Presence and diversity of mixed avian Plasmodium spp. infections in introduced birds whose distribution overlapped with threatened New Zealand endemic birds

ABSTRACT

Aims: To determine the presence of infection and co-infection of Plasmodium lineages in introduced birds at translocation sites for the North Island saddleback (Philesturnus rufusater), to investigate their role as Plasmodium spp. reservoirs.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from introduced bird species, with a special focus on blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (Turdus philomelos), at six locations in the North Island of New Zealand that were the origin, or translocation sites, for North Island saddleback. Where available, blood smears were examined, and blood samples were tested using nested PCR with subsequent sequence analysis, for the presence of Plasmodium spp.

Results: Of the 55 samples tested using PCR analysis, 39 (71%) were positive for Plasmodium spp., and 28/40 (62%) blood smears were positive for Plasmodium spp. Overall, 31 blood samples were from blackbirds with 28/31 (90%) samples positive for Plasmodium spp. Six distinct avian Plasmodium lineages were identified, including three cosmopolitan lineages; Plasmodium vaughani SYAT05 was detected in 16 samples, Plasmodium matutinum Linn1 in 10 samples and Plasmodium elongatum GRW6 in eight samples. Mixed infections with more than one lineage were detected in 12 samples. Samples from two Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) were positive for Plasmodium. sp. lineage MYNA02, previously not identified in New Zealand.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: This is the first report from New Zealand in which specific Plasmodium spp. mixed infections have been found in introduced birds. Co-infections with several cosmopolitan Plasmodium lineages were identified, as well as the first report in New Zealand of an exotic avian Plasmodium sp. lineage, in Australian magpies. Whilst the role of introduced birds in maintaining and spreading pathogenic avian malaria in New Zealand is unclear, there is a potential infection risk to native birds, especially where distributions overlap.     

安徽省鸟类分布新纪录——宝兴歌鸫

2009年9月26日,笔者首次发现并救助1只来自蚌埠市怀远县的宝兴歌鸫（Turdus mupinensis）。2012年5月26日、6月2日、16日、22日、23日和2012年12月8日,相继在淮北市相山公园6次观察并拍摄到宝兴歌鸫1只,2013年6月22日和29日再次在同一地点观测到宝兴歌鸫1只。2012年10月19日在合肥市中国科学技术大学东区观察并拍摄到宝兴歌鸫1只。2013年11月6日协助市民在合肥市经开区住宅区救助1只受伤的宝兴歌鸫。2013年3月31日上午在六安市金寨县天堂寨也观察并拍摄到宝兴歌鸫1只。经查阅相关文献资料后证实,宝兴歌鸫为安徽省鸟类分布新记录。安徽发现宝兴歌鸫,对研究其地理分布和扩散趋势具有重要的学术意义。     

一例川金丝猴急性胰腺炎死亡病例分析

经病理剖检并结合临床检查分析,对1例川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)死亡病例进行病因分析。结果表明:该病例胰淀粉酶增高;胰脏明显肿大,为正常3~5倍;胰腺腺体蛋白变性,间质见大量白细胞浸润,腺体组织呈灶状坏死;胰腺出血,切面和周围组织高度出血、坏死,确诊为急性出血性胰腺炎。根据病例分析结果,提出急性出血性胰腺炎的治疗和预防方案。     

圈养川金丝猴冬季昼间活动时间分配及空间利用研究

2012年12月~2013年2月,通过直接拍摄观察,采用瞬时扫描记录方法,对上海动物园内圈养条件下4只川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)的活动时间分配和笼舍空间利用率进行了初步研究,结果表明:川金丝猴圈养环境下大部分时间用来休息,占昼间活动时间的46.27%,其次是理毛行为,占22.20%,摄食和玩耍行为分别占9.73%,6.90%,乞食和移动行为分别占5.04%、5.76%,其他行为占4.10%;休息行为有2个高峰,分别为8:00~9:00时和16:00时以后,摄食行为只在8:00~9:00时有一个较为明显的高峰,理毛行为集中在10:00时;通过对空间利用率的比较,A、B、C、D、E各区均有利用,但是A区、C区、D区的占用率明显高于B区、E区,A区主要用来休息,B区、C区、D区主要用来玩耍和移动,E区主要用来取食和休息。     

不同年龄段川金丝猴肠道菌群结构差异分析

本试验旨在分析幼年、成年、老年川金丝猴肠道菌群结构以及随年龄变化的趋势。将提取的幼年、成年、老年川金丝猴粪样总DNA进行聚合酶链反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCRDGGE),对结果进行UPGMA聚类分析、主成分分析、生物多样性比较。用荧光定量PCR技术检测肠道菌群中真细菌、乳酸杆菌属(Lactobacillus spp.)、肠杆菌科(Enterobacteriaceae)、双歧杆菌属(Bifidobacterium spp.)的数量。结果显示:无论是UPGMA聚类分析,还是主成分分析以及生物多样性比较均表明,不同年龄段川金丝猴肠道菌群多样性存在明显差异;指纹图谱中成年与幼年川金丝猴的优势条带较多,老年川金丝猴的优势条带则较少。各年龄段川金丝猴肠道菌群中真细菌的数量都为同一数量级(1011);幼年川金丝猴肠道菌群中Enterobacteriaceae的数量显著少于成年和老年川金丝猴(P0.05);成年川金丝猴肠道菌群中Lactobacillus spp.的数量极显著多于幼年和老年川金丝猴(P0.01);老年川金丝猴肠道菌群中Bifidobacterium spp.的数量极显著少于成年和幼年(P0.01)。由此得出,川金丝猴肠道菌群随年龄增长,多样性呈幼年到成年增加、成年到老年降低的趋势,老年时期优势菌群显著减少;此外,川金丝猴肠道各菌群的数量在不同年龄段有较大差异。     

河南省鸟类新纪录种——灰翅鸫(Turdus boulboul)

在整理2015—2018年的红外相机数据中,在河南内乡宝天曼国家级自然保护区2个调查位点拍摄到了4组独立照片,经鉴定为灰翅鸫 ( Turdus boulboul ) ,雌鸟和雄鸟各有2次记录,并确认为河南省的鸟类新纪录物种。     

宠物犬犬粮的选择技术

宠物热的兴起,同时带动了一系列宠物行业的发展。宠物食品占据宠物用品的主要部分。然而,宠物主人在购买犬粮时存在很多疑惑。本文从犬粮的类型、选择犬粮的依据及优质犬粮的特点等方面进行阐述,以达到为宠物主人提供参考的目的。     

主要组织相容性复合体在鸟类保护生物学中的应用

在保护生物学研究中,主要组织相容性复合体（major histocompatibility complex,MHC）的遗传多样性越来越受到人们的重视。在研究比较广泛和深入的哺乳动物和鱼类中,MHC被认为与抗病能力、配偶选择和亲缘识别有关。然而,MHC基因对哺乳动物行为产生影响的机制是否适用于鸟类,特别是鸟类野生种群,尚不清楚。文章对MHC多态性机制、MHC基因分型方法及其与鸟类疾病抗性、配偶选择的关系等进行了综述,为研究人员对鸟类保护生物学的深入研究提供参考。     

Effects of Scavenging on Diet Selection and Performance of Rhode Island Red and Fayoumi Breeds of Chicken Offered a Choice of Energy and Protein Feeds

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of scavenging on diet selection and the comparative performance of Rhode Island Red and Fayoumi breeds of chicken. The breeds were compared under three feeding/management regimes: (1) a choice of ground noug cake and cracked maize, with confinement; (2) a choice of ground noug cake and cracked maize, but being allowed to scavenge for about 6 h; and (3) a commercial layer mash, with confinement. Scavenging did not change the pattern of diet selection. About 90% of the daily intake of both the confined and scavenging birds under choice feeding comprised maize. The efficiency of feed utilization and nutrient intake were also similar in these groups. The Fayoumi were more efficient in terms of feed conversion, although the egg production performance of the two breeds did not vary significantly. Scavenging hens had a significantly lower egg production than the birds under confinement offered a choice of feeds. Scavenging significantly increased the mortality in both breeds. In conclusion, scavenging affected the performance adversely and, despite the provision of a choice of feed providing a source of energy and protein, both the scavenging and confined birds on choice feeding failed to eat sufficient to meet their protein requirements.