Aversion of the feral pigeon and the house sparrow to pellets and sprouts treated with commercial formulations of methyl anthranilate

Two methyl anthranilate formulations, ReJex‐iT® TP‐40 and AG‐36, were tested as bird‐repelling agents for animal feed and vegetable sprouts, respectively. Feral pigeons (Columba livia) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus) are important pests of animal husbandry and field crops in Israel. In each 4‐day experiment, four birds were held together in an aviary, and were offered four trays or dishes with animal feed or cauliflower sprouts in four corners of the cage. The trays and dishes were transposed daily in a Latin square sequence. Pigeons consumed significantly more untreated feed than treated feed. When no alternative untreated food was offered, there was no significant repellency. Treatment of animal feed with TP‐40 to give 2.0 ml methyl anthranilate kg^?1 or less had no repellent effect on sparrows. Concentrations of 4.0 ml kg^?1 or more repelled the sparrows significantly. When no untreated feed was presented, pigeons and sparrows preferred the lowest concentration of methyl anthranilate presented. When AG‐36 was tested on vegetable sprouts, the sparrows tended significantly to avoid the highest concentration used—14.5 ml methyl anthranilate litre^?1 spray. The inter‐specific differences between the birds indicate that the efficacy of methyl anthranilate formulations as a repellent has to be specified for every species. This study did not determine (1) the possibility of developing habituation, (2) the behaviour of birds under natural conditions in the field, or (3) the influence of the feeding behaviour of a sympatric bird species on the repellency of methyl anthranilate to other species. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

秋冬季补光时间和强度对白羽王鸽产蛋性能、血清生理生化指标及抗氧化能力的影响

本试验旨在研究秋冬季不同补光时间和强度对白羽王鸽产蛋性能、血清生理生化指标及抗氧化能力的影响。试验将280只健康的8月龄白羽王鸽(全为母鸽)进行两两配对,共140对即140笼,并按体重相近的原则,随机分成5组,每组4个重复,每个重复7笼(14只)。各组补光时间和强度分别为:0 h、0 lx,4 h、31.2 lx,4 h、20.5 lx,6 h、31.2 lx,6 h、20.5 lx。试验期125 d。结果表明:1)4 h、20.5 lx,6 h、31.2 lx组产蛋率显著高于0 h、0 lx组(P0.05),各组平均日采食量、平均蛋重无显著差异(P0.05)。2)6 h、31.2 lx,6 h、20.5 lx组血清免疫球蛋白M含量显著低于0 h、0 lx组(P0.05)。4 h、31.2 lx,4 h、20.5 lx,6 h、31.2 lx和6 h、20.5 lx组血清谷草转氨酶活性均高于0 h、0 lx组(P0.05)。3)各组血清催乳素(PRL)、雌二醇(E2)、促卵泡激素、黄体生成素和孕酮含量无显著差异(P0.05),但0 h、0 lx组血清PRL含量高于其他各组,血清E2含量低于其他各组。4)与0 h、0 lx组相比,6 h、31.2 lx组血清超氧化物歧化物活性显著降低(P0.05),血清丙二醛(MDA)含量显著升高(P0.05)。0 h、0 lx,4 h、20.5 lx,6h、20.5 lx组肝脏MDA含量显著低于6 h、31.2 lx组(P0.05)。由此可见,补光时间和强度为4 h、20.5 lx时,白羽王鸽可获得较好的产蛋性能。补光时间过长(6 h)且强度过高(31.2 lx)可显著降低白羽王鸽抗氧化能力,补光强度应不超过20.5 lx。     

Rejection of dyed field rodent baits by Feral Pigeons and Chukar Partridges

Whole wheat grain bait, treated with sodium fluoroacetate, is used to control field rodents in Israel. However, this bait constitutes a potential primary non-target hazard to seed-eating birds. In the present study black-, red-, green- and yellow-dyed whole wheat and sorghum grains, as well as undyed ones, were offered to feral pigeons,Columba livia, and to chukar partridges,Alectoris chukar, in the laboratory during 4 days. Grains were offered either piled on trays, or scattered. Consumption levels varied significantly (P<0.05) among varieties. The pigeons preferred undyed grain; black and yellow grains were consumed the least. The partridges preferred the undyed and black grains to all the other colored grains. When no undyed alternative was offered, the pigeons preferred red and green, and the partridges — black wheat. The pigeons preferred wheat whole grain, and the partridges — sorghum whole grain. When the pigeons received sorghum, a disliked grain, no significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the consumption of the differently dyed grains.     

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Pigeons from Public Parks in Costa Rica

Antimicrobial resistance is known to be an emerging problem, but the extent of the issue remains incomplete. The aim of this study was to determine the presence or absence of nine resistance genes (bla_TEM, catI, mecA, qnrS, sulI, sulII, tet(A), tet(Q), vanA) in the faeces of 141 pigeons from four urban parks in Alajuela, Guadalupe, Tres Ríos and San José in Costa Rica. The genes were identified by real‐time PCR directly from enema samples. About 30% of the samples were positive for genes catI and sulI; between 13% and 17% were positive for qnrS, sulII, tet(A) and tet(Q); and 4% were positive for bla_TEM. The mecA and vanA genes were not detected. The average of antimicrobial resistance genes detected per pigeon was 2. Eight different patterns of resistance were identified, without differences in the sampling areas, being the most common pattern 2 (sulII positive samples). During rainy season, the genes more frequently found were sulI and tet(A). In conclusion, the urban inhabiting pigeons tested are currently carrying antimicrobial resistance genes, potentially acting as reservoirs of resistant bacteria and vectors to humans. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study carried out on direct detection of resistance genes in the digestive metagenomes of pigeons.     

白羽王鸽泛素(UB)基因的生物信息学分析

[目的]对白羽王鸽泛素基因的cDNA序列进行相关分析。[方法]运用相关生物信息学软件对该基因eDNA序列进行分析和预测,编码蛋白的理化性质及二级结构。[结果]生物信息学分析结果表明,白羽王鸽泛素基因编码区长度为1037bp,编码的多肽由76个氨基酸残基组成,相对分子质量为34．368kD,理论等电点为6．94,二级结构中α-螺旋占24．6％,无规则卷曲占43．3％。B延伸链占32．1％。[结论]通过白羽王鸽泛素基因相关生物学信息分析,为进一步研究泛素基因在白羽王鸽机体内的作用奠定了基础。     

Cinnamamide,an avian repellent,reduces woodpigeon damage to oilseed rape

Woodpigeons Columba palumbus cause significant damage to oilseed rape Brassica napus. (Cruciferae) in Britain, especially between January and March. The potential of cinnamamide, a non-lethal chemical repellent, to protect growing oilseed rape from woodpigeon damage was assessed in 20×20 m plots laid out in a 9-ha field frequented by >500 woodpigeons. Despite a low initial loading of cinnamamide and low persistence of the compound after spraying, the inner leaves of treated plants received less damage than the inner leaves of untreated plants (P<0·05). This was reflected later in the trial in a decline in damage to the outer leaves of treated plants (P<0·05). No signs of phytotoxicity were seen on treated leaves during the trial. Cinnamamide did not completely protect the rape, and some plants in treated plots received considerable damage. This was probably due to the compound's poor persistence on the leaf and because it was applied late in the growing season (late February) when birds had already made inroads into the crop. © 1998 SCI.     

Improving the persistence of a formulation of the avian repellent cinnamamide, for the protection of autumn-sown oilseed rape

In a previous pilot field trial on autumn-sown oilseed rape (Brassica napus L), a suspension concentrate formulation of the avian repellent cinnamamide, using Acronal 4D (50 g litre(-1)) as the sticker, was shown to reduce damage by woodpigeons (Columba palumbus L). However, the persistence of cinnamamide on rape leaves was poor. This paper describes the development of a weather-resistant formulation by the inclusion of a more effective sticker. In vitro studies were used to investigate wash-off of cinnamamide, which was identified as being the major mechanism of loss in the field. Rainfastness of cinnamamide was assessed by washing deposits on glass slides and rape leaves using a 'rain-washing machine'. A number of stickers were evaluated and the effect of sticker concentration, ageing of deposits, freezing and intermittent washing on rain-fastness was investigated. None of the candidate stickers showed increased rainfastness compared to Acronal 4D. However, two of the stickers, Crovol T40 G and Emoleo L1, when combined with Acronal 4D in small amounts, did reduce wash-off compared with Acronal 4D alone. Freezing led to an increase in wash-off of cinnamamide, but inclusion of Emoleo L1 with Acronal 4D reduced this effect. Increasing the concentration of the sticker was also shown to improve the rainfastness; doubling the concentration of Acronal from 50 to 100 g litre(-1) halved the wash-off of cinnamamide.     

Pigeons (Columba livia) are a suitable experimental model for Neospora caninum infection in birds

Neospora caninum infections in chickens have been recently described by epidemiological and experimental approaches, and these birds may be considered natural intermediate hosts of the parasite. It has been postulated that other bird species might perform this role in wildlife as well. To better understand the sylvatic life cycle of N. caninum, further studies are required. In that sense, this work aimed to observe infection kinetics in pigeons experimentally infected with N. caninum. Experimental infections were conducted in parallel with a related protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, which has been already described as able to infect pigeons in nature. Our results demonstrated that N. caninum disseminated through various tissues of this host and induced parasite-specific IgG seroconversion. Infection parameters were similar to that observed in the T. gondii infected group, although N. caninum-infected pigeons presented lower IgG titers during acute phase. The results herein described demonstrate that pigeons are a suitable model for N. caninum infection, considering that these data are in agreement with those observed in chickens experimentally infected with this parasite. As pigeons may be revealed as important reservoirs for N. caninum infection in nature, future studies are necessary to determine the real prevalence of this parasite in this and other birds in wildlife.     

Effects of human disturbance on nest placement of the woodpigeon (Columba palumbus): a case study from the Middle Atlas,Morocco

The woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) is a common and widespread bird in Morocco (North Africa). I examined, over 2 years (2010 and 2011), the breeding density and nest placement of this game species in relation to nest site habitat and degree of human disturbance. The study area was in the Middle Atlas Tighboula mountain forest, Morocco, in a disturbed and an undisturbed site. Using data collected in the 2 study sites, I aimed to identify the factors influencing the placement of nests within holm oak trees (Quercus rotundifolia) and their densities. I found that habitat structures, influenced by grazing disturbance, have affected nesting density and the location of nests of this species. Woodpigeons place their nests in a higher position (3.42 ± 0.19 m) when disturbance intensity is high and lower (1.68 ± 0.1 m) when disturbance intensity is low, and show higher nesting density in less disturbed zone (3.1 ± 0.4 nests/ha) than in highly disturbed zones (1.4 ± 0.2 nests/ha). Grazing disturbance could pose a threat to population persistence at a broader scale and could potentially reduce the abundance of this species by altering the composition and the structure of the forest nesting habitat. Further multi‐scale studies are needed to assess the effects of different levels of grazing disturbance on woodpigeon nest density and placement, and to enhance our knowledge of the breeding behavior of this game species under variable environments.     

家鸽mtDNA ATPase8和ATPase6基因的分子克隆及序列分析

利用特异引物,通过聚合酶链式反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)技术,从家鸽(Columbalivia)肝脏组织的总DNA中扩增到目的片段,并将扩增产物克隆到pMD18-T载体中,经菌落PCR与酶切鉴定、序列测定及序列分析.结果表明:克隆得到了家鸽ATPase8-ATPase6基因842 bp及COII的部分序列共861 bp.用DNA分析软件对家鸽ATPase8和ATPase6基因与Genbank中的5种鸟类的ATPase8和ATPase6基因序列进行比较分析,表明家鸽与其他5种鸟类的ATPase8和ATPase6基因具有较高的同源性(88.1%~75.0%),其中与山斑鸠(Streptopelia orientalis)的同源性最高,分别为88.1%和86.5%.家鸽ATPase8和ATPase6基因核苷酸序列的组成中,(A+T)含量分别为55.95%和54.68%,与其它5种鸟类的(A+T)含量(53.5%~60.12%)和(51.9%~54.24%)相近,说明鸟类ATPase8和ATPase6基因序列组成对A+T核苷酸的偏倚程度比较低;而且家鸽该片段的基因组织结构与其他鸟类的基本一致,显示鸟类线粒体基因排列的保守性.家鸽与其他5种鸟类的ATPase8和ATPase6基因序列同源性的分子进化树聚类结果表明家鸽与山斑鸠亲缘关系最近.