Enterococcus faecalis provides protection during scavenging in carrion crow ( Corvus corone).

The gut microbiota significantly influences host physiology and provides essential ecosystem services. While diet can affect the composition of the gut microbiota, the gut microbiota can also help the host adapt to specific dietary habits. The carrion crow ( Corvus corone), an urban facultative scavenger bird, hosts an abundance of pathogens due to its scavenging behavior. Despite this, carrion crows infrequently exhibit illness, a phenomenon related to their unique physiological adaptability. At present, however, the role of the gut microbiota remains incompletely understood. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technology to assess colonic content in carrion crows and 16 other bird species with different diets in Beijing, China. Our findings revealed that the dominant gut microbiota in carrion crows was primarily composed of Proteobacteria (75.51%) and Firmicutes (22.37%). Significant differences were observed in the relative abundance of Enterococcus faecalis among groups, highlighting its potential as a biomarker of facultative scavenging behavior in carrion crows. Subsequently, E. faecalis isolated from carrion crows was transplanted into model mice to explore the protective effects of this bacterial community against Salmonella enterica infection. Results showed that E. faecalis down-regulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), prevented S. enterica colonization, and regulated the composition of gut microbiota in mice, thereby modulating the host's immune regulatory capacity. Therefore, E. faecalis exerts immunoregulatory and anti-pathogenic functions in carrion crows engaged in scavenging behavior, offering a representative case of how the gut microbiota contributes to the protection of hosts with specialized diets.

ETV2 induces endothelial, but not hematopoietic, lineage specification in birds.

Cardiovascular system develops from the lateral plate mesoderm. Its three primary cell lineages (hematopoietic, endothelial, and muscular) are specified by the sequential actions of conserved transcriptional factors. ETV2, a master regulator of mammalian hemangioblast development, however, is absent in the chicken genome and acts downstream of NPAS4L in zebrafish. Here, we investigated the epistatic relationship between NPAS4L and ETV2 in avian hemangioblast development. We showed that ETV2 is deleted in all 363 avian genomes analyzed. Mouse ETV2 induced LMO2, but not NPAS4L or SCL, expression in chicken mesoderm. Squamate (lizards, geckos, and snakes) genomes contain both NPAS4L and ETV2 In Madagascar ground gecko, both genes were expressed in developing hemangioblasts. Gecko ETV2 induced only LMO2 in chicken mesoderm. We propose that both NPAS4L and ETV2 were present in ancestral amniote, with ETV2 acting downstream of NPAS4L in endothelial lineage specification. ETV2 may have acted as a pioneer factor by promoting chromatin accessibility of endothelial-specific genes and, in parallel with NPAS4L loss in ancestral mammals, has gained similar function in regulating blood-specific genes.

Avian Diabetes Mellitus: A Review.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an uncommon, poorly documented metabolic disorder of birds. Extrapolating knowledge from DM in mammals is challenging because of marked differences in avian physiology and metabolism. A literature review from December 1991 to January 2022 identified 14 publications covering 16 diabetic birds, 63% (10/16) of which belonged to the order Psittaciformes with Ara as the predominant genus. No sex predilection was noted, but males generally presented at a younger age. Commonly reported clinical signs included polyuria 94% (15/16), polydipsia 88% (14/16), weight loss 75% (12/16), lethargy 63% (10/16), and polyphagia 38% (6/16). Diagnosis of DM was based on the presence of clinical signs and persistent hyperglycemia 100% (16/16), often with glucosuria 93% (13/14), response to insulin therapy 80% (8/10), and pancreatic pathology 90% (9/10). Specific treatment for DM was initiated in 14 patients, but blood glucose regulation for 6 months or longer was only achieved in 6 birds. Five of the regulated birds were managed with injectable long-acting insulin and 1 with oral glipizide combined with dietary modifications. However, glipizide yielded poor results in other cases, likely attributable to a lack of functional beta cells. Three diabetic birds progressed to remission. Treatment proved unsuccessful for 7 patients with a mean survival time of 36 days from diagnosis. One patient was lost to follow-up, and 2 were euthanized immediately following diagnosis. Histological examination of the pancreas frequently (90%, 9/10) revealed abnormalities including atrophy, fibrosis, and vacuolization of the endocrine islets with or without lymphoplasmacytic pancreatitis. Comorbidities, including hemosiderosis and infection, were common. This review suggests that birds diagnosed with DM are primarily affected by a type I diabetes as observed in dogs and humans. In contrast to mammalian species, avian DM is often associated with underlying disease and a complete clinical workup is essential to diagnose and address secondary disease conditions prior to initiating long-term insulin therapy.

Isolation and Genetic Characterization of a Novel Adenovirus Associated with Mass Mortality in Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo).

High mortality in great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) was registered on the Alakol Lake in eastern Kazakhstan in 2021 when about 20% of juveniles died. High-throughput sequencing revealed the presence of a putative novel cormorant adenovirus significantly divergent from known aviadenoviruses. We suggest that this cormorant adenovirus can be considered an emerging threat to the health and conservation of this species.

Aislamiento y caracterización genética de un nuevo adenovirus asociado con la mortalidad masiva en cormoranes grandes (Phalacrocorax carbo). En 2021 se registró una alta mortalidad de cormoranes grandes (Phalacrocorax carbo) en el lago Alakol, en el este de Kazajstán, cuando murieron alrededor del 20% de las aves jóvenes. La secuenciación de alto rendimiento reveló la presencia de un supuesto nuevo adenovirus de cormorán significativamente divergente de los aviadenovirus conocidos. Sugerimos que este adenovirus de cormorán puede considerarse una amenaza emergente para la salud y conservación de esta especie.

Optimization and uncertainty assessment of a gas chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry method to determine organic contaminants in blood: A case study of an endangered seabird.

Birds are excellent bioindicators of environmental pollution, and blood provides information on contaminant exposure, although its analysis is challenging because of the low volumes that can be sampled. The objective of the present study was to optimize and validate a miniaturized and functional extraction and analytical method based on gas chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry (GCOrbitrap-MS) for the trace analysis of contaminants in avian blood. Studied compounds included 25 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 6 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Four extraction and clean-up conditions were optimized and compared in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and uncertainty assessment. Extraction with hexane:dichloromethane and miniaturized Florisil pipette clean-up was the most adequate considering precision and accuracy, time, and costs, and was thereafter used to analyse 20 blood samples of a pelagic seabird, namely the Bermuda petrel (Pterodroma cahow). This species, endemic to the Northwest Atlantic, is among the most endangered seabirds of the region that in the '60 faced a decrease in the breeding success likely linked to a consistent exposure to dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT). Indeed, p,p'-DDE, the main DDT metabolite, was detected in all samples and ranged bewteen 1.13 and 6.87 ng/g wet weight. Other ubiquitous compounds were PCBs (ranging from 0.13 to 6.76 ng/g ww), hexachlorobenzene, and mirex, while PAHs were sporadically detected at low concentrations, and PBDEs were not present. Overall, the extraction method herein proposed allowed analysing very small blood volumes (∼ 100 µL), thus respecting ethical principles prioritising the application of less-invasive sampling protocols, fundamental when studying threatened avian species.

Techniques for hazing and deterring birds during an oil spill.

Preventing wildlife from becoming oiled is the priority in an oiled wildlife response. This is achieved through diverting spilled oil away from wildlife, or hazing, deterring, or excluding wildlife from oiled areas. This paper undertakes an international review of techniques deployed for hazing and deterring birds, the taxa most affected, during oil spills. Using these techniques as a baseline it then compares what techniques are used in New Zealand at airports, in agriculture, and at waste management facilities, to assess what could readily be deployed in New Zealand during oil spills, as currently there are few options planned for. As international literature suggests, the best technique is to use a variety of methods for targeted species to reduce habituation. This review highlights international practices that could be tested and implemented, to allow for planning for effective hazing and deterrence practices in New Zealand.

New duck papillomavirus type identified in a mallard in Missouri, USA.

Papillomaviruses are small circular DNA viruses that infect epithelial and mucosal cells and have co-evolved with their hosts. Some papillomaviruses in mammals are well studied (especially those associated with disease). However, there is limited information on papillomaviruses associated with avian hosts. From a cloacal swab sample of a mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) sampled in Missouri, USA (6 Jan 2023), we identified a papillomavirus (7839 nt) that shares ~68% genome-wide nucleotide sequence identity with Anas platyrhynchos papillomavirus 1 (AplaPV1) from a mallard sampled in Newfoundland (Canada) and ~40% with AplaPV2 from a mallard sampled in Minnesota (USA) with mesenchymal dermal tumors. The papillomavirus we identified shares 73.6% nucleotide sequence identity in the L1 gene with that of AplaPV1 and thus represents a new AplaPV type (AplaPV3). The genome sequence of AplaPV3 shares >97% identity with three partial PV genome sequences (1316, 1997, and 4241 nt) identified in a mallard in India, indicating that that virus was also AplaPV3.

Diverse papillomaviruses identified from Antarctic fur seals, leopard seals and Weddell seals from the Antarctic.

Papillomaviruses (family Papillomaviridae) are non-enveloped, circular, double-stranded DNA viruses known to infect squamous and mucosal epithelial cells. In the family Papillomaviridae there are 53 genera and 133 viral species whose members infect a variety of mammalian, avian, reptilian, and fish species. Within the Antarctic context, papillomaviruses (PVs) have been identified in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae, 2 PVs), Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii, 7 PVs), and emerald notothen (Trematomus bernacchii, 1 PV) in McMurdo Sound and Ross Island in eastern Antarctica. Here we identified 13 diverse PVs from buccal swabs of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella, 2 PVs) and leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx, 3 PVs) in western Antarctica (Antarctic Peninsula), and vaginal and nasal swabs of Weddell seals (8 PVs) in McMurdo Sound. These PV genomes group into four genera representing 11 new papillomavirus types, of which five are from two Antarctic fur seals and a leopard seal and six from Weddell seals.

Caspase-1 activates gasdermin A in non-mammals.

Gasdermins oligomerize to form pores in the cell membrane, causing regulated lytic cell death called pyroptosis. Mammals encode five gasdermins that can trigger pyroptosis: GSDMA, B, C, D, and E. Caspase and granzyme proteases cleave the linker regions of and activate GSDMB, C, D, and E, but no endogenous activation pathways are yet known for GSDMA. Here, we perform a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the gasdermin family. A gene duplication of GSDMA in the common ancestor of caecilian amphibians, reptiles, and birds gave rise to GSDMA-D in mammals. Uniquely in our tree, amphibian, reptile, and bird GSDMA group in a separate clade than mammal GSDMA. Remarkably, GSDMA in numerous bird species contain caspase-1 cleavage sites like YVAD or FASD in the linker. We show that GSDMA from birds, amphibians, and reptiles are all cleaved by caspase-1. Thus, GSDMA was originally cleaved by the host-encoded protease caspase-1. In mammals the caspase-1 cleavage site in GSDMA is disrupted; instead, a new protein, GSDMD, is the target of caspase-1. Mammal caspase-1 uses exosite interactions with the GSDMD C-terminal domain to confer the specificity of this interaction, whereas we show that bird caspase-1 uses a stereotypical tetrapeptide sequence to confer specificity for bird GSDMA. Our results reveal an evolutionarily stable association between caspase-1 and the gasdermin family, albeit a shifting one. Caspase-1 repeatedly changes its target gasdermin over evolutionary time at speciation junctures, initially cleaving GSDME in fish, then GSDMA in amphibians/reptiles/birds, and finally GSDMD in mammals.

Pesticides exposure and compromised fitness in wild birds: Focusing on the reproductive endocrine disruption.

Exposure of pesticides to wildlife species, especially on the aspect of endocrine disruption is of great concern. Wildlife species are more at risk to harmful exposures to the pesticides in their natural habitat through diet and several other means. Species at a higher tropic level in the food chain are more susceptible to the deleterious effects due to sequential biomagnifications of the pesticides/metabolites. Pesticides directly affect fitness of the species in the wild causing reproductive endocrine disruption impairing the hormones of the gonads and thyroid glands as reproduction is under the influence of cross regulations of these hormones. This review presents a comprehensive compilation of important literatures on the impact of the current use pesticides in disruption of both the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axes particularly in birds addressing impacts on the reproductive impairments and overall fitness. In addition to the epidemiological studies, laboratory investigations those provide supportive evidences of the probable mechanisms of disruption in the wild also have been incorporated in this review. To accurately predict the endocrine-disruption of the pesticides as well as to delineate the risk associated with potential cumulative effects, studies are to be more focused on the environmentally realistic exposure dose, mixture pesticide exposures and transgenerational effects. In addition, strategic screening/appropriate methodologies have to be developed to reveal the endocrine disruption potential of the contemporary use pesticides. Demand for adequate quantitative structure-activity relationships and insilico molecular docking studies for timely validation have been highlighted.

Genome analysis of a novel avian atadenovirus reveals a possible horizontal gene transfer.

We report the discovery and characterization of a novel adenovirus, Zoothera dauma adenovirus (ZdAdV), from a wild bird species, Zoothera dauma (Scaly thrush). This new atadenovirus was discovered by metagenomic sequencing without virus cultivation. Analyses of the full genome sequence revealed that this new virus is a distinct member of the genus Atadenovirus and represents a novel species. ZdAdV has a genome of 34,760 bp with 28 predicted genes and 39% GC content. ZdAdV is the first atadenovirus to contain ORF19, a gene previously found only in aviadenoviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of ORF19 suggests that it was acquired by ZdAdV through horizontal gene transfer from an aviadenovirus. By analyzing all orthologous genes of aviadenovirus, mastadenovirus, atadenovirus, and siadenovirus, we also found potential horizontal gene transfer for the E4 gene in Pigeon aviadenovirus B. Our study widens our knowledge concerning the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of atadenoviruses and their potential for cross-species transmission.

Multifocal Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Malayan Wreathed Hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus).

A 30-year-old female intact Malayan wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus) was presented for presumed nesting behavior, progressive anorexia, dropping food, and coelomic distension. A complete blood count and plasma biochemistry analysis revealed marked inflammation, severe electrolyte abnormalities, elevated liver enzyme activities and bile acids, and normal plasma iron concentrations. Radiographic images of the patient were consistent with hepatomegaly and loss of serosal detail in the coelomic cavity. A computed tomography study revealed multiple poorly contrast-enhancing hepatic nodules, hepatoperitoneal and intestinal peritoneal fluid and gas, and a contrast-enhancing mass in the ventral coelom. Cytologic samples of the liver were consistent with necrosis, and the coelomic effusion was characterized as an aseptic suppurative exudate. An exploratory coeliotomy was performed and biopsy samples of the liver and a mesenteric mass were histologically interpreted as a tubular carcinoma with metastasis to the liver and secondary portal hepatitis. Euthanasia was elected and multiple liver masses and a peripancreatic mass were identified on necropsy. Histopathological samples collected during the postmortem gross examination showed multiple well-demarcated hepatic masses consisting of neoplastic hepatocytes encapsulated by fibrous tissue and proliferation of dysplastic biliary ductules, as well as a peripancreatic heterophilic granuloma with adjacent pancreatic atrophy and ductular proliferation. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic granulomatous and heterophilic pancreatitis, steatitis, and coelomitis with intralesional bacteria. Malignant hepatobiliary neoplasia has been poorly documented in hornbills despite high anecdotal incidence in this and other avian species predisposed to iron storage disease. This report illustrates clinical and pathological information, including advanced imaging, which could aid in the diagnosis of this condition in hornbills and other avian species.

Exotic and native plants play equally important roles in supporting and structuring plant-hummingbird networks within urban green spaces.

Background: Urban gardens, despite their transformed nature, serve as invaluable microcosms for a quantitative examination of floral resource provision to urban pollinators, considering the plant's origin. Thus, knowledge has increased, emphasizing the importance of these green areas for hosting and conserving pollinator communities. However, there is a significant knowledge gap concerning the changing availability of these native and exotic floral resources over time and their impact on structuring interaction networks with specific pollinators. Methods: Over a year-long period, monthly surveys were conducted to record both native and exotic plant species visited by hummingbirds in an urban garden at Tlaxcala, Mexico. Flower visits were recorded, and the total flowers on each plant visited were tallied. Additionally, all observed hummingbirds were recorded during the transect walks, regardless of plant visits, to determine hummingbird abundance. The interactions were summarized using matrices, and network descriptors like connectance, specializacion, nestedness, and modularity were computed. Plant and hummingbird species in the core and periphery of the network were also identified. Lastly, simulations were performed to assess the network's resilience to the extinction of highly connected native and exotic plant species, including those previously situated in the network's core. Results: We recorded 4,674 interactions between 28 plant species, and eight hummingbird species. The majority of plants showed an ornithophilic syndrome, with 20 species considered exotic. Despite asynchronous flowering, there was overlap observed across different plant species throughout the year. Exotic plants like Jacaranda mimosifolia and Nicotiana glauca produced more flowers annually than native species. The abundance of hummingbirds varied throughout the study, with Saucerottia berillyna being the most abundant species. The plant-hummingbird network displayed high connectance, indicating generalization in their interaction. Significant nestedness was observed, mainly influenced by exotic plant species. The core of the network was enriched with exotic plants, while Basilinna leucotis and Cynanthus latirostris played central roles among hummingbirds. Network resilience to species extinction remained generally high. Conclusions: Our findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics and structure of plant-hummingbird interactions in urban gardens, emphasizing the influence of exotic plant species and the network's resilience to perturbations. Understanding and managing the impact of exotic plants on such networks is crucial for the conservation and sustainable functioning of urban ecosystems.

Volatile organic compounds in preen oil and feathers - a review.

For a long time birds were assumed to be anosmic or at best microsmatic, with olfaction a poorly understood and seldom investigated part of avian physiology. The full viability of avian olfaction was first discovered through its functions in navigation and foraging. Subsequently, researchers have investigated the role of olfaction in different social and non-social contexts, including reproduction, kin recognition, predator avoidance, navigation and foraging. In parallel to the recognition of the importance of olfaction for avian social behaviour, there have been advances in the techniques and methods available for the sampling and analysis of trace volatiles and odourants, leading to insights into the chemistry underlying chemical communication in birds. This review provides (i) an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the volatile chemical composition of preen oil and feathers, its phylogenetic coverage, chemical signatures and their potential functions, and (ii) a discussion of current methods used for the isolation and detection of volatiles. Finally, lines for future research are proposed.

Physiological and biochemical variations of naturally ripened mango (Mangifera Indica L.) with synthetic calcium carbide and ethylene.

To meet the increasing consumer demands for fruits, the implementation of artificial ripening techniques using synthetic chemicals has become increasingly commonplace among less ethical fruit production companies in today's global market. The objective of present work was to establish a difference in the physiological and biochemical and profiles of naturally ripened mangoes vs. those ripened by application of synthetic calcium carbide and ethylene. The application of calcium carbide at 10 g/kg mangoes resulted early ripening in 2 days, with a 3-day shelf life, as compared with 5 and 6 days, for mangoes ripened by ethylene and naturally, respectively. Higher levels of calcium carbide reduced moisture, fiber, protein and carbohydrates content and increased the ash content of mangoes, as compared to higher levels of ethylene, whereas in naturally ripened mangoes the content percentages were 80.21, 3.57, 3.05 6.27 and 4.74, respectively. Artificial ripening resulted in significant loss of ascorbic, citric and malic acid, as values were recorded 35.94, 2.12 and 0.63 mg/g, respectively, in mangoes ripened with 10 g/kg of calcium carbide. However, in naturally ripened mangoes the amounts of these acids were recorded significantly (p < 0.05) high as 52.29, 3.76 and 1.37 mg/g, respectively. There was an increase in total soluble solids (TSS) and reducing sugars, and a decrease in titratable acidity in calcium carbide (10 g/kg) treated mangoes. Elemental analyses revealed high levels of minerals in naturally ripened mangoes, with significant values of iron (0.45 mg/100 g), zinc (0.24 mg/100 g) and copper (0.17 mg/100 g). The organoleptic quality of the fruit decreased significantly (p < 0.05) as a result of the use of calcium carbide. Although use of artificial ripening techniques provides speedy ripening of mangoes, there are obvious limitations. Consequently, natural ripening should be promoted in order to have safer and more nutritious mangoes.

Ecological Diversification in an Adaptive Radiation of Plants: The Role of De Novo Mutation and Introgression.

Adaptive radiations are characterized by rapid ecological diversification and speciation events, leading to fuzzy species boundaries between ecologically differentiated species. Adaptive radiations are therefore key systems for understanding how species are formed and maintained, including the role of de novo mutations versus preexisting variation in ecological adaptation and the genome-wide consequences of hybridization events. For example, adaptive introgression, where beneficial alleles are transferred between lineages through hybridization, may fuel diversification in adaptive radiations and facilitate adaptation to new environments. In this study, we employed whole-genome resequencing data to investigate the evolutionary origin of hummingbird-pollinated flowers and to characterize genome-wide patterns of phylogenetic discordance and introgression in Penstemon subgenus Dasanthera, a small and diverse adaptive radiation of plants. We found that magenta hummingbird-adapted flowers have apparently evolved twice from ancestral blue-violet bee-pollinated flowers within this radiation. These shifts in flower color are accompanied by a variety of inactivating mutations to a key anthocyanin pathway enzyme, suggesting that independent de novo loss-of-function mutations underlie the parallel evolution of this trait. Although patterns of introgression and phylogenetic discordance were heterogenous across the genome, a strong effect of gene density suggests that, in general, natural selection opposes introgression and maintains genetic differentiation in gene-rich genomic regions. Our results highlight the importance of both de novo mutation and introgression as sources of evolutionary change and indicate a role for de novo mutation in driving parallel evolution in adaptive radiations.

First reported case of Trichomonas gallinae infection in red-breasted toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus).

This study reports the infection and diagnosis of the protozoan morphologic complex Trichomonas gallinae in a baby red-breasted toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus). Nodular lesions on the soft palate and edema in the oral cavity were observed macroscopically. Microscopically, a granuloma with multiple layers of necrosis interspersed with inflammatory polymorphonuclear infiltrates was observed. Parasitism was confirmed by parasitological diagnosis, isolation of the flagellates in culture medium, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using 5.8S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Flanking internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene regions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and the sequences were analyzed phylogenetically using MEGA 11 software. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS1/5.8S rRNA/ITS2 sequences demonstrated high nucleotide identity with two Trichomonas sequences available in GenBank, which were more closely related to T. vaginalis (99%) than to T. gallinae (98%). In addition to being potential transmitters of this protozoan, rigorous monitoring of infectious and parasitic diseases in wild bird populations is essential for their preservation. The forms of transmission of Trichomonas sp. favor the occurrence of the disease in many non-Columbiformes species, which is essential for the monitoring of this disease in wild birds.

The risk of wild birds contaminating source water with zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia is probably overestimated.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia are important waterborne protozoan parasites that are resistant to disinfectants commonly used for drinking water. Wild birds, especially wild migratory birds, are often implicated in the contamination of source and wastewater with zoonotic diseases, due to their abundance near water and in urban areas and their ability to spread enteric pathogens over long distances. This review summarises the diversity of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in birds, with a focus on zoonotic species, particularly in wild and migratory birds, which is critical for understanding zoonotic risks. The analysis revealed that both avian-adapted and zoonotic Cryptosporidium species have been identified in birds but that avian-adapted Cryptosporidium species dominate in wild migratory birds. Few studies have examined Giardia species and assemblages in birds, but the non-zoonotic Giardia psittaci and Giardia ardeae are the most commonly reported species. The identification of zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia in birds, particularly C. parvum and G. duodenalis assemblages A and B in wild migratory birds, is likely due to mechanical carriage or spillback from birds co-grazing pastures contaminated with C. parvum from livestock. Therefore, the role of wild migratory birds in the transmission of zoonotic Cryptosporidium and Giardia to source water is likely overestimated. To address knowledge gaps, it is important to conduct more extensive studies on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in a broader range of migratory wild birds. There is also a need to investigate the extent to which zoonotic infections with C. hominis/C. parvum and G. duodenalis assemblages A and B are mechanical and/or transient, and to assess the load and viability of zoonotic oo/cysts shed in avian faeces. Understanding the contribution of birds to zoonoses is essential for effective disease surveillance, prevention, and control.

Diet analysis and the assessment of plastic and other indigestible anthropogenic litter in the white stork pellets.

Pollution by anthropogenic litter is a major threat to global ecosystems. Seabirds are frequently used as environmental monitors of litter ingestion, but similar research is rare for terrestrial birds. Here, we focused on pellet analysis from 117 nests of an iconic bird of the Western Palearctic, the white stork (Ciconia ciconia), breeding in southern and southwestern Poland in a farmland landscape, far away from large dumps and landfills. We found that most prey items in the diet of white storks were invertebrates (particularly from orders Coleoptera, Orthoptera, and Hymenoptera) but vertebrate prey comprised most of the biomass. Further analysis revealed that anthropogenic litter was found in 22.7% of pellets (34.2% of breeding pairs) with plastic (8.4%) and cigarette filters (6.9%) being most prevalent. This study represents the first assessment through pellet analysis of the ingestion of anthropogenic litter by live wild storks in Poland and also by a migratory population of white storks. Our study indicates a potentially significant transfer of plastic and other anthropogenic material through terrestrial food webs.

Composition and spatio-temporal dynamics of aquatic bird community in humid areas of Alto Parana Atlantic Forest / Composição e dinâmica espaço-temporal da comunidade de aves aquáticas em áreas úmidas da Floresta Atlântica do Alto Paraná

Abstract The northwestern portion of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion is one of the most disturbed and fragmented areas in the Atlantic Forest, and little is known about the local avifauna. In this study, we have described the composition and diversity of the aquatic avifauna of this region and analyzed the patterns of similarity with respect to the seasonal as well as spatial distribution. We used the line transect sampling technique in six distinct humid areas (including lentic and lotic water bodies) during the dry and rainy seasons of 2012 and 2013. A total of 52 species of waterfowl were recorded. The species richness of the studied areas was surprisingly distinct; only seven waterfowl species, namely Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), Tigrisoma lineatum (Boddaert, 1783), Rosthramus sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817), Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766), Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782), Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766), and Arundinicola leucocephala (Linnaeus, 1764), were common to these six studied areas. This indicated that the other bird species that were observed might be habitat selective. Moreover, the analysis of the composition of birds in the two seasons (dry and rainy) combined with their spatial distributions showed significant dissimilarities between the areas with lotic (river and constructed wetland) and lentic (lagoons) characteristics. Nevertheless, despite the small extent and low total richness of the entire study area, it was found to be home to 1/3 of all freshwater aquatic birds documented in the state of São Paulo, with the record of 5 migratory species and 11 new species added to the northwest of the state. The heterogeneity of local aquatic environments, habitat selection combined with seasonality, and the absence of other humid locations in the surroundings can explain the diversity and distribution of these birds in the water bodies of this uninvestigated Atlantic Forest ecoregion.

Resumo A porção noroeste da ecorregião Floresta Atlântica do Alto Paraná é uma das mais alteradas e fragmentadas da Mata Atlântica, da qual pouco se sabe sobre a avifauna local. Nosso objetivo foi descrever a diversidade e composição da avifauna aquática, bem como analisar os padrões de similaridade quanto a distribuição temporal e espacial destas aves nesta ecorregião. Utilizamos a transecção linear para amostragem em seis áreas úmidas (corpos d'água lênticos e lóticos), nos períodos de seca e chuva entre 2012 e 2013. Registramos 52 espécies de aves aquáticas e as riquezas das áreas mostraram-se distintas, pois apenas Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), Tigrisoma lineatum (Boddaert, 1783), Rosthramus sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817), Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766), Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782), Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766), and Arundinicola leucocephala (Linnaeus, 1764) foram comuns às seis áreas, o que indica seleção de habitat. Quando analisada a composição das aves nos dois períodos aliada à distribuição espacial, encontramos dissimilaridades temporais acentuadas entre os ambientes com características lóticas (rio e aterro) e lênticas (lagoas). Isto mostra que, além das diferentes épocas sazonais, é necessário analisar separadamente os diferentes tipos de áreas úmidas. Por fim, apesar da extensão pequena e baixa riqueza total, a área amostrada abrigou 1/3 das aves aquáticas de água doce para o estado de São Paulo, cinco espécies migratórias e 11 novas espécies para o noroeste do estado. A heterogeneidade de ambientes aquáticos locais, forte seleção de habitat aliada à sazonalidade e ausência de outros locais úmidos em seu entorno, explicam a diversidade e distribuição destas aves estreitamente relacionadas aos corpos d'água desta desconhecida ecorregião da Mata Atlântica.