加丽素红混合物对血鹦鹉鱼体色和生理指标的影响

试验研究了在基础饲料中添加加丽素红、维生素E、磷脂的混合物对血鹦鹉鱼(Cichlasoma synspilum×Cichlasoma citrinellum)体色和生理指标的影响。试验设3个处理,分别为对照组(处理A),0.7%加丽素红与0.3%维生素E组(处理B),0.7%加丽素红与0.3%磷脂组(处理C),养殖30 d,测定血鹦鹉鱼体内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、类胡萝卜素、谷丙转氨酶(GPT)及谷草转氨酶(GOT)等指标。结果表明,处理B血鹦鹉鱼亮度和红度显著高于其他组(P0.05);处理B终体重、增重率、特定生长率显著高于其他组(P0.05)。3个处理间血鹦鹉鱼肝胰脏、肌肉和皮肤中类胡萝卜素含量差异不显著。血鹦鹉鱼肝胰脏中,处理B SOD、CAT活性显著高于其他组(P0.05),处理B MDA活性显著低于其他组(P0.05)。3个处理血清中GOT和GPT含量差异不显著(P0.05)。在基础饲料中添加0.7%加丽素红与0.3%维生素E对鹦鹉鱼的体色、生长和抗氧化系统效果较好。     

Acute pancreatitis in parrots

Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in three parrots. Antemortem diagnosis of pancreatitis in the avian patient is rarely documented, and should be suspected in birds showing clinical signs attributable to abdominal pain or gastro-intestinal dysfunction. However, not all birds with confirmed pancreatitis display these signs. A serum amylase level greater than 1,500 U/L is suggestive of pancreatitis and pancreatic biopsy can be used to confirm a diagnosis. The aetiology of acute pancreatitis in parrots is discussed and a suggested treatment protocol is described.     

Uptake and translocation of non-ionised pesticides in the emergent aquatic plant parrot feather Myriophyllum aquaticum

The uptake of four (14)C-labelled non-ionised compounds, the methyl carbamoyloxime insecticide/nematicide oxamyl and three model phenylureas, from solution by rooted stems of the aquatic plant parrot feather [Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vell.) Verdc], together with translocation to the emergent shoots, was measured over periods of 24 and 48 h. Uptake into the submerged tissues of roots and stem base could be ascribed to two processes: movement into the aqueous phase of cells and then partitioning onto the plant solids. This latter process was related to lipophilicity (as measured by the l-octanol/water partition coefficient, K(ow)) and gave rise to high uptake rates of the most lipophilic compounds. Translocation to shoots was passive and was optimal at log K(ow) approximately 1.8, at which the efficiency of translocation of compound was about 40% of that of water. This optimum log K(ow) was identical to that observed previously in barley, although the translocation efficiency was somewhat less in parrot feather. Solvation parameters were applied to model uptake and translocation of a set of ten compounds by barley with the particular objective of understanding why translocation efficiency is lower at log K(ow) > 1.8.     

牛膝多糖对血鹦鹉部分非特异性免疫与脂类代谢指标的影响

为研究牛膝多糖对血鹦鹉部分非特异性免疫与脂类代谢指标的影响,以初始体质量为(48.0±3.5)g的血鹦鹉Cichlasoma citrinellum♂×C.synspilum♀为试验对象,配制脂肪水平分别为8%、14%的基础饲料和高脂饲料,并在高脂饲料中添加质量分数分别为0(对照)、0.05%、0.10%、0.20%、0.40%的牛膝多糖作为饲料添加剂,试验共分为6个处理组(基础饲料组、对照组和A~D试验组),每个处理组设3个平行,每个平行放25尾血鹦鹉,用基础饲料及5种试验饲料分别投喂6组试验鱼,养殖周期为28 d,分别于试验开始后第7、14、21、28天取样测定并进行分析。结果表明:随着牛膝多糖添加量的增加,血鹦鹉肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、溶菌酶(LZM)活力显著提高(P0.05),丙二醛(MDA)含量显著降低(P0.05);随着牛膝多糖添加量的增加,血清中谷丙转氨酶(ALT)活力呈降低趋势,且在添加量为0.20%时与对照组有显著性差异(P0.05),而谷草转氨酶(AST)活力则无显著性变化(P0.05);随着牛膝多糖添加量的增加,血糖(Glu)含量显著降低(P0.05),而甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(CHOL)含量变化不明显(P0.05),肝脏脂蛋白脂酶(LPL)和脂肪酸合成酶(FAS)活力也未出现显著变化(P0.05)。研究表明,饲料中使用牛膝多糖作为添加剂,可提高血鹦鹉肝脏抗氧化能力与LZM活力,同时起到降血糖的作用,建议牛膝多糖添加量为0.40%,并连续投喂14 d。     

鹦鹉常见细菌病的病原菌分离与鉴定

鹦鹉饲养过程中常见的细菌病主要包括大肠杆菌病、传染性鼻炎、禽霍乱、传染性眼炎等。通过对鹦鹉常见疫病的病原菌进行分离鉴定,探讨了鹦鹉常见细菌病的主要致病菌的类型以及行之有效的防治方案。试验结果表明,引起鹦鹉常见细菌病的主要致病菌有大肠杆菌、鸡副嗜血杆菌、多杀性巴氏杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和耐药性链球菌。     

Stalked Barnacles Conchoderma Auritum on an Elephant Seal: Occurrence of Elephant Seals on South African Coast

For most of the year, Meyer’s parrots in the Okavango Delta do not form large feeding flocks, and groups larger than two or three are probably the result of opportunistic aggregation at favoured food items after dispersion from communal roosts. Communal roosting likely does not facilitate flocking unless the food resources are close to the roost site, but may function in anti-predator defence. Meyer’s parrots appear to be dependent on riverine forest, Acacia-Combretum marginal woodland and mopane woodland for roost sites in the Okavango Delta. They aggregated more during the breeding season due to their specialist nutritional requirements, and female dependence on food provisioning by the male parrots. Meyer’s parrots may be sedentary in the Okavango Delta, but the possibility of limited local movements in other areas (especially the Zimbabwean highlands) should be investigated.     

Bacterial sinusitis as a cause of beak deformity in an Antipodes Island parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor)

CASE HISTORY: From 26 days of age, an Antipodes Island parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor) was noted to have a severe beak deformity and reduced bodyweight gain compared to its nest mate. The bird was euthanised at 43 days of age.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: The beak abnormality consisted of distortion of the right nares and severe shortening resulting in deviation of the upper maxilla to the right and cranially. On sectioning the head, copious mucoid material was found in the infraorbital sinus and the bony sinus architecture was disrupted. Histopathological examination of the infraorbital sinuses revealed a large focus of chronic but active inflammation, bony lysis on the right side and pockets of a mixed population of bacteria.

DIAGNOSIS: Severe beak deformity, likely secondary to bacterial sinusitis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The case illustrates the need to look for underlying aetiologies to beak malformation, particularly in young parrots.     

Estimation of protein requirement for maintenance in adult parrots (Amazona spp.) by determining inevitable N losses in excreta

Especially in older pet birds, an unnecessary overconsumption of protein--presumably occurring in human custody--should be avoided in view of a potential decrease in the excretory organs' (liver, kidney) efficiency. Inevitable nitrogen (N)-losses enable the estimation of protein requirement for maintenance, because these losses have at least to be replaced to maintain N equilibrium. To determine the inevitable N losses in excreta of adult amazons (Amazona spp.), a frugivor-granivorous avian species from South America, adult amazons (n = 8) were fed a synthetic nearly N-free diet (in dry matter; DM: 37.8% starch, 26.6% sugar, 11.0% fat) for 9 days. Throughout the trial, feed and water intake were recorded, the amounts of excreta were measured and analysed for DM and ash content, N (Dumas analysis) and uric acid (enzymatic-photometric analysis) content. Effects of the N-free diet on body weight (BW) and protein-related blood parameters were quantified and compared with data collected during a previous 4-day period in which a commercial seed mixture was offered to the birds. After feeding an almost N-free diet for 9 days, under the conditions of a DM intake (20.1 g DM/bird/day) as in seeds and digestibility of organic matter comparable with those when fed seeds (82% and 76% respectively), it was possible to quantify the inevitable N losses via excrements to be 87.2 mg/bird/day or 172.5 mg/kg BW(0.75)/day. Assuming a utilization coefficient of 0.57 this leads to an estimated protein need of approximately 1.9 g/kg BW(0.75)/day (this value does not consider further N losses via feathers and desquamated cells; with the prerequisite that there is a balanced amino acid pattern).     

Foraging by burrowing parrots has little impact on agricultural crops in northeastern Patagonia,Argentina

Conflicts between wildlife and agriculture have increased as cultivation has expanded into previously unexploited areas. As frequent consumers of such crops, parrots (Psittaciformes) are often persecuted, despite the lack of measured economic impacts they may cause. This situation has compromised attempts to manage potential damage and endangered parrot populations. Here, we evaluate and measure actual crop damage and characterize the foraging areas used by the burrowing parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) in northeastern Patagonia, Argentina. We found that damage to field crops was economically insignificant, affecting 0.1%–0.4% of the sunflower harvest, with no damage detected in other more important crops in the region. The parrots mainly consumed grain left or spilled after harvesting, and unharvested grain from cultivated pastures and road margins. This grain represents a loss attributable to harvest machines, being independent from the presence of parrots. Given the negligible damage measured here, we conclude that there is no need for management of parrots as crop pests in northeastern Patagonia. Our study provides further support to the view that parrot damage has been often exaggerated and overstated.