new subtype of WEE virus isolated in the subtropical north (Chaco Province) from Culex (Melanoconion) mosquitoes, were found in horses and rodents in that region. Antibodies to the TC-83 strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus were found in all areas studied. The presence of antibodies in some horses was probably related to vaccination, but the demonstration of seroconversions in sentinel horses and of antibodies in birds and wild mammals indicates active transmission of VEE virus. In 1980 a new enzootic subtype of VEE virus (AG80-663) was isolated from mosquitoes in Chaco; neutralizing antibodies to this virus were prevalent in horses and rodents in this area. Infections with Aura and Una viruses were most common in the subtropical northern provinces. Infection with St. Louis encephalitis was prevalent and widespread, and birds, principally passerine and columbiform species, appear to be the principal hosts. An interesting and unexplained finding was the absence of arbovirus antibodies, in particular SLE antibodies in house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Antibody prevalences in horses exceeded 50% in all areas, and 12% of horses surveyed in Santa Fe Province developed antibody in a 17-month period. Antibodies to other flaviviruses were rare. A high prevalence of immunity to Maguari virus was found in horses; this agent is considered to be a potential equine pathogen. Antibodies to 2 new viruses, Barranqueras and Resistencia, which had been isolated from Cx. (Melanoconion) in Chaco Province, were found in rodents there. Immunity to Gamboa group viruses was prevalent, and birds were implicated as principal hosts.

Alphavirus↗
PubMed1988

[A.L. Lavoisier and the anesthetist].

The activity of the anesthesiologist is centered upon the respiratory organ function; therefore, the question of how the fundamental knowledge of gas exchange was gained seems justified. During the 18th century, the elegant but incorrect phlogiston theory (G.E. Stahl, 1659-1734) dominated all theoretical conceptions about combustion and respiration. Chemistry at that time was a collection of observations without any sound hypothetical background. Our knowledge about oxidation, combustion, and respiration was developed mainly by the work of A.L. Lavoisier (1743-1794). He observed that metals gain weight during their calcination (oxidation) and concluded that air is taken up during this process. In these experiments he also proved that air consists of two elastic fluids (gases), one respirable and the other nonrespirable. After experiments with a sparrow breathing in a closed vessel until it expired, Lavoisier stated that during respiration respirable air (O2) is changed into fixed air (CO2) in the lungs with the mephitic portion of the air (N2) not taking part. These were the first investigations of respiration where accurate and reproduciable methods were applied. Respirable air is also transformed into fixed air by a burning candle. After investigations by which thermochemistry was founded, respiration could be defined as a slow form of combustion. In these and other biologically oriented experiments, Lavoisier developed direct and indirect calorimetry. He named respirable gas oxygen and explained the composition of water. In refuting the phlogiston theory, he established modern chemistry. His fate was sealed during the French revolution: in 1794 he was executed as a consequence of his activities as a farmer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed1986

[Residual chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the eggs and adipose tissue of wild birds].

In 1983 and 1984, in the State Veterinary Institute at Jihlava, 129 samples of eggs of wild birds of 14 species were analyzed coming from different regions of the Czech Socialist Republic for the presence of residues of chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Apart from this, nine samples of hawk fat and 27 samples of buzzard fat were examined. The method of gas chromatography with a detector of electron capture was used for the analysis. The analyzed samples were found to contain residues of PCB, DDT (and mainly its metabolite DDE), HCB, alpha-HCH, gamma-HCH. No residues of other chlorinated carbohydrates were detected. The residue levels of these substances in the eggs and fatty tissues of different species of wild birds vary within a very wide range. A significant influence is exerted on these levels by the differences in food spectrum, the age of the birds, lack of food causing mobilization of food reserves, and mainly the environment where the birds live. The highest levels of residues were found in the eggs and fatty tissues of predatory birds with a narrow spectrum of food, i.e. those feeding on other birds (sparrow-hawk 33.00 mg.kg-1 in the dry matter of eggs, hawk 239.98 mg.kg-1 in fat) or those associated with water (great crested grebe 11.97 mg.kg-1, sea-gull 11.24 mg.kg-1 in the dry matter of eggs). Much lower levels of the residues of the chemicals were recorded in the species feeding mainly on small rodents (kestrel 0.681 mg.kg-1, buzzard 2.456 mg.kg-1 in the dry matter of eggs and 11.398 mg.kg-1 in fat). Some of the samples under study contained dead embryos. These embryos had particularly high residue levels, often higher than the levels regarded in literature as toxic.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1986

Hexachlorobenzene residues in selected species of land and sea birds in northern Germany.

High residues of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) occurred in sea-bird eggs from the banks of the river Elbe, decreasing to the north in areas influenced by the running tide. The residues of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and of dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane including its metabolites were more evenly distributed. In rooks the residues of chlorinated pesticides and PCB were dependent on the land use of the regions compared (e.g., industrial, agricultural), but no such correlation was found for the HCB residues. There was still a significant difference between the HCB residues of sparrows living in small towns and those of agricultural areas. Another source of HCB residues may be the wood preservatives; HCB contamination of two species of birds found near sawmills was greater than for birds of the same species found elsewhere.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Serological examinations for antibodies against West Nile virus, Semlikivirus and chikungunyavirus in laboratory mice, parasitized by nidicole fauna from swallow's nests.

Experimental mice in swallow's (NMRI) nests highly infested with swallow bugs (Hirundo rustica) revealed antibodies against West Nile virus, Semliki virus and Chikungunya virus. Additional nidicole ectoparasites were not controlled and could also play a role in the occurrence of infection in experimental mice. Swallows and sparrows (Passer domesticus) additional nest inhabitants appear to be the ultimate link in this infection pathway as swallow bugs seldom migrate into dwellings to infest humans. RMSF-group antibodies and antibodies against ornithosis are rather seldom found. The import of West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus and Semliki virus to Austria through bug-parasitized swallows or other nidicole mites and insects can be assumed based on the presented results.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hierarchy of radiotaxons and evolution of the genome].

The computer analysis of cell radioresistance (D0) in 79 organisms distributed by Sparrow among 8 radiotaxons, and in those randomly chosen among 183 organisms has demonstrated the existence of the hierarchic system of clusters as 2, 3 and 4 taxons that are completely consistent with the external and internal criteria of the classification quality. The results obtained indicate a general biological importance of radiotaxonomy that directly reflects the basic steps of structural rearrangements of the genome in the course of evolution.

Animals↗