The role of neophobia in a pioneer olfactory enrichment for amazons, macaws, and toucans / El papel de la neofobia en un enriquecimiento olfativo pionero para guacamayos, loros y tucanes

Abstract Introduction: Despite sensory enrichment being critical for ensuring the well-being of captive wild animals, smells are not being included in enrichment protocols for birds. For this group, neophobia can be a problem when it comes to implementing new enrichment devices. Objective: To explore how participation in an olfactory enrichment and latency times varies between bird taxonomic groups (Amazona spp. / Ara spp. / Ramphastos spp.). Methods: We exposed 257 birds to a scent enrichment, and we recorded which individuals engaged with it and the time they took to interact with it. Results: We discovered that participation by toucans in the enrichment was higher compared to amazons and macaws. Furthermore, latency time to interact with the enrichment was higher in amazons that in the other species. Our findings could suggest that toucans are neophilic species which could benefit from higher exploration rates. Amazons on the contrary seem to be particularly neophobic, possibly because of their less opportunistic feeding habits compared to toucans and their higher vulnerability to predation compared to macaws. Conclusion: These results point out that toucans would be more inclined to engage in environmental enrichments, while a more natural design using smells inside familiar objects could be a more successful enrichment for psittacids.

Resumen Introducción: A pesar de que el enriquecimiento sensorial es fundamental para garantizar el bienestar de los animales silvestres en cautiverio, los olores no son incluidos de forma rutinaria en los protocolos de enriquecimiento para aves. Además, en el caso de estos animales, la neofobia puede ser un problema a la hora de implementar nuevos dispositivos de enriquecimiento. Objetivo: Explorar cómo varía la participación y la latencia en la interacción con un enriquecimiento olfativo entre grupos taxonómicos de aves (Amazona spp. / Ara spp. / Ramphastos spp.). Métodos: Expusimos a 257 aves a un enriquecimiento olfativo y registramos qué individuos participaron y el tiempo que tardaron en interactuar con él. Resultados: La participación en el enriquecimiento fue mayor en los tucanes en comparación con las amazonas y los guacamayos. Además, el tiempo de latencia para interactuar con el enriquecimiento fue mayor en las amazonas que en las otras especies. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que los tucanes son especies neofílicas que podrían beneficiarse de tasas de exploración más altas. Por otro lado, las amazonas parecen ser particularmente neofóbicas, posiblemente debido a sus hábitos alimenticios menos oportunistas en comparación con los tucanes y a su mayor vulnerabilidad a la depredación en comparación con los guacamayos. Conclusión: Estos resultados señalan que los tucanes serían más proclives a participar en enriquecimientos ambientales, mientras que un diseño que utilice olores dentro de objetos más naturales o familiares podría ser más exitoso para las psitácidas.

PARROT BORNAVIRUSES IN PSITTACINES KEPT IN CAPTIVITY IN THE STATE OF SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL.

Parrot bornaviruses are responsible for proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacines. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and factors associated with Parrot bornaviruses infection in psittacines kept in captivity in a state in the southern region of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 192 birds from two facilities (A and B) in 2019, using choanal, esophageal, and cloacal swabs and feathers, totaling 768 samples subjected to reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), for the matrix (M) protein gene with a final product of 350 base pairs (bp). Genetic sequencing of three positive samples was performed by the Sanger method. In the study, the overall virus occurrence was 35.9% (69/192), with 40.4% (42/104) in Facility A and 30.7% (27/88) in Facility B. Sequencing analysis of the samples revealed the presence of Parrot bornavirus 2 (PaBV-2) in both facilities. Swab samples from the choanal (40/69), esophageal (30/69), cloacal (35/69), and feather (15/69) tested positive, facilitating the molecular diagnosis of Parrot bornaviruses. The results indicated that there is no single ideal sample type for antemortem molecular diagnosis of this virus. Simultaneously testing all four samples at the same time point yielded more diagnoses than testing any single sample among the four. Most of the 29 sampled psittacine species were native, and 46.9% of the birds (90/192) consisted of endangered species. Among the psittacines that tested positive, 88.4% (61/69) were clinically healthy, and 8.7% (6/69) exhibited clinical or behavioral signs, including behavioral changes, alterations in feathering, and changes in body score at the time of collection. This study showcases the application of minimally invasive sampling for diagnosing Parrot bornaviruses, enabling sample collection when the birds are restrained for clinical evaluation. This approach facilitates a prompt and effective antemortem diagnosis, thereby serving as an efficient screening method for parrots kept in captivity.

Eviction-driven infanticide and sexually selected adoption and infanticide in a neotropical parrot.

Infanticide and adoption have been attributed to sexual selection, where an individual later reproduces with the parent whose offspring it killed or adopted. While sexually selected infanticide is well known, evidence for sexually selected adoption is anecdotal. We report on both behaviors at 346 nests over 27 y in green-rumped parrotlets (Forpus passerinus) in Venezuela. Parrotlets are monogamous with long-term pair bonds, exhibit a strongly male-biased adult sex ratio, and nest in cavities that are in short supply, creating intense competition for nest sites and mates. Infanticide attacks occurred at 256 nests in two distinct contexts: 1) Attacks were primarily committed by nonbreeding pairs (69%) attempting to evict parents from the cavity. Infanticide attacks per nest were positively correlated with population size and evicting pairs never adopted abandoned offspring. Competition for limited nest sites was a primary cause of eviction-driven infanticide, and 2) attacks occurred less frequently at nests where one mate died (31%), was perpetrated primarily by stepparents of both sexes, and was independent of population size. Thus, within a single species and mating system, infanticide occurred in multiple contexts due to multiple drivers. Nevertheless, 48% of stepparents of both sexes adopted offspring, and another 23% of stepfathers exhibited both infanticide and long-term care. Stepfathers were often young males who subsequently nested with widows, reaching earlier ages of first breeding than competitors and demonstrating sexually selected adoption. Adoption and infanticide conferred similar fitness benefits to stepfathers and appeared to be equivalent strategies driven by limited breeding opportunities, male-biased sex ratios, and long-term monogamy.

Cuban Macaw Ara tricolor in the Upper Pleistocene of Western Cuba.

The Cuban macaw Ara tricolor (Bechstein, 1811) is an extinct species of large parrots. Its historical distribution and ecology are poorly understood. To date, only three late Quaternary paleontological and one archeozoological (17th-18th centuries) finds of the species have been described from central Cuba. A new (fourth) fossil find of the Cuban macaw is described and is a fragmentary carpometacarpus from Upper Pleistocene layers of the El Abrón Cave in the Pinar del Río province. The find provides the first documented evidence of the species from the western part of Cuba. The associated fauna indicates that the Cuban macaw lived in mosaic, semi-open marshy landscapes, which were probably similar to those in the vicinity of Ciénaga de Zapata in modern times.

Acute, fatal Sarcocystis falcatula infection in rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri).

Sarcocystosis is an important avian disease that affects several intermediate host species. Birds not endemic from Americas, like Old World psittacine species, appear to be more susceptible to lethal infection than New World psittacine species. The aim of this study was to investigate the sudden death of rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) in an exotic private parrot's aviary. Macroscopically, the most prevalent findings were severe lung congestion, slight superficial myocardial hemorrhagic lesions, enlarged liver and congestion of meningeal vessels. The initial diagnosis of sarcocystosis was made in all birds by microscopic observations of intravascular pulmonary schizonts, as well hepatitis, myocarditis, and nephritis. Immunohistochemistry for detection of Sarcocystis sp. antigen revealed an intense immunoreactivity in the lungs. Molecular identification of Sarcocystis falcatula were obtained by nested PCR and sequencing of amplified fragments of internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and three surface antigen-coding genes (SAG2, SAG3 and SAG4). SAG-based phylogenies showed a close relatedness of the isolate described here and S. falcatula previously detected in naturally infected native birds, which suggests that the isolates that affected ringnecks are a common isolate that circulates in Brazil.

Searching for food in a concrete jungle: feeding ecology of a Psittacine assemblage (Aves, Psittacidae) in a major Amazonian city.

The efficient use of food resources is a precondition for wild species´ survival in urban environments. The feeding ecology of animals in tropical cities, however, remains poorly investigated. Here we study the feeding ecology of parrots in Manaus, a major Amazonian city, and compare the results with a parrot assemblage living in undisturbed habitats. We recorded 203 feeding bouts from eight parrot species, which consumed parts of 51 plant species. Parrot diets were dominated by native palm species (Arecaceae). Exotic plants, however, constituted an important portion of the diet of some parrots. Levin's indices, a measure of food niche width, varied from 0.40 to 0.83, indicating an overall tendency to generalist diets. Diet overlap between species was small, indicating broad resource partitioning between members of the assemblage. The diversity of plants consumed in the natural environment was greater than in the urban environment (71 species vs. 52). However, the diversity of plants consumed was similar for parrot species recorded both in natural and urban environments, indicating that occupation of the city does not imply an impoverishment in parrot diets. Creation of municipal protected areas and increasing the city afforestation would provide complementary strategies for Manaus parrot conservation.

PARROT: Prediction of enzyme abundances using protein-constrained metabolic models.

Protein allocation determines the activity of cellular pathways and affects growth across all organisms. Therefore, different experimental and machine learning approaches have been developed to quantify and predict protein abundance and how they are allocated to different cellular functions, respectively. Yet, despite advances in protein quantification, it remains challenging to predict condition-specific allocation of enzymes in metabolic networks. Here, using protein-constrained metabolic models, we propose a family of constrained-based approaches, termed PARROT, to predict how much of each enzyme is used based on the principle of minimizing the difference between a reference and an alternative growth condition. To this end, PARROT variants model the minimization of enzyme reallocation using four different (combinations of) distance functions. We demonstrate that the PARROT variant that minimizes the Manhattan distance between the enzyme allocation of a reference and an alternative condition outperforms existing approaches based on the parsimonious distribution of fluxes or enzymes for both Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Further, we show that the combined minimization of flux and enzyme allocation adjustment leads to inconsistent predictions. Together, our findings indicate that minimization of protein allocation rather than flux redistribution is a governing principle determining steady-state pathway activity for microorganism grown in alternative growth conditions.

Establishing hematologic and biochemical reference intervals for the endangered Lear's macaw (Anodorhynchus leari).

BACKGROUND: The Lear's macaw, Anodorhynchus leari (Psittaciformes, Psittacidae), is an endemic species of the Caatinga region in Brazil. With only a few free-living individuals that are constantly under threat from agricultural clearance, hunting, and trapping, A. leari is classified as "endangered" by the Red Book of Endangered Brazilian Fauna and by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. At the same time, the number of individuals in captivity has been growing due to the efforts of biologists and veterinarians in zoological parks to reproduce this species. Thus, having species-specific reference intervals for hematologic and biochemical measurands is essential to assess the health status of these captive and wild birds and guarantee their reproductive success. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine reference intervals for hematologic and biochemical measurands for A. leari kept in captivity in São Paulo Zoo, Brazil. METHODS: Blood samples from 32 individuals were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only samples from adults and healthy individuals were included in this study. All statistical analyses were performed according to the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines and available literature. RESULTS: Reference values and reference intervals were determined for the captive population of Anodorhynchus leari. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to establish reference intervals for A. leari, which can aid the veterinarian in the interpretation of laboratory test results, helping in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases of this endangered species of Brazilian fauna.

A food interaction network between psittacines and plants in an urban area in the city of São Carlos - SP, southeastern Brazil.

The Psittacidae presents a great diversity of species in the Neotropical region performing fundamental ecological functions for ecosystems. These frugivorous birds can occupy different positions in the antagonistic-mutualistic gradient of food interactions, acting as predators and/or as seed dispersers. Little is known about bird-plant ecological interaction networks focusing on psittacines in urban environments, which may compromise the management of natural areas in anthropic landscapes and hinder the planning of conservation strategies. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the network of feeding interactions between psittacines and plants that occur in green areas in urban and periurban areas of the municipality of São Carlos, São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. Starting with an active searching added to the application of the focal animal sampling at 36 systematized sampling points during the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, the plant species consumed by parrots in the study area were observed. Four species of birds of the Psittacidae family were recorded consuming food resources from 46 plant species. The order of relevance of the birds in structuring the ecological network was: Brotogeris chiriri (Vieillot, 1851), Psittacara leucophthalmus (Statius Muller, 1872), Forpus xanthopterygius (Spix, 1843) and Eupsittula aurea (Gmelin, 1788). The most consumed plants were Syagrus romanzoffiana, Salix babylonica, Caesalpinea pluviosa, Mangifera indica and Handroanthus heptaphyllus. The pattern of consumption by birds was significantly different among species, and overall, they had a broad diet and medium niche overlap. Network nesting was low, as was connectance, i.e., the number of interactions or connections observed between pairs of species was considerably less than the total number possible. Network asymmetry was considerably high, with the psittacine group performing interactions with a large number of plant species, while each plant received on average few psittacine species. The results point to a high plasticity in the use of food resources in anthropic landscapes, indicating that the occupation of the urban environment by psittacines has been occurring successfully and may benefit the populations of the species recorded here.

Patterns of cytonuclear discordance and divergence between subspecies of the scarlet macaw (Ara macao) in Central America.

The scarlet macaw, Ara macao, is a neotropical parrot that contains two described subspecies with broadly discrete geographical distributions. One subspecies, A. m. macao, is found from South America north into southwestern Costa Rica, while the second subspecies, A. m. cyanoptera, is found from eastern Costa Rica north into central Mexico. Our previous research using mitochondrial data to examine phylogeographical divergence across the collective range of these two subspecies concluded that they represent distinct evolutionary entities, with minimal contemporary hybridization between them. Here we further examine phylogenetic relationships and patterns of genetic variation between these two subspecies using a dataset of genetic markers derived from their nuclear genomes. Our analyses show clear nuclear divergence between A. m. macao and A. m. cyanoptera in Central America. Collectively however, samples from this region appear genetically more similar to one another than they do to the examined South American (Brazilian) A. m. macao sample. This observation contradicts our previous assessments based on mitochondrial DNA analyses that A. m. macao in Central and South America represent a single phylogeographical group that is evolutionarily distinct from Central American A. m. cyanoptera. Nonetheless, in agreement with our previous findings, ongoing genetic exchange between the two subspecies appears limited. Rather, our analyses indicate that incomplete lineage sorting is the best supported explanation for cytonuclear discordance within these parrots. High-altitude regions in Central America may act as a reproductive barrier, limiting contemporary hybridization between A. m. macao and A. m. cyanoptera. The phylogeographic complexities of scarlet macaw taxa in this region highlight the need for additional evolutionary examinations of these populations.

Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) beak papillae and nerves identified using novel 2-D and 3-D imaging modalities.

OBJECTIVE: The avian beak is a complex organ containing bone, neurovascular tissue, and keratinized covering (rhamphotheca). Nerve-rich papillae extend through bone into rhamphotheca providing sensory input from the beak tip. Beak trimming is a common procedure in avian species and is used for corrective, cosmetic, and behavioral modification purposes. Yet, practitioners are not well versed in complete beak anatomy, and therefore, beak trimming often disregards neurovasculature, injuring the patient and hampering recovery. Here, using comprehensive anatomical description, we aim to provide recommendations on how to safely perform beak trimming without damaging underlying sensory papillae. ANIMALS: Here, we evaluated beaks of 2 deceased grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). PROCEDURES: In one, we used a novel stain and microcomputed tomography to visualize papillae in the upper and lower beaks. In a second, we hand isolated the upper and lower beak dermal papillae and used high-resolution photography plus traditional paraffin histology. RESULTS: Papillae and their nerves were easily identified in these 2- and 3-dimensional approaches. This allowed us to determine the approximate lengths of papillae within the upper and lower beak. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Based on these findings, the authors recommend lateral radiographs of the bird's head and beak to identify the location of the underlying bone relative to the overlying rhamphotheca before performing beak trims. Specifically in grey parrots, the authors recommend the upper and lower beak should not be trimmed closer than 8 to 10 mm from the underlying bone. Further work is needed to support these recommendations and provide guidelines for other species.

Mites associated with budgerigars Melopsittacus undulatus (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) and the first report of Ornithonyssus bursa (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) in Mexico.

Background: Hematophagous mites affect numerous bird species, causing severe injuries to the budgerigars. Some species can cause dermatitis in humans. Aims: The purpose was to morphologically identify the mites related to budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and their nests in Yucatan, Mexico. Methods: In May 2022, a private budgerigar hatchery was visited and mites were collected from the bodies of the birds and their nests. The morphological traits of the mites were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Results: Four of 30 birds showed severe clinical signs of mite infestation. The Budgerigars revealed lesions in the cere, nostrils, eyelids, beak, and paws. The bird's skin showed signs of dryness and beige coloring. The birds with severe damage also presented anorexia and had deformed paws and beaks. The parasitosis was caused by the "burrowing mites," Knemidocoptes pilae. The burrowing mites and the Grallacheles bakeri were recovered and identified from paw scabs. To eliminate mites, a topical application of Ivermectin was administered to the necks of the birds. The dose was a single, which has a residuality of 21 days. Two drops (0.115 mg/ml) of ivermectin were applied to each bird. A gradual reduction in crusted lesions due to mite mortality was noted. The "tropical fowl mite" Ornithonyssus bursa was identified in the nests, which represents the first record in Mexico. Conclusions: Three species of mites were discovered in a single budgerigar hatchery. This emphasizes the importance of deworming birds and keeping a clean environment in their cages to reduce the potential for parasitic mite infestation.

Doença de Pacheco ­ um mal silencioso para psitacídeos / Pacheco's disease ­ the silent bad for psytacides / Enfermedad de pacheco ­ una enfermedad silenciosa para los loros

O herpesvírus da espécie Psittacid alphaherpesvirus 1 (PsHV-1), é o responsável pela doença aviária altamente infecciosa e aguda, descrita como "Doença de Pacheco" (DP). Diversas espécies de psitacídeos (papagaios da Amazônia, seguido por papagaios cinzentos africanos, papagaios comuns, araras, cacatuas e algumas espécies de periquitos), são suscetíveis à doença, principalmente àquelas oriundas de criadouros que deram entrada em centros de reabilitações em quaisquer regiões geográficas. Objetivou- se com o presente estudo avaliar e discutir as ocorrências da "Doença de Pacheco" em psitaciformes descritas no Brasil e em outros países, pretendendo-se discernir sobre as causas da infecção, discorrendo sobre as causas de contágio e disseminação, descrevendo brevemente a sintomatologia, possíveis lesões, diagnósticos, profilaxia e tratamento, a fim de evitar o contágio, minimizando a morbidade e mortalidade das aves. Trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica, a qual foi realizada por meio de consultas à periódicos e livros mais recentes. Trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica, em que foram utilizadas as bases de dados da SciELO, portal Capes e Google Acadêmico para realizar a revisão em artigos, monografias, teses e dissertações de vários autores e livros. Pouco se conhece, e nenhum registro ainda foi reportado para a doença no Brasil, apesar de sua ocorrência ser amplamente divulgada em diversos países. Os principais sinais clínicos são anorexia, sonolência, letargia, penas eriçadas, diarreia amarelada, regurgitação, inatividade e, às vezes, sinais nervosos, chegando, por fim, à morte súbita e rápida. Na necropsia, podem ser achados hepatomegalia, esplenomegalia e necrose. A profilaxia se concentra no controle da superpopulação e protocolo adequado de quarentena das aves. O tratamento indicado para o herpesvírus é o uso de nucleosídeo sintético, com atividade inibitória, o aciclovir, que tem apresentado bons resultados na redução das taxas de mortalidade.(AU)

The herpesvirus of the species Psittacid alphaherpesvirus 1 (PsHV-1), is responsible for the highly infectious and acute avian disease, described as "Pacheco's Disease" (PD). Several species of parrots (Amazon parrots, followed by African gray parrots, common parrots, macaws, cockatoos and some species of parakeets) are susceptible to the disease, especially those originating from breeding sites that have entered rehabilitation centers in any region. geographic. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and discuss the occurrences of "Pacheco's Disease" in parrots described in Brazil and in other countries, intending to discern the causes of the infection, discussing the causes of contagion and dissemination, briefly describing the symptomatology, possible lesions, diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment, in order to avoid contagion, minimizing the morbidity and mortality of the birds. This is a bibliographic review, which was carried out through consultations with the most recent journals and books. This is a bibliographic review, in which the SciELO databases, Capes portal and Google Scholar were used to review articles, monographs, theses and dissertations by various authors and books. Little is known, and no record has yet been reported for the disease in Brazil, despite its occurrence being widely publicized in several countries. The main clinical signs are anorexia, drowsiness, lethargy, ruffled feathers, yellowish diarrhea, regurgitation, inactivity and, sometimes, nervous signs, finally leading to sudden and rapid death. At necropsy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and necrosis may be found. Prophylaxis focuses on overpopulation control and proper bird quarantine protocol. The treatment indicated for herpesvirus is the use of a synthetic nucleoside, with inhibitory activity, acyclovir, which has shown good results in reducing mortality rates.(AU)

El herpesvirus de la especie Psittacid alphaherpesvirus 1 (PsHV-1), es responsable de la enfermedad aviar aguda y altamente infecciosa, descrita como "Enfermedad de Pacheco" (EP). Varias especies de loros (loros amazónicos, seguidos de loros grises africanos, loros comunes, guacamayos, cacatúas y algunas especies de periquitos) son susceptibles a la enfermedad, en especial los que se originan en criaderos que han ingresado a centros de rehabilitación en cualquier región geográfica. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar y discutir las ocurrencias de la "Enfermedad de Pacheco" en loros descritas en Brasil y en otros países, con la intención de discernir las causas de la infección, discutiendo las causas de contagio y diseminación, describiendo brevemente la sintomatología, posibles lesiones, diagnóstico, profilaxis y tratamiento, con el fin de evitar el contagio, minimizando la morbimortalidad de las aves. Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica, que se realizó mediante consultas a las revistas y libros más recientes. Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica, en la que se utilizaron las bases de datos SciELO, el portal Capes y Google Scholar para revisar artículos, monografías, tesis y disertaciones de diversos autores y libros. Se sabe poco y aún no se ha informado de ningún registro de la enfermedad en Brasil, a pesar de que su aparición es ampliamente publicitada en varios países. Los principales signos clínicos son anorexia, somnolencia, letargo, plumas erizadas, diarrea amarillenta, regurgitación, inactividad y, en ocasiones, signos nerviosos, que finalmente conducen a la muerte súbita y rápida. En la necropsia, se pueden encontrar hepatomegalia, esplenomegalia y necrosis. La profilaxis se centra en el control de la sobrepoblación y el protocolo adecuado de cuarentena de aves. El tratamiento indicado para el herpesvirus es el uso de un nucleósido sintético, con actividad inhibidora, el aciclovir, que ha mostrado buenos resultados en la reducción de la mortalidad.(AU)

First detection of Chlamydia avium in healthy Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) in Argentina.

In recent years, new Chlamydia species, other than Chlamydia psittaci, have been confirmed in birds. One of these new species, Chlamydia avium, was reported mainly in pigeons and parrots in Europe. Analyzing multimucosal swabs obtained from 7 Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) from illegal trade and admitted to the Reserva Experimental Horco Molle (Tucuman, Argentina) for their rehabilitation, we describe the finding of the genetic material of C. avium in 2 of these birds. There were no signs compatible with the chlamydiosis-like disease in the studied birds or in the rehabilitation center staff. The use of sensitive and wide-ranging molecular tools is necessary for the detection of all Chlamydiaceae present in birds and would aid in the selection of control measures in wildlife rehabilitation centers to prevent outbreaks in the facilities and the introduction of pathogens in nature. We provide the first molecular evidence of the presence of C. avium in Argentina and a new species of psittacine host.

Parasitic infections in wild birds of the family psittacidae: the relationship between zoonosis and the one health / Infecções parasitárias em aves silvestres da família Psittacidae: relação entre zoonoses e o one health

As aves pertencentes à ordem Psittaciformes têm ampla distribuição no mundo, com ênfase nos biomas brasileiros, e se caracterizam por suas cores e formas. Devido à sua vasta diversidade, esses animais selvagens são alvos de tráfico e confinamento ilegal em cativeiro. O estresse e a automutilação da captura são um dos principais sinais clínicos que esses animais apresentam, deixando-os imunologicamente vulneráveis a infecções. Assim, infecções endoparasitas causadas por parasitas zoonóticos são recorrentes nesse grupo de aves. Por isso, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as infecções parasitárias mais recorrentes que afetam aves silvestres da família Psittacidae, destacando a relação entre zoonoses parasitas e o conceito de One Health. O trabalho consistiu em revisão bibliográfica da literatura de artigos relacionados à incidência de parasitas em psitacídeos silvestre publicados a partir de 2010, os dados foram extraídos e computados em forma de tabela. As doenças mais prevalentes no estudo foram capilariose, ascaridíase, eimeriose, criptosporidíase, estrongiloidíase e giardíase, e três das seis doenças citadas para ter potencial de transmissibilidade entre animais e seres humanos. Assim, as medidas de abordagem dessas doenças zoonóticas são de interesse da One Health, tornando necessária a ação conjunta de veterinários associados a outros profissionais de saúde.(AU)

Association of S(+) ketamine, dexmedetomidine and butorphanol for chemical restraint in scarlet macaws (Ara macao) / Associação cetamina S(+), dexmedetomidina e butorfanol na contenção química de araracangas (Ara macao)

The present study aimed at assessing the effects of combining 20 mg/kg S(+) ketamine with 25 µg/kg dexmedetomidine and 0.4 mg/kg butorphanol on the physiological parameters and anesthetic recovery time and score of eight captive scarlet macaw (Ara macao) specimens. These specimens were captured at the Marabá Zoobotanic Foundation (Fundação Zoobotânica de Marabá), Pará, using butterfly and mist nets, and subsequently subjected to the proposed protocol. The following physiological parameters were evaluated: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2), body temperature (BT), and non-invasive blood pressure 5 min after drug administration (M0) and every 10 min thereafter (M1‒M5), with a total of 55 min of analysis of anesthetic effects. Glycemia was measured 5 min after drug administration and every 30 min thereafter. Anesthetic induction and recovery times were also determined. Among the parameters evaluated in this study, both HR and BT significantly decreased throughout the anesthetic period, with the lowest levels at 55 min after drug administration (M5). In contrast, RR did not significantly differ, and all animals remained stable, maintaining an RR close to a mean of 20 ± 8 cpm. Throughout the anesthetic period, SpO2was 92 ± 5%, with no significant difference. The birds remained under spontaneous ventilation and without oxygen supplementation. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures remained stable, with no significant differences in any of these measurements. At M0 and M3, the glycemia decreased slightly, albeit with no significant difference justifying an adverse effect or even hypoglycemia. The anesthetic induction time, from M0 to decubitus, was 2.4 ± 0.7 min. The anesthetic recovery time, from M0 to effortless bipedal position and adequate phalangeal flexion, was 99.3 ± 32.4 min. The sedation was assessed as intense, and the anesthetic recovery was rated excellent in 62.5% and good in 37.5% of the animals.(AU)

O presente estudo objetivou avaliar os efeitos do uso da cetamina S(+) 20 mg/kg associada à dexmedetomidina 25 µg/kg e butorfanol 0,4 mg/kg sobre os parâmetros fisiológicos, tempo e qualidade da recuperação anestésica de araracangas (Ara macao). Foram utilizados oito espécimes de Ara macao cativas da Fundação Zoobotânica de Marabá, Pará. A captura foi realizada com o uso de puçá e rede de contenção e em seguida as aves foram submetidas ao protocolo proposto. Foram avaliados: frequência cardíaca, frequência respiratória, saturação parcial da oxihemoglobina (SpO2), temperatura corporal e pressão arterial não-invasiva a partir de 5 minutos após a aplicação dos fármacos (M0) e a cada 10 minutos seguintes (M1, M2, M3, M4 e M5), totalizando 55 minutos de contemplação dos efeitos anestésicos. A glicemia foi avaliada aos 5 minutos da aplicação dos fármacos e repetida após 30 minutos. Também foi determinado o tempo de indução e de recuperação. Dentre os parâmetros avaliados, a frequência cardíaca e a temperatura demonstraram queda estatisticamente significativa ao longo do período anestésico, ambas com os menores valores registrados aos 55 minutos após a aplicação dos fármacos (M5). A frequência respiratória não apresentou diferença estatística e todos os animais se mantiveram estáveis e com a frequência próxima a média de 20±8mpm. A saturação da oxihemoblobina (SpO2) ao longo do período anestésico foi de 92±5%, não houve diferença estatisticamente relevante, as aves permaneceram sob ventilação espontânea e sem suplementação de oxigênio. As pressões arteriais sistólica, diastólica e média, mantiveram-se estáveis e não houve diferença estatística para nenhuma dessas medidas. A glicemia, mensurada em M0 e M3 demonstrou queda discreta, sem diferença significativa capaz de justificar um efeito adverso ou mesmo hipoglicemia. O tempo de indução, desde aplicação dos anestésicos até o decúbito, foi de 2,4±0,7 minutos. O tempo de recuperação, compreendido desde a aplicação dos fármacos (M0) até a constatação da posição bipedal sem esforço e adequada flexão das falanges, foi de 99,3±32,4 minutos. A qualidade de sedação foi considerada intensa e a recuperação anestésica foi classificada como ótima para 62,5% e boa para 37,5% dos animais.(AU)

Growth model analysis of wild hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) nestlings based on long-term monitoring in the Brazilian Pantanal.

Studies on the breeding of vulnerable and endangered bird species are hindered by low numbers of individuals, inaccessible location of nests, unfavourable environmental conditions, and complex behavioural patterns. In addition, intraspecific variation may emerge only following long-term, systematic observations of little-known patterns and processes. Here, data collected over 30 years were used to determine growth model of hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) chicks in the Pantanal biome of Brazil. During this period, the speed of growth and body mass of chicks varied widely. Four growth models were tested: logistic, Gompertz, Richards, and cubic polynomial. They were fitted using three biometric measurements: body mass, total length, and tail length. The best-fitting growth curves were identified using Akaike's information criterion. The best models were the cubic polynomial for body mass, Richards for total length, and Gompertz for tail length. We confirmed the occurrence of dwarf individuals, whose body mass, total length, and tail length were 20%, 22%, and 70% smaller, respectively, than in the overall population. The dwarfs remain small in size after having fledged and are easily identified as adults. We discuss the importance of long-term studies to identify windows of opportunity for further research that will help in the conservation of endangered macaw species.

Taxonomic revision of the parrot snake Leptophis ahaetulla(Serpentes, Colubridae).

The Neotropical parrot snake genus Leptophis comprises a group of 12 colubrine snakes widely distributed in Mexico, Central- and South America. Among the currently recognized taxa in the genus, L. ahaetulla constitutes a morphologically diverse assemblage of typically slender snakes, with subspecies recorded from Mexico to most of South America. Though extremely variable in scalation, coloration, size and dentition, many of these subspecies are still poorly known, with at least three being known from few specimens, hampering the diagnosability and determination of the taxonomic status of certain populations. Accumulation of new specimens and new analytical approach for species delimitation supported a comprehensive taxonomic revision of these snakes based on the examination of meristic, morphometric, color pattern and hemipenial characters of 1625 specimens. Accordingly, the following taxa are herein referred to as full species: L. a. ahaetulla, L. a. bocourti, L. a. bolivianus, L. a. liocercus, L. a. marginatus, L. a. nigromarginatus, L. a. occidentalis, L. a. praestans and L. a. urostictus. Moreover, L. a. ortoni is placed in the synonymy of L. nigromarginatus, whereas L. coeruleodorsus, a former subspecies recently elevated to species rank, is redescribed, and L. haileyi is placed in the synonymy of this latter taxon. In addition, a dichotomous key including all recognized species of Leptophis is provided.