Pombos: distribuição dos problemas registrados no Distrito Federal, Brasil / Pigeons: distribution of problems registered in the Federal District, Brasil

Os animais sinantrópicos, dentre eles os pombos, constituem uma fonte de incômodo e problemas de saúde pública no meio urbano. Encontram-se dispersos por todo o território brasileiro. Devido a sua domesticação e distribuição no ambiente, os pombos-domésticos (Columba livia) levam a queixas por nidificações, infestação por ácaros e notificações de doenças humanas. Diante disto, foi efetuado levantamento documental dos registros de reclamações feitas pela população à Diretoria de Vigilância Ambiental (DIVAL) do Distrito Federal, no período de 2014 a 2016, com o objetivo de mapear as áreas com vulnerabilidade e propor soluções para reduzir a presença desses animais sinantrópicos e a incidência de agravos. Alimento, abrigo e água são elementos essenciais para a aproximação e permanência com o homem. A distribuição das reclamações apresenta expansão principalmente na zona urbana, e outras onde nunca houve notificação, sendo que o número de notificações para estabelecimentos privados se mostrou maior que para públicos. O controle populacional desses animais é complexo e os serviços de controle encontram dificuldades em suas atividades.

Synanthropic animals, including pigeons, are a source of nuisance and public health problems in the urban environment. Dispersedthroughout the Brazilian territory due to their domestication and distribution, domestic pigeons (Columba livia) of the Columbiformes class lead to complaints of mite infestation, nesting and notification of human diseases. In view of this, a documentary survey of the records of complaints made by the population to the Environmental Surveillance Directorate (DIVAL) of the Federal District was carried out, in the period from 2014 to 2016, in order to map the vulnerable areas and propose solutions to reduce the presence of these synanthropic animals and the incidence of injuries. The distribution of complaints is expanding mainly in the urban area, and others where there was never any notification, with the number of notifications for private establishments being higher than for public ones.The population control of these animals is complex and the control services face difficulties in their activities.

Effect of Supplementary Methionine on Feather Growth and Related Indicators of Pigeon Squabs

We assessed the effect of health sand dietary supplementation with methionine (Met) on White King pigeons. Paired pigeons (n = 180) were fed one of five diets; group T1 received no added Met, while T2, T3, T4 and T5 received 30, 60, 90 and 120 g of supplemental DL-Met/kg, respectively. Each treatment was replicated three times with 24 pairs in each replicate. The results showed that supplementary Met had a minor effect on the length of the fourth primary wing feather in 28-day-old squabs (p>0.05), but the length of 14-day-old squabs in T2 was significantly longer (p=0.010). Dietary Met had a minor effect on Wnt-7a and fibroblast growth factor receptors-2 (FGFR-2) mRNA levels in 28-day-old squabs (p>0.05). The IGF-1 concentration in plasma was highest in T4 and lowest in T2 (p=0.012), but there was no difference between T1, T2 and T5 (p>0.05). In the chest muscle, the expression of IGF-1 in T3 and T4 was higher than in T1 (p=0.172 and 0.015, respectively). In the leg muscle, IGF-1 mRNA level was higher in T4 and T3, and lower in T2 (p>0.05). The results indicate that the optimal Met supplement for increasing fourth primary wing feather length was 30 g/kg Met in health sand, and the feathers were the longest in 14-day-old squabs. Adding 90 g/kg Met to health sand can improve the concentration of IGF-1, which is important for growth performance of pigeon squabs.(AU)

Pombos: distribuição dos problemas registrados no Distrito Federal, Brasil / Pigeons: distribution of problems registered in the Federal District, Brasil

Os animais sinantrópicos, dentre eles os pombos, constituem uma fonte de incômodo e problemas de saúde pública no meio urbano. Encontram-se dispersos por todo o território brasileiro. Devido a sua domesticação e distribuição no ambiente, os pombos-domésticos (Columba livia) levam a queixas por nidificações, infestação por ácaros e notificações de doenças humanas. Diante disto, foi efetuado levantamento documental dos registros de reclamações feitas pela população à Diretoria de Vigilância Ambiental (DIVAL) do Distrito Federal, no período de 2014 a 2016, com o objetivo de mapear as áreas com vulnerabilidade e propor soluções para reduzir a presença desses animais sinantrópicos e a incidência de agravos. Alimento, abrigo e água são elementos essenciais para a aproximação e permanência com o homem. A distribuição das reclamações apresenta expansão principalmente na zona urbana, e outras onde nunca houve notificação, sendo que o número de notificações para estabelecimentos privados se mostrou maior que para públicos. O controle populacional desses animais é complexo e os serviços de controle encontram dificuldades em suas atividades.(AU)

Synanthropic animals, including pigeons, are a source of nuisance and public health problems in the urban environment. Dispersedthroughout the Brazilian territory due to their domestication and distribution, domestic pigeons (Columba livia) of the Columbiformes class lead to complaints of mite infestation, nesting and notification of human diseases. In view of this, a documentary survey of the records of complaints made by the population to the Environmental Surveillance Directorate (DIVAL) of the Federal District was carried out, in the period from 2014 to 2016, in order to map the vulnerable areas and propose solutions to reduce the presence of these synanthropic animals and the incidence of injuries. The distribution of complaints is expanding mainly in the urban area, and others where there was never any notification, with the number of notifications for private establishments being higher than for public ones.The population control of these animals is complex and the control services face difficulties in their activities.(AU)

Nest building, dimension, and selection of aromatic and medicinal twigs to repel ectoparasites in the European turtle dove

Studies incorporating the nesting behavior and ecology of parasite disease in the European turtle dove during breeding periods are rare. This research examined nest features and nesting materials in Turtle doves to characterize nest dimensions, build, and incorporate vegetation, mainly aromatic and medicinal plants. In parallel, we estimated the ectoparasite load on chicks to verify an eventual relation between odorant plants and pathogen loads. The study was carried in apple orchards at Okhaja Ait Ayach, Midelt province Morocco, during 2015 and 2016. The obtained results demonstrate that the Turtle dove constructs a medium nest, compared to its body size, using several plant species, including medicinal and aromatic species known for their toxicity against pathogens. The inhibition capacity of nesting materials is reflected in parasite loads since only 8% of chicks were infested with Columbicola columbae and Dermanyssus gallinae. Repellent materials in nests are a successful behavioral strategy for this declining game to protect nestlings against pathogens.

Effect of Supplementary Methionine on Feather Growth and Related Indicators of Pigeon Squabs

We assessed the effect of health sand dietary supplementation with methionine (Met) on White King pigeons. Paired pigeons (n = 180) were fed one of five diets; group T1 received no added Met, while T2, T3, T4 and T5 received 30, 60, 90 and 120 g of supplemental DL-Met/kg, respectively. Each treatment was replicated three times with 24 pairs in each replicate. The results showed that supplementary Met had a minor effect on the length of the fourth primary wing feather in 28-day-old squabs (p>0.05), but the length of 14-day-old squabs in T2 was significantly longer (p=0.010). Dietary Met had a minor effect on Wnt-7a and fibroblast growth factor receptors-2 (FGFR-2) mRNA levels in 28-day-old squabs (p>0.05). The IGF-1 concentration in plasma was highest in T4 and lowest in T2 (p=0.012), but there was no difference between T1, T2 and T5 (p>0.05). In the chest muscle, the expression of IGF-1 in T3 and T4 was higher than in T1 (p=0.172 and 0.015, respectively). In the leg muscle, IGF-1 mRNA level was higher in T4 and T3, and lower in T2 (p>0.05). The results indicate that the optimal Met supplement for increasing fourth primary wing feather length was 30 g/kg Met in health sand, and the feathers were the longest in 14-day-old squabs. Adding 90 g/kg Met to health sand can improve the concentration of IGF-1, which is important for growth performance of pigeon squabs.

Molecular cloning, expression, and regulation of the ovalbumin gene in pigeon oviduct epithelial cells.

The full-length pigeon ovalbumin (OVA) gene cDNA was cloned and sequenced by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid-amplification of cDNA ends. A 386-amino acid protein was predicted for the obtained sequence, which had 67% identity with the chicken protein. Similar to chicken OVA, the pigeon OVA gene is a non-inhibitory serine protease inhibitor. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that pigeon OVA mRNA was highly expressed in the oviduct, and trace amounts were detected in other tissues. During the reproductive cycle, pigeon oviduct OVA mRNA expression reached its peak during the egg-laying stage, decreased with brooding, and then increased again during the squab-feeding period. Moreover, the relative OVA expression level in pigeon oviduct epithelial cells could be upregulated by a constant concentration of steroid hormones.

Histología del ovario y ciclo reproductivo de Columbina picui (Temminck, 1813) (Aves: Columbidae) en Córdoba, Argentina / Ovarian histology and reproductive cycle of Columbina picui (Temminck,1813) (Aves: Columbidae) from Córdoba, Argentina

Con la finalidad de caracterizar el ciclo reproductivo anual de Columbina picui se realizó el análisis estructural y cuantitativo de los ovarios de ejemplares adultos recolectados entre los años 2005—2006 en la Sierra de Macha (Totoral, Córdoba, Argentina). Durante la fase de recrudescencia gonadal (junio a marzo), se determinaron tres valores máximos; el primero en junio, resultado de la ovipostura de las hembras subadultas (plumaje de adultos y vestigios de la Bursa de Fabricius); los restantes valores se registraron uno en septiembre y el otro en enero correspondiendo al de las hembras adultas. La regresión ovárica se inició a partir de la incubación de los huevos y el reposo gonadal de la mayoría de las aves entre abril y mayo. Se identificaron dos tipos atresia folicular: a) no bursting, la pared folicular se mantiene intacta, comprende a la lipoidal (ovocitos primordiales) y a la lipoglandular (folículos previtelogénicos y vitelogénicos pequeños), ambos procesos se visualizaron durante todo el ciclo reproductivo y b) bursting las paredes foliculares se rompen, afecta a los folículos vitelogénicos menores de 800 µm y sólo fue detectada posterior a la ovipostura. El ciclo reproductivo de C. picui se caracterizo por alta frecuencia de hembras con capacidad de reproducirse durante la mayor parte del año y la prolongada fase de recrudescencia gonadal.

The annual reproductive cycle of Columbina picui was studied and characterized by a structural and quantitative analysis of the ovary. Adult females were collected in Sierra de Macha (Totoral, Córdoba, Argentina) between the years 2005—2006. During the phase of recrudesence gonadal (June to March), three values maximum were determined, the first one was observed in June as a result of the first oviposition of the subadults (individual with external adult characteristics but vestigial Bursa of Fabricius presence), the remaining values were registered one in September and the other one in January, corresponding that of the mature females. The ovaric regression is initiated with the hatching, and the resting stage between April and May, in the most of the birds. Two types of atresia were identified: a) the non bursting type, with no rupture of the follicular wall, which includes lipoidal (primordial follicles) and lipoglandular atresia, (previtelogenic follicles and small vitelogenic follicle), of them were observed during the whole reproductive cycle ; and b) the bursting atresia, with rupture of the follicular wall (vitelogenic follicles > 800 µm) only was observed during the gonadal regression. The abundance of females with capacity of reproducing during most of the year and the extensive phase of gonadal recrudescence were characteristics of the C. picui reproductive cycle.