Blood lead levels in an endangered vulture decline following changes in hunting activity.

Lead ammunition stands out as one of the most pervasive pollutants affecting wildlife. Its impact on bird populations have spurred efforts for the phase-out of leaded gunshot in several countries, although with varying scopes and applications. Ongoing and future policy changes require data to assess the effectiveness of adopted measures, particularly in the current context of biodiversity loss. Here, we assessed the long-term changes in blood lead (Pb) levels of Egyptian vultures from the Canary Islands, Spain, which have been severely affected by Pb poisoning over the past two decades. During this period, the reduction in hunting pressure and changes in legislation regarding firearms usage for small game hunting likely contributed to a decrease in environmental Pb availability. As anticipated, our results show a reduction in Pb levels, especially after the ban on wild rabbit hunting with shotgun since 2010. This effect was stronger in the preadult fraction of the vulture population. However, we still observed elevated blood Pb levels above the background and clinical thresholds in 5.6% and 1.5% of individuals, respectively. Our results highlight the positive impact of reducing the availability of Pb from ammunition sources on individual health. Nonetheless, the continued use of Pb gunshot remains an important source of poisoning, even lethal, mainly affecting adult individuals. This poses a particular concern for long-lived birds, compounding by potential chronic effects associated with Pb bioaccumulation. Our findings align with recent studies indicating insufficient reductions in Pb levels among European birds of prey, attributed to limited policy changes and their uneven implementation. We anticipated further reductions in Pb levels among Egyptian vultures with expanded restrictions on hunting practices, including a blanket ban on Pb shot usage across all small game species.

Levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the role of anthropic subsidies in the diet of avian scavengers tracked by stable isotopes.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) have been identified as a significant factor driving declines in wildlife populations. These contaminants exhibit a dual tendency to biomagnify up the food chains and persist within tissues, rendering long-lived vertebrates, such as raptors, highly vulnerable to their adverse effects. We assessed the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fledglings of two vulture species, the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), coexisting in northern Spain. Vultures, currently facing a severe threat with a population decline exceeding 90%, represent one of the most critically endangered avian groups in the Old World. Despite this critical situation, there remains a scarcity of research examining the intricate relationship between contaminant levels and individual foraging behaviors. In parallel, we analyzed stable isotope levels (δ15N and δ13C) in fledgling's feathers and prey hair to determine the association between individual dietary and contaminant burdens. Our findings revealed higher levels of PCBs in Egyptian vultures, while pesticide concentrations remained very similar between focal species. Furthermore, higher individual values of δ13C, indicating a diet based on intensive farming carcasses and landfills, were associated with higher levels of PCBs. While the levels of POPs found do not raise immediate alarm, the presence of individuals with unusually high values reveals the existence of accessible contamination sources in the environment for avian scavengers. The increasing reliance of these birds on intensive livestock farming and landfills, due to the decline of extensive livestock farming, necessitates long-term monitoring of potential contaminant effects on their populations.

Real life experience following combined excimer laser trabeculostomy and phacoemulsification in eyes with ocular hypertension or mild glaucoma and cataract.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification and excimer laser trabeculostomy (ELT) in eyes with cataract and mild controlled glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT). METHODS: Single-centre analysis of eyes that underwent phacoemulsification and ELT between 2017 and 2021. Change in intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication requirements, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), complications and re-interventions were evaluated. Success was defined as a reduction ≥20% from preoperative IOP, an IOP ≤ 14 mmHg or a reduction in glaucoma medication requirements with an IOP equal or lower than the preoperative IOP. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 658 ± 64 days. Mean preoperative IOP was 17.76 ± 4.88 mmHg, it decreased to 15.35 ± 3.10 mmHg at 1 year (n = 37) (p = 0.006) and to 14.00 ± 3.78 at 3 years (n = 8) (p = 0.074). Mean number of glaucoma medication requirements decreased from 2.02 ± 1.0 preoperatively to 1.02 ± 0.96 at 1 year (n = 37) (p < 0.001) and to 1.63 ± 0.92 at 3 years (n = 8) (p = 0.197). Complete success was achieved in 17.7% of eyes and qualified success in 54.8%. Two eyes of 2 patients had early postoperative hyphema. Two eyes of 1 patient underwent filtering surgery 2 months after the procedure, and 2 eyes of 1 patient underwent laser trabeculoplasty 3.8 years after the procedure due to uncontrolled IOP. CONCLUSIONS: Combined phacoemulsification and ELT is effective and safe in eyes with mild glaucoma or OHT and cataract. It significantly reduced IOP and glaucoma medication requirements 1 year after surgery.

Apex scavengers from different European populations converge at threatened savannah landscapes.

Over millennia, human intervention has transformed European habitats mainly through extensive livestock grazing. "Dehesas/Montados" are an Iberian savannah-like ecosystem dominated by oak-trees, bushes and grass species that are subject to agricultural and extensive livestock uses. They are a good example of how large-scale, low intensive transformations can maintain high biodiversity levels as well as socio-economic and cultural values. However, the role that these human-modified habitats can play for individuals or species living beyond their borders is unknown. Here, using a dataset of 106 adult GPS-tagged Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) monitored over seven years, we show how individuals breeding in western European populations from Northern, Central, and Southern Spain, and Southern France made long-range forays (LRFs) of up to 800 km to converge in the threatened Iberian "dehesas" to forage. There, extensive livestock and wild ungulates provide large amounts of carcasses, which are available to scavengers from traditional exploitations and rewilding processes. Our results highlight that maintaining Iberian "dehesas" is critical not only for local biodiversity but also for long-term conservation and the ecosystem services provided by avian scavengers across the continent.

Rewilding processes shape the use of Mediterranean landscapes by an avian top scavenger.

The Mediterranean biome has seen a great decline in its rural population. This trend has been followed by an abandonment of agricultural and livestock practices, which has provided an opportunity for rewilding to take place. Rewilding processes can modify the availability of carrion resources for avian obligate scavengers and reduce accessible open areas due to the increase of shrub and forest. We examined how changes in landscape configuration in the past five decades (1956-2011) mediate the foraging behaviour of griffon vultures. Particularly, we examined whether vultures use those areas under natural succession and with a high availability of wild ungulate carcasses. We used GPS information yielded by 30 adult griffon vultures exploiting large regions of southern Spain. We determined (a) habitat use considering land uses and food availability and (b) how tracked individuals responded to areas in different stages of rewilding. Our results showed that vultures preferentially used Mediterranean scrublands, woodlands and the agroforest Mediterranean ecosystem called dehesa, as well as areas with high food resources, namely wild ungulates in winter and a mixture of wild ungulates and livestock in summer. Due to a higher abundance of wild ungulates, vultures forage preferentially in areas with low levels of rewilding, either for being in the first stages of natural succession or for not having experienced further rewilding since the middle of the last century. Rewilding processes are expected to continue in the future affecting the scavenger guild structure and function deeply. Improved management will be essential to preserve ecological processes, ecosystem services and populations of endangered species.

Ocular involvement in a case of systemic indeterminate cell histiocytosis: a case report.

PURPOSE: To describe ocular involvement in a case of systemic indeterminate cell histiocytosis, a rare disease characterized by the proliferation of indistinct histiocytes. These histiocytes resemble Langerhans cells but lack Birbeck granules. The disease usually occurs in adults, with no predisposition for either sex. The clinical features include multiple asymptomatic nodules and cutaneous papules. There are no previous reported cases in the literature regarding ocular indeterminate cell histiocytosis and its treatment. METHODS: A patient with skin papules and hyperpigmentation associated with systemic involvement and corneal infiltration was diagnosed with systemic indeterminate cell histiocytosis after a skin biopsy. Immunohistochemical examination showed specific surface proteins of indeterminate cells, and electron microscopy showed Langerhans-like cells without typical Birbeck granules. Progressive and severe photophobia and corneal thickening made bilateral corneal transplant necessary. RESULTS: Visual acuity remained stable because of the use of systemic immunosuppressors, which decrease the recurrence of infiltration after a corneal transplant. CONCLUSION: Indeterminate cell histiocytosis is a rare disease and there is no previous description of ocular involvement. Infiltrating lesions must be treated with corneal transplant and systemic cyclosporin if they decrease visual acuity.

Facoemulsificación y trabeculostomía con láser excímero en ojos con hipertensión ocular o glaucoma leve y catarata. Experiencia real, eficacia y seguridad / Real life experience following combined excimer laser trabeculostomy and phacoemulsification in eyes with ocular hypertension or mild glaucoma and cataract

Objetivo Evaluar la eficacia y la seguridad de la trabeculostomía con láser excímero (ELT) y facoemulsificación en ojos con hipertensión ocular (HTO) o glaucoma leve y catarata. Métodos Estudio unicéntrico de ojos a los que se realizó facoemulsificación y ELT entre 2017 y 2021. Se evaluó el cambio en la presión intraocular (PIO), la necesidad de medicamentos para controlar la PIO, la agudeza visual mejor corregida, las complicaciones y las reintervenciones. El éxito del procedimiento se definió como una reducción del 20% de la PIO, una PIO ≤14mmHg o la reducción de medicamentos con una PIO menor o igual a la preoperatoria. Resultados El seguimiento promedio fue de 658 ±64días. El promedio de PIO preoperatoria fue 17,76 ±4,88mmHg y disminuyó a 15,35 ±3,10mmHg al año de seguimiento (n=37) (p = 0,006) y a 14,00 ±3,78mmHg a los 3años (n=8) (p=0,074). El número de medicamentos para controlar la PIO disminuyó de 2,02 ±1,00 en el preoperatorio a 1,02 ±0,96 al año (n=37) (p<0,001) y a 1,63 ±0,92 a los 3años de seguimiento (n=8) (p=0,197). El éxito completo se alcanzó en el 17,7% de los ojos y el éxito calificado en el 54,8%. Dos ojos de 2 pacientes presentaron hipema postoperatorio temprano. Dos ojos de un paciente requirieron una cirugía filtrante y dos ojos de un paciente una trabeculoplastia selectiva para controlar la PIO. Conclusiones La combinación de ELT y facoemulsificación es efectiva y segura en ojos con HTO o glaucoma leve y catarata. En esta serie hubo una reducción significativa de la PIO y del número de medicamentos para controlar la PIO (AU)

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification and excimer laser trabeculostomy (ELT) in eyes with cataract and mild controlled glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods Single-centre analysis of eyes that underwent phacoemulsification and ELT between 2017 and 2021. Change in intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication requirements, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), complications and re-interventions were evaluated. Success was defined as a reduction ≥20% from preoperative IOP, an IOP ≤14mmHg or a reduction in glaucoma medication requirements with an IOP equal or lower than the preoperative IOP. Results Mean follow-up was 658 ±64days. Mean preoperative IOP was 17.76 ±4.88mmHg, it decreased to 15.35 ±3.10mmHg at 1 year (n=37) (P=.006) and to 14.00 ±3.78 at 3years (n=8) (P=.074). Mean number of glaucoma medication requirements decreased from 2.02 ±1.0 preoperatively to 1.02 ±0.96 at 1 year (n=37) (P<.001) and to 1.63 ±0.92 at 3years (n=8) (P=.197). Complete success was achieved in 17.7% of eyes and qualified success in 54.8%. Two eyes of 2 patients had early postoperative hyphema. Two eyes of 1 patient underwent filtering surgery 2 months after the procedure, and 2 eyes of 1 patient underwent laser trabeculoplasty 3.8years after the procedure due to uncontrolled IOP. Conclusions Combined phacoemulsification and ELT is effective and safe in eyes with mild glaucoma or OHT and cataract. It significantly reduced IOP and glaucoma medication requirements 1 year after surgery (AU)