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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Vacuolar myelinopathy in waterfowl from a North Carolina impoundment.

Vacuolar myelinopathy was confirmed by light and electron microscopic examination of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris), and buffleheads (Bucephala albeola) collected during an epizootic at Lake Surf in central North Carolina (USA) between November 1998 and February 1999. Clinical signs of affected birds were consistent with central nervous system impairment of motor function (incoordination, abnormal movement and posture, weakness, paralysis). This is the first report of this disease in wild waterfowl (Anseriformes).

Animals↗

[Distribution of lethal haemosporidoses pathogens in poultry].

Peculiarities of geographical distribution and distribution among hosts of the haemosporidian parasites, which cause lethal diseases in poultry, are specified. So far, 11 species of such parasites have been described. This represents about 5% of bird haemosporidian parasites. The haemosporidians cause the lethal epizooties in turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons and domesticated ostriches. One species of parasites belongs to the family Haemoproteidae, six--to Plasmodiidae, and four--to Leucocytozoidae. The agents of lethal haemosporidioses have been recorded in domestic birds of the orders Galliformes, Anseriformes, Columbiformes and Struthiorniformes. The majority of these parasites (eight species of 73%) occurs in the galliform birds. Each other order obtaines only one species of parasites. Five species parasitize turkey, which is the main host of the agent of lethal haemosporidioses. The majority of highly virulent haemosporidian species have been recorded throughout a global territory, which includes the Holarctic, Ethiopian and Oriental zoogeorgaphical regions. Three species of these parasites have been found in the Neotropical region, while none species has been recorded in Australia. The majority of highly virulent haemosporidian species have quite clear outlined areas, that is important to know for the prophilactic purposes including the quarantine of bird introducing from endemic territories.

Animals↗

Corrigia Obscura Sp. N. (Trematoda: Dicrocoeliidae) from the North American black duck.

Corrigia obscura sp. n. was found in the pancreatic ducts of a black duck, Anas rubripes. This is the first record of the genus Corrigia from an anseriform bird and from North America. Corrigia obscura differs from other Corrigia spp. by having a greater relative forebody length and greater relative body width. Noticeable hyperplasia and sloughing of the wall of the pancreatic ducts were associated with this infection.

Animals↗

[Distribution of trematodes of the family Prosthogonimidae in river and lake ecological systems in the south of the Western Siberia].

The results of long-term investigations (1994-2003) of an infection rate of trematodes of the family Prosthogonimidae in the first intermediate hosts (snails of the family Bithyniidae) and in the final hosts (birds) from a basin of the Chany Lake (Western Siberia) are discussed. A total of 1824 specimens of Bithynia tentaculata (L., 1758) and 7166 specimens of Opisthorchophorus troscheli (Paasch, 1842) have been collected from eight rivers and two lakes in the south of the Western Siberia. Data of incomplete helminthological dissection of 225 young water-fowl of 18 species were analyzed. Birds were obtained in July, August and September, 1996-2003 from the Chany lake basin. Maritas of the trematode family Prosthogonimidae were revealed in bursa Fabricii (26.12%) of seven bird species of two orders (Anseriformes and Gruiformes): Grey Lag-Goose Anser anser (L.) (Infection rate-28.6% +/- 12.1), Mallard Anas platyrhynchos L. (27.5% +/- 6.2), Shoveler--A. clypeata L. (22.2% +/- 13.9), Pochard Aythya ferina (L.) (51.7% +/- 9.3), Coot Fulica atra L. (28.6% +/- 5.6), Tufted Duck A. fuligula (L.) (1 case), Wigeon A. penelope L. (1 case). Average intensity of invasion is 5.8 marita specimens per infected bird. The maximal number of parasites (37 maritas), and also the highest average intensity of invasion are recorded for the Coot. The 342 maritas of the family Prosthogonimidae belong to three species: Prosthogonimus ovatus (Rud., 1803) (49.7%), P. cuneatus (Rud., 1809) (32.8%) and Schistogonimus rarus (Braun, 1901) (14.6%); these trematode species have been recorded in 35, 12 and 8 bird species, respectively. Grey Lag-Goose, Shoveler, Pochard and Tufted Duck are new host records for P. cuneatus in for Western Siberia. Parthenitae of trematodes (Prosthogonimidae) were revealed from eight populations of bithyniid snails. The infection rate of the trematodes (parthenitae and cercariae) in population of bithyniid snails from lake ecological system varied 6.55-54.4%, and in river ecological systems in was 0.6-4.2 %. The infection rate of trematodes (parthenitae and cercariae) of the first intermediate hosts was 2.64% that is significantly lower than that of the final hosts from the Chany Lake basin. Both O. troscheli and B. tentaculata were noted as the first intermediate hosts of prosthogonimid trematodes of three species: P. ovatus, P. cuneatus and S. rarus. All three species of trematode were found in three water reservoirs: Ob River (B. tentaculata), Kargat River (O. troscheli) and Chany Lake (O. troscheli). Thus it is found out that 39 bird species can be the final hosts of prosthogonimid trematodes. About a quarter of nestlings is infected with these trematodes. The infection rate of parthenitae in snails from the lake ecosystems is significantly higher than in the river ecosystems.

Animals↗

[Conventional and alternative housing systems for poultry--point of view of infectious disease medicine].

The use of conventional battery cages for hens will be prohibited in Germany in 2007. Only few studies, however, have considered the differences between battery cages and alternative systems with regard to infectious diseases. The existing gaps in the current knowledge need to be closed by research and measures must be developed that will prevent the spread of viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections in alternative poultry housing systems. With regard to virus infections, avian influenza requires particular attention. Since wild birds, particularly anseriformes, represent a reservoir for avian influenza viruses, free-ranging poultry is much more at risk of infection than birds in closed hen-houses. Appropriate measures must prevent direct contact with wild birds and transmission via contaminated water, feed, or equipment. Several bacterial infections of poultry represent zoonoses. Salmonella and Campylobacter are considered as particularly important. To avoid a potential increase in the risk of infection for consumers due to poultry keeping systems that might favour infections with bacterial zoonotic agents, there is a special need for research in this area. With regard to parasitic infections, coccidioses may cause problems in alternative poultry housing systems, and lead to considerable economic consequences. The epidemiological situation concerning infections with Histomonas meleagridis needs to be analysed. Since all compounds that had been used for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes in the past have been banned, there is a need to develop new drugs which are safe for animals and humans.

Animal Welfare↗

[Swimmer's itch in Landmannalaugar, Iceland].

Swimmer's itch (SI) or human cercarial dermatitis is caused by free-swimming larvae of bird parasites of the family Schistosomatidae (Trematoda) which have penetrated thorough the skin. Sometimes, mainly during first infections, the larvae do not cause any symptoms but if trapped by the immune system of the host each larva causes a maculopapular eruption. So far, five bird schistosome species have been reported in Iceland. Cercariae are shed by the freshwater snail Radix peregra but adults live in anseriform birds; one nasal Trichobilharzia species occurs in the nasal cavity of mallards, two visceral species have been found in veins of whooper swans and a visceral species has been found in greylag goose and in mallards, respectively. Experiments have shown that developing schistosomulae are able to survive for days or even weeks in mammals. Long term pathologic effects on the host are unknown. During the second half of August 2003 thousands of bathers got SI in a slowly streaming brook with geothermally heated groundwater in Landmannalaugar, the most frequently visited area in the interior of Iceland. The number of cercariae in the water and SI cases decreased until October but still in December and in late winter 2004 SI cases were reported. In August 2004 SI again started in the area but the density of cercariae in the water seemed to be less than in the previous year. The prevalence of snails shedding Trichobilharzia cercariae on the bathing site never exceeded 1%. The rapid increase of cercariae in the water by the middle of August in 2003 and 2004 were caused by a breeding mallard female and its ducklings which were raised on the bathing site during summer. All the ducklings had nasal- and visceral Trichobilharzia infections which they must have acquired soon after hatching. Three weeks later the adult worms could have started egg-laying. Consequently, emerging miracidia infected the snails which finally started shedding the cercariae by middle of August in 2003 and 2004. In future years this rapid increase of cercariae could be avoided if ducklings are not allowed to have access to the bathing site and the adjacent brook. Retrospective enquiries suggest that some visitors have occasionally got SI after bathing in the brook in preceding decades. Low number of papules, however, indicates a low density of cercariae in the water.

Animals↗

Recent epidemiology and ecology of influenza A viruses in avian species in Europe and the Middle East.

There have been at least ten distinct outbreaks of LPAI or HPAI in poultry caused by H5 or H7 viruses in the last eight years in Europe and the Middle East. There appears to be an increased occurrence of such episodes consistent with global trends. As a result, surveillance systems have been enhanced to facilitate early detection of infection in poultry, together with active surveillance of wild bird populations. These complementary activities have resulted in the detection of a number of viruses in wild bird populations, including some with high genetic similarity to newly detected viruses in poultry, for example, H7N3 in Italy and H7N7 in the Netherlands. Furthermore, there is evidence for continued circulation of H5 and H7 viruses in wild Anseriformes, thereby presenting a real and current threat for the introduction of viruses to domestic poultry, especially those reared in outdoor production systems. Viruses of H9N2 subtype continue to circulate widely in the Middle East and are associated with significant disease problems in poultry. The epidemiology has the potential to be complicated further by introduction of novel viruses through illegal importation of captive birds, such as was detected with H5N1 in Belgium in 2004. Continual genetic exchange in the avian virus gene pool and independent evolution of all gene segments either within an individual host species or among wild bird hosts suggests that these viruses are not in evolutionary stasis in the natural reservoir.

Animals↗

Influenza virus infections in mammals.

The natural reservoir of all known subtypes of influenza A viruses are aquatic birds, mainly of the orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes in which the infection is asymptomatic and the viruses stay at an evolutionary equilibrium. However, mammals may occasionally contract influenza A virus infections from this pool. This article summarizes: (i) natural infections in mammals including pigs, horses, marine mammals, ferrets, minks; (ii) results from experimental infections in several animal models including mice, ferrets, primates, rats, minks, hamsters and (iii) evidence for the increased pathogenicity of the current influenza A H5N1/Asia viruses for mammals. Several reports have shown that a number of mammalian species, including pigs, cats, ferrets, minks, whales, seals and finally also man are susceptible to natural infection with influenza A viruses of purely avian genetic make up. Among the mammalian species naturally susceptible to avian influenza virus the pig and the cat might exert the greatest potential public health impact. Despite numerous studies in animal and cell culture models, the basis of the extended host spectrum and the unusual pathogenicity of the influenza A H5N1 viruses for mammals is only beginning to be unraveled. Recently, also the transmission of equine influenza A virus to greyhound racing dogs has been documented.

Animals↗

[Sequence and structure analysis of mitochondrial tRNApro and tRNAthr genes in domestic goose breeds].

We report here the results of the sequence and structure analysis of mitochondrial tRNApro and tRNAthr genes in domestic goose breeds by sequencing the mitochondrial DNA from a total of 25 samples from 6 breeds of Chinese geese and 2 breeds of domestic Europe geese. Sequences and the cloverleaf structure of tRNApro (69 bp) and tRNAthr (68 bp) in domestic goose breeds were described and analysed They were compared amongst the three domestic goose breeds as well as between Anseriformes (Anser cygnoides) and Galliformes (Gallus gallus domesticus, Genbank accession number NC001323). Both goose tRNApro and tRNAthr genes have normal cloverleaf secondary structures. The amino acid arm and the anticodon loop of the cloverleaf structure of tRNApro and tRNAthr are very conservative among Anser albifrons, Anser anser and Anser cygnoides. The gene sequences in this study were deposited to GenBank under accession numbers AY427800-AY427805 and AY427812-AY427814.

Animals↗

[Is the parasite fauna of Poland well recognized?].

The studies of parasite fauna have in Poland a long tradition. Generally the helmint fauna of all groups of vertebrates was more or less examined and as much as over 100 species of Monogenea, almost 400 Digenea, over 250 Cestoda, about 500 Nematoda and 32 Acanthocephala have been recorded. The best recognized are the helminths of fish (especially those of Cyprinidae, Esocidae, Percidae and Salmonidae), frogs examined in various regions of Poland, some birds (especially connected with water environment: Anseriformes, Ciconiformes, Podicipediformes), most of insectivores (although examined only in few localities), European bisons, deers, foxes and wild boars (all under permanent monitoring), as well as domestic animals (cattle, horses, sheeps) and pets. Such groups like some amphibians, reptiles, bats, carniwores, some birds (especially Passeriformes, Charadriiformes, falcons and eagles) need further exploration, as some host species were not the subject of parasitological investigation. In some cases it will be rather difficult goal, as most of these animals are under strict preservation, and only dead (naturally or accidentally) specimens can be autopsied.

Animals↗

[Botulism in birds living in an aquatic environment in Nové Mlýny in the Breclav District].

Epizootic of wild water birds caused by the toxin Clostridium botulinum of C type occurred in extensive shallow artificial lakes of the Nové Mlýny dam system from May to October 1988 and later on from February to early April 1989. In total more than 3,000 dead or dying birds of 44 species were found, the following orders were prevailing: Anseriformes (56%), Lariformes (33%), Charadriiformes (6%) and Ralliformes (4%). Botulotoxin was detected at high concentrations in sarcophagic fly larvae of Calliphora vomitoria and Lucilia sericata which were collected in bird cadavers, but it was not found in different components of the aquatic environment (water, submersed vegetation, phytoplankton, zooplankton, Gastropoda, Crustacea, Oligochaeta, larvae of Odonata, Chironomidae and Ceratopogonidae). Future development of the epizootic situation in the Nové Mlýny artificial lakes will depend on the water level and meterological conditions in the critical period (May to September).

Animals↗

Light microscopic morphometry of the kidneys of fourteen avian species.

Kidney volume and the volume proportions of the cortex, medulla, blood vessels larger than capillaries and ureter and ureteral ducts were investigated in 61 birds from 14 species representing passeriformes, psittaciformes, podicipediformes, anseriformes, galliformes, and columbiformes. The kidneys were fixed in situ by perfusion via their arterial supply. Kidney volume and body weight were strongly correlated (r = 0.991); the allometric function relating kidney volume (Vk) to body weight (W) was: Vk = 13.96W0.902. Histological sections of one kidney from each bird were analysed by point counting with a Zeiss integrating eyepiece to estimate the volume proportions and subsequently the absolute volumes of the main components of the kidney. The avian kidney was found to consist of a very large cortex (range 71-81%), a relatively small medulla (range 5-15%), blood vessels larger than capillaries (range 10-13%). For all the birds, the mean volume proportions of the kidney components were as follows: cortex, 77%; medulla, 10%; blood vessels larger than capillaries, 12%; ureter and ureteral ducts, 1%. The values for the absolute volume of each of the main components of the kidney were well correlated with body weight. The allometric equations and correlation coefficients (r) relating: (a) the volume of cortex (Vc) and the body weight (W) was Vc = 10.06W0.914, r = 0.991; (b) the volume of medulla (Vm) and body weight was Vm = 2.27W0.795, r = 0.974; (c) the volume of blood vessels larger than capillaries (Vb) and body weight was Vb = 1.76W0.894, r = 0.988. All the birds were divided into two groups in the following five sets: (a) passeriform and non-passeriform orders; (b) galliform and non-galliform orders; (c) small and large birds weighing less than and more than 500 g respectively; (d) aquatic and non-aquatic birds; (e) desert and non-desert birds. In the two groups of each set the differences between kidney volume per gram body weight and those between the respective percentage proportions of cortex, medulla and blood vessels larger than capillaries were assessed by Student's t-test. The differences between kidney volume per gram body weight were significant for all sets except desert and non-desert birds; those between the respective percentage proportions of cortex and medulla were significant for all sets; those between the percentage proportions of blood vessels larger than capillaries were significant only in desert and non-desert birds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Anatomy, Comparative↗

Four cases of neoplasia in captive wild birds.

Four cases of malignant neoplasia in captive wild birds are described: an adenocarcinoma of the adrenal gland in a Mountain duck (Tadorna tadornoides), a malignant melanoma in the thoracic cavity of a Combed duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos), a hepatocellular carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis in an Asian Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), and an undifferentiated carcinoma in the abdomen with metastasis to skeletal muscle in a White-Breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus). The tumors were diagnosed during a 1-year period and represented an incidence of neoplasia of 3.1%. These appear to be the first documented cases of a malignant adrenal gland tumor and a non-ocular melanoma in the order Anseriformes. The hepatocellular carcinoma failed to react with an immunoperoxidase stain for alphafetoprotein.

Animals↗

Patterns in the mass-independent energetics of avian development.

Metabolic data from embryos and hatchlings of several species, when analyzed using allometric relationships, are more typical of precocial species than of altricial species even though the same species are classified as altricial or semialtricial by the criteria of Nice (Trans. Linn. Soc. N.Y., 13:212, 1962). An analysis of existing embryonic and nestling growth and metabolic data utilizing Heusner's model for generating mass-independent measures of metabolism (MIM values) reveals various patterns: Anseriformes and Galliformes have eggs with high energy density, and these species have relatively high and variable embryo/adult MIM ratios. Species whose eggs are less energy dense than the eggs of precocial species have relatively low and invariant embryo/adult MIM ratios throughout most of incubation. This suggests that there are energetic constraints on rates of growth and maturation in the less energy-dense eggs. I propose that changes in the length of incubation periods may have been a result of natural selection upon adult birds that resulted in the production of eggs with a lower energy content and of natural selection favoring changes in adult basal metabolic rate (BMR). In this scheme altriciality and rapid growth are not the traits upon which natural selection was acting directly. Once pipping and then hatching occur, more divergent patterns of energy metabolism between species are evident. This hypothesis does not exclude others that suggest why different growth patterns occur, but it reinforces the general caution that when one analyzes patterns in any one part of the life cycle, one must consider the possible effects of change in all other parts of the cycle.

Animals↗

Water snails as paratenic hosts of Hymenolepididae Fuhrmann, 1907 in Czechoslovakia.

The distribution of cysticercoids of Hymenolepididae Fuhrmann, 1907 parasitizing water birds (Anseriformes and Ralliformes) in Czechoslovakia was studied. A total of 2970 snail specimens (429 Lymnaea stagnalis (L.), 531 L. ovata (Drap.), 1, 462 L. peregra (O. F. Müll.), 158 L. auricularia (L.), 262 Planorbis planorbis (L.) and 65 Viviparus viviparus (L.)) were examined for this purpose. Among them, 122 snails were infected with cysticercoids of 13 cestode species (Dicranotaenia coronula (Dujardin, 1845), Diorchis inflata (Rudolphi, 1810), D. nyrocae Yamaguti, 1935, D. ransomi Schultz, 1940, Diploposthe laevis (Bloch, 1782), Echinocotyle rosetteri Blanchard, 1891, Fimbriaria fasciolaris (Pallas, 1781), Microsomacanthus compressa (Linton 1892), M. paracompressa (Czaplinski, 1956), M. paramicrosoma (Gasowska, 1931), M. spiralibursata (Czaplinski, 1956), Sobolevicanthus gracilis (Zeder, 1803), and S. octacantha (Krabbe, 1869).

Animals↗

[Distribution of cestodes among domestic ducks and free-living aquatic birds].

In 1959-1975, 3404 water birds of 18 species belonging to six orders were examined for the presence of cestodes. The birds came from 52 localities (ponds) in Bohemia and Moravia where domestic ducks were kept by the State Fishery and where also wild water fowl occurred. Cestodes of 31 species of the families Hymenolepididae, Dilepididae, Amabiliidae and Diploposthidae were found. The total number of examined birds included 2476 domestic ducks (1406 of them, i. e. 56.8%, were positive for cestodes) and 928 free-living water birds (873 of them, i. e. 94.1%, were 30 cestode species. Eight free-living bird species of the orders Anseriformes and Ralliformes (Anas platyrhynchos, Aythya ferina, A. fuligula, Fulica atra, Aythya nyroca, Anas crecca, A. querquedula and A. strepera) are significant for the circulation of cestodes as they harbour 16 cestode species also occurring in Anas platyrhynchos dom.

Animals↗

[Artemia sp. (Crustacea, Anostracea) as intermediate host of Eurycestus avoceti Clark, 1954 (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea) (author's transl)].

Examination of Artemia sp. (Crustacé, Anostracé) for natural infection by cysticercoids of Flamingolepis liguloides, Cestode of the Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) shows the presence of three other cysticercoids of cestode parasites of the Flamingo in the hemocoele of the Branchiopode. A fourth one is reported as the cysticercoid of Eurycestus avoceti, Clark, 1954, which parasitizes the Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta). The systematic position of this Cestode is always unknown. This report shows the importance of Artemia in the life cycle of Cestodes of Anseriforms and Charadriiforms birds in saline lagoons.

Animals↗

Serological survey of infections in waterfowl in the Guadalquivir marshes (Spain).

A serological survey was performed in the Guadalquivir Marshes (Southern Spain) in order to determine the presence and diffusion of six infective agents in wild waterfowl. The analysis covered 712 waterfowl from 13 species belonging to five taxa (Podicipediformes, Ciconiiformes, Anseriformes, Gruiformes, and Charadriiformes). A range of immunological techniques led to detection of antibodies against the six infective agents studied: Chlamydia psittaci (13.3%), Mycoplasma anatis (3.5%), Pasteurella anatipestifer (2.9%), duck plague virus (1.6%), Aspergillus fumigatus (1.1%), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) (0.2%). The survey results indicated that these infective agents exist and circulate among wild waterfowl in the Guadalquivir Marshes.

Animals↗