Antibody prevalence of low-pathogenicity avian influenza and evaluation of management practices in Minnesota backyard poultry flocks

Low‐pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses have caused illness in poultry and humans with poultry contact. To determine whether there is evidence of exposure to avian influenza viruses (AIV) among backyard poultry in Minnesota and their human caretakers, 150 flocks of backyard birds were sampled for antibodies to AIV from August 2007 through December 2008. One hundred flocks were tested through routine slaughter surveillance by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and an additional 50 flocks were contacted and sampled by study investigators. Blood was collected from 10 to 13 birds from each flock and a survey of biosecurity and management practices was administered to the flock owner. Blood samples were tested by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) for influenza A antibodies. Tested flocks had a median flock size of 100 birds (range: 12–800 birds), and were most commonly owned for meat for personal use (81% of respondents), fun or hobby (58%) and eggs for personal use (56%). Although 7% of flock owners reported that their birds had shown respiratory signs in the previous 3 months, only 1 of 150 flocks tested positive for influenza by AGID. Antibodies to LPAI H6N1 were detected in the positive flock. The owner of the positive flock did not have antibodies to H6 or other common AIV. Based on the findings of this study, the risk of transmission of LPAI viruses from backyard poultry to owners in Minnesota appears to be low under current conditions and management practices.     

Association of wild bird density and farm management factors with the prevalence of E. coli O157 in dairy herds in Ohio (2007-2009)

Our objective was to determine the role that European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) play in the epidemiology of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in dairy cattle. We visited 150 dairy farms in Ohio twice during summer and fall months from 2007 to 2009. Fresh faecal pats from 30 lactating cows were collected during each visit. Information on farm management and environmental variables was gathered through a questionnaire administered to the farm owner. The number of starlings observed on the farm was also recorded. Approximately 1% of dairy cattle and 24% of farms were positive for E. coli O157. Risk factors associated with the presence of E. coli O157 in faecal pats included contact between adult cattle and calves, types or number of ventilation and manure management systems and number of birds per milking cow.     

Vascular Diseases in Birds of Prey

In birds of prey, vascular disease can be caused by a number of infectious or noninfectious agents and is in all likelihood underdiagnosed. This review attempts to provide a discussion of the available literature regarding vascular diseases in raptors by describing a number of conditions or etiological agents (e.g., atherosclerosis, aneurysms, bacterial and septicemic conditions, thromboembolic disease, and viral, fungal, parasitic, and miscellaneous diseases) and the vascular pathology that may occur with each.     

Seed removal by ants,birds and rodents in a woodland savanna habitat in Zimbabwe

Seed removal from bait stations was studied in miombo habitat in western Zimbabwe. Previous studies of seed predation in southern Africa have largely been conducted in desert ecosystems. However, this woodland-savanna habitat is more mesic and has relatively predictable rainfall patterns. The experiment was conducted in grassy and woody microhabitats in the hot, dry season and early wet season, and followed a year in which precipitation was 69% of the long-term average. Birds removed the greatest quantity of seeds, followed by ants and then rodents. Previous studies in northern hemisphere mesic environments emphasize the importance of rodents and minor role of invertebrates in seed predation. Although our site appears to have more in common with southern hemisphere desert sites than with northern hemisphere mesic sites, we recognize thatour results are likely to reflect a lower limit of consumption by rodents.     

Grassland bird response to vegetation structural heterogeneity and clearing of invasive bramble

Spatial and temporal patterns of disturbance and the subsequent heterogeneity are critical in maintaining biodiversity within grassland ecosystems. Grassland birds have evolved within this ‘shifting mosaic’ to become reliant on specific habitat characteristics maintained under varying levels of both natural and anthropogenic disturbance. Unfortunately, grasslands in South Africa have been extensively transformed and remain poorly conserved, threatening grassland avifauna. Mistbelt grassland is a threatened vegetation type endemic to the province of KwaZulu-Natal, of which only 0.3% is formally protected. This study investigated seasonal and patch type heterogeneity in a Mistbelt grassland avian community by determining avian community structure and composition in four patch types, i.e. i) untransformed open grassland, ii) burnt grassland, iii) bramble-invaded and, iv) bramble-cleared grassland, during winter and summer. Avian assemblages were significantly different between the different patch types for each season. The bramble patch type negatively affected grassland bird species diversity. Bramble-cleared grassland and untransformed grassland had similar vegetation structure and avian communities in the summer, suggesting that the grassland bird community benefitted soon after the clearing of invasive vegetation. This study provides further evidence that bird diversity is enhanced in structurally heterogeneous grassland landscapes. Furthermore, the protection and appropriate management of privately owned Mistbelt grassland, conserved in the form of rangeland, is an important refuge for threatened and endemic avifauna, such as the globally-threatened blue swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) and wattled crane (Bugeranus carunculatus).     

海珠湿地繁殖季节鸟类的分布及惊飞距离分析

城市湿地鸟类栖息与人类活动关系密切。海珠国家湿地公园作为国家级生态湿地示范区,不仅是公众休闲游憩的载体,还是城市生物栖息的重要区域。在海珠湿地三处区域分别开展鸟类群落调查,并用噪声量化人类游览活动的强度,以惊飞距离来反映鸟类对人类活动的容忍度和适应性。结果发现鸟类群落的组成与栖息地的配置有关。不同生态型的鸟类对人为干扰适应性不同,以涉禽的惊飞距离最长。在游览强度大的区域鸟类容易被惊飞,但惊飞距离较短。建议通过制造隔离和视觉遮蔽、降低噪声和设置投喂点等措施来降低人为干扰对鸟类的影响。     

内蒙古图牧吉国家级自然保护区雁形目鸟类时空分布特征

文章以了解分析内蒙古图牧吉国家级自然保护区雁形目鸟类种类及分布特征并更好地保护管理的目的,于2017年4月至2018年1月份春、夏、秋、冬四个季节,采用样线和样点统计法,对保护区图牧吉泡子和三道泡子两处湖泊湿地雁形目鸟类种类和数量进行调查统计。结果显示:共观察记录到雁形目鸟类22种,隶属于1科8属。图牧吉泡子和三道泡子分别观察到19种和14种。两处湖泊湿地之间距离虽然较近,但雁形目鸟类种类有较大的区别,其中图牧吉泡子不仅种类多,而且珍稀濒危物种的分布也较集中。保护区雁形目鸟类时空分布特征与两处湖泊湿地各自食物资源、隐蔽条件和人为干扰程度有关外也与鸟类本身的迁徙规律和种间竞争有着密切关系。     

Bacteria and antibiotic resistance detection in fractures of wild birds from wildlife rehabilitation centres in Spain

Anatomic adaptations make birds more prone to open fractures with exposed bone parts losing vascularization. As a result of this exposure, fractures are colonized by different microorganisms, including different types of bacteria, both aerobic and anaerobic, causing osteomyelitis in many cases. For this reason, antibiotic treatment is common. However, carrying out antibiotic treatment without carrying out a previous antibiogram may contribute to increased resistance against antibiotics, especially in migratory wild birds. In this paper, bacterial counts regarding fracture type, bacterial identification and antibiotic resistance have been analysed in wild birds from wildlife rehabilitation centres in Spain. The results obtained showed that open fractures had higher bacterial counts (CFU/mL) than closed ones. Bacteria in family Enterobacteriaceae, identified were Escherichia spp., Enterobacter spp., Shigella spp., Hafnia alvei, Proteus mirabilis, Leclercia adecarboxylata and Pantoea agglomerans. Other bacteria present in wild birds’ fractures were Aeromonas spp., Enterococcus spp. Bacillus wiedmannii and Staphylococcus sciuri. All species found presented resistance to at least one of the antibiotics used. Wild birds can be implicated in the introduction, maintenance and global spreading of antibiotic resistant bacteria and represent an emerging public health concern. Results obtained in this paper support the idea that it is necessary to take this fact into account before antibiotic administration to wild animals, since it could increase the number of bacteria resistant to antibiotics.