Search Results (66)

The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus fulvus) is a scavenger species that plays a vital ecological role in carrion removal. Successful survival and reproduction in captive and wildlife conditions require optimal physical status and plumage integrity. Nutritional and environmental factors, systemic diseases, and various etiological agents can influence feather alterations. Although frequently documented in captive psittacine species, feather abnormalities are extremely rare in wild birds. Since 2020, two free-living griffon vultures in northeastern Italy have been found in poor physical condition, unable to fly due to partial feather loss and malformation of remiges and rectrices. Histopathologic examination of follicles and peri-follicular tissue revealed atrophy, keratin replacement, vasculitis, and calamus dystrophy with lymphohistiocytic perivasculitis. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis identified the presence of virus-like particles in epithelial and inflammatory cells. Although virome analysis did not confirm the presence of this virus in pooled affected samples, this study provides the first report of an emerging plumage disorder in free-ranging griffon vultures, which requires further characterization. Full article

The emergence and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, particularly those are extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers, thought to pose a serious threat to global health. This study aimed to isolate and identify the ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae from captive wild and migratory birds in Bangladesh along with their antimicrobial resistance characteristics. In this investigation, standard bacteriological methods were used to detect K. pneumoniae in 219 fecal samples. The positive isolates were confirmed by PCR and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method. K. pneumoniae was detected in 93 (42.47%, 95% CI: 35.8–49.3) out of 219 fecal samples. The prevalence of K. pneumoniae was higher in captive wild birds (50%; 40/80) compared to migratory birds (38.1%; 53/139). The isolates showed high resistance to ampicillin (69.9%) and streptomycin (64.5%). Conversely, the highest sensitivity was recorded for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (84.95%), followed by levofloxacin (79.57%) and gentamicin (69.89%). Molecular screening revealed that all positive isolates harbored bla_TEM-1&2 encoding genes, with 45.2% and 15.1% carried bla_SHV-1 and bla_OXA-1,4&30, respectively. Additionally, resistance genes strA (30.1%), tetA (9.7%), and sul1 (9.7%) were detected. The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index ranged from 0.18 to 0.64, with 63.4% of isolates classified as MDR. The isolation of MDR and ESBL producing K. pneumoniae from captive wild and migratory birds suggests that these birds may serve as reservoirs for the spread of these bacteria, potentially impacting public health in the study region. Full article

The developmental period is a critical phase in birds, influencing even lifetime reproductive success. The gut microbiome (GM) is important herein, affecting digestive capacity and immune function. Diet impacts the GM, but wild nestlings may experience resource limitations, which may also affect the GM. We investigated the effects of a week of food restriction early in life on the GM in captive rock pigeon nestlings (Columba livia). We sampled the GM at 0, 2, 4, 7, 8, 12, 20, 27, and 38 days and in foster parents. Alpha diversity varied only with age. However, differences in alpha diversity between nestlings and adults were larger during food restriction. Beta diversity varied with age, food treatment, and their interaction term. Four of the eleven major genera varied with age, while four others did not vary with age or food treatment. Major genera that contained potential pathogens (Escherichia-Shigella and Clostridium sensu stricto 1) were more abundant under food restriction. Food restriction thus affected GM development. The increase in alpha diversity and potential pathogens suggest that suppressed immune function may mediate the impact of food restriction on the GM. The effect diminished when food restriction was ended, suggesting that in wild nestlings, the impact of food restriction on the GM may be short-term. Full article

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are natural by-products of cellular metabolism and are also formed in response to environmental stressors such as pollution, extreme temperatures, and ultraviolet radiation exposure. Physiological factors such as intense activity, growth, reproduction, nutrient deficiency, captivity, and disease also contribute to ROS production. While ROS, including free radicals, play a key role in cell physiology, including immune defense, their excessive accumulation can damage cellular components and cause oxidative stress when antioxidant defenses are overwhelmed. To regulate ROS levels, wild birds rely on enzymatic (e.g., catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (e.g., vitamins C and E, carotenoids). Oxidative stress affects important aspects of wild bird biology, including health, reproduction, and survival, and is closely linked to overall fitness. It is also linked to physiological challenges such as migration and the progression of various diseases affecting wild bird populations. The study of oxidative stress in wild birds requires the use of appropriate biomarkers to assess its role in disease development. A deeper understanding of the balance between ROS production and antioxidant defenses is essential to determine how wild birds cope with environmental and physiological challenges. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of oxidative stress in wild birds and the role of antioxidants in maintaining health and promoting longevity in wild bird populations. Full article

Captive birds of prey often exceed their wild counterparts’ lifespan, as seen in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, ~20 years wild vs. ~40 years captive), golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos, ~32 years wild vs. ~46 years captive), and Andean condors (Vultur gryphus, ~50 years wild vs. ~79 years captive), highlighting the impact of controlled environments on longevity. However, recent evidence suggests a rising incidence of neoplastic processes in these species. While previous studies have indicated a higher-than-expected prevalence of neoplasia in raptors, comprehensive research on this topic remains scarce. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a frequently reported neoplasm in pet birds, has been documented in birds of prey, though the literature on its prevalence and management is limited. Retrospective studies have identified SCC cases in peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), primarily affecting the flank or thigh, with locally invasive behavior and rare distant metastasis. Complete surgical excision is the preferred treatment for SCCs, yet its feasibility is often constrained by tumor invasiveness and anatomical limitations. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) has emerged as a promising alternative, utilizing electroporation to enhance intracellular drug uptake while minimizing systemic toxicity. Bleomycin and cisplatin have been successfully used in avian intralesional chemotherapy, offering a potentially safer and effective treatment approach. ECT has demonstrated efficacy in various exotic species, yet its application in raptors remains largely unexplored. This case report describes the use of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin in a peregrine falcon diagnosed with SCC, contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting its clinical utility in avian oncology. Full article

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis causes yersiniosis in a wide range of mammalian and avian taxa worldwide. This review aims to provide an overview of the current literature on yersiniosis in non-domesticated mammals and birds in captivity. Data on the prevalence of Y. pseudotuberculosis in captive populations are scarce. Transmission is primarily via the fecal–oral route, with wild rodents and birds as primary reservoirs. Predisposing factors to yersiniosis include young age, inclement weather, stress, and genetic factors. Symptoms are often non-specific, with sudden death occurring frequently, particularly in avian species. Gross pathological examination typically reveals multiple white-yellow foci in visceral organs, while histopathology demonstrates necrosis with central bacterial colonies. Ante-mortem diagnosis can be challenging as bacterial culture and isolation from fecal samples are often hindered by intermittent excretion and competition with other gastrointestinal flora. Although killed and subunit vaccine formulations have demonstrated limited protective efficacy, live attenuated strains may hold greater promise for inducing more robust and durable immunity. Y. pseudotuberculosis remains a significant threat to animal health, highlighting the need for faster and more reliable diagnostic techniques and the development of more effective treatment and prophylactic strategies. Full article

In an age of rewilding and dramatic declines in biodiversity, we are developing a new way to reintroduce raptors: parental hacking. The principle behind it is similar to traditional hacking, where the birds are released without contact with adult conspecifics. In parental hacking, our method, the parents feed their own offspring until the end of the post-fledgling dependency period. Our programme aims to reintroduce the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) to the Upper Rhône Basin in France. It started in 2022 and will continue until 2030, with the release of 80 young eagles. We describe the method used in 2022, followed by the improvements made in 2023, and finally compare the two years. The young eagles were raised in aviaries at the reintroduction site by their captive-born parents in the Aigles du Léman Park (Haute-Savoie, France). In 2022, two young females and two young males were released as soon as they were able to fly at the age of three months, but they often ended up on the ground due to a lack of flying ability and attacks from wild black kites (Milvus migrans) defending their territory. Therefore, the young eagles were returned to their parents’ aviary before being released a second time at five months in August 2022. One month after release, one male was already 50 km from the reintroduction site, while the other three stayed close to the park. In 2023, five young females and five young males were released at five months. This came after four weeks in a large training aviary to learn how to fly, perch, and fish. The behaviour of the young eagles after release varied greatly between individuals. Overall, 4 out of 10 young eagles travelled long distances and did not return to the reintroduction site to feed within a month, while the other 6 chose to stay close (within 20 km) to the reintroduction site. Full article

The scarlet macaw (Ara macao) is a charismatic species that is native to Central and South America and commonly housed in captivity. Gaps in knowledge about these birds’ behavioral ecology in the wild hinders both in situ and ex situ management and conservation efforts for this species. We conducted seventeen days of observations of free-living scarlet macaws in two locations in Costa Rica, in February 2022, with the aims of (1) advancing our knowledge of this species’ natural behavioral ecology, and (2) generating data for comparison with captive macaws to help to inform their ex situ management (e.g., enclosure design and enrichment). Routes were walked within two locations—Bosque Escondido (BE), release area for captive-bred reintroduced individuals and no extant wild population, and Punta Leona (PL), an area of natural habitat within a resort inhabited by wild scarlet macaws—and focal interval sampling of multiple scarlet macaws in a group was used to record behavior and space use. The macaws at both locations were generally active, spent most of their time high in the tree canopy, relied on climbing to move within it, and used a wide variety of supports. The macaws at PL spent significantly more time feeding and locomoting, and less time perching, than those at BE, possibly due to differences in resource availability, rearing conditions, and age. Furthermore, the wild scarlet macaws at PL exhibited a variety of foraging strategies to acquire and manipulate food items within the tree canopy, including frequent use of their feet during manipulation. Despite limitations caused by a small sample size, a short period of observations, and differences between the two populations observed, this study provides insights into the behavioral ecology of scarlet macaws in the wild, which can be used for behavioral assessments of captive macaws while informing their ex situ management, with applications to animal welfare and captive breeding programs. Full article

Parrots are popular with pet consumers and are one of the most traded groups of live birds around the world. China has been considered as an important country in bird trades, but we know little about China’s import and export of parrots. Using the latest data available from the CITES Trade Database, we analyzed China’s import and export of CITES-listed live parrots from 1981–2022 to better understand the patterns and dynamics of these trades. China imported 155,339 parrots of 173 species and exported 608,987 parrots of 42 species during the study period with an annual average of about 18,500 individuals, accounting for c. 5% of the global average number. The most imported parrots to China were Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) and Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), while the most exported ones were Fisher’s Lovebirds (Agapornis fischeri), Rosy-faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis), and Yellow-collared Lovebird (Agapornis personatus). Since the early 21st century, China’s imports of parrots gradually increased, but exports decreased more pronouncedly, making China’s international parrot trade volume declining in the past 20 years. China’s international parrot trade routes also changed over time, with the destination of parrot exports shifting from Europe to Africa and the Arabian region, while more parrots being gradually imported from countries in South America and Africa. The vast majority of parrots exported from China were captive-bred non-native species like Fisher’s Lovebirds, while a substantial proportion of imported parrots were wild-sourced and the proportion has been increasing in the last decade. The fact that China exported much more parrots than imported suggests existence of large-scale parrot farming and domestic parrot trade in China. Attention needs to be paid to monitoring China’s import of increasing proportion of wild-sourced parrots from South America countries and its potential impacts on their wild populations. Close monitoring of and more studies on domestic and illegal parrot trade are essential to fully understand the role China plays in the international trade of parrots. Full article

The global pet trade is a thriving multibillion-dollar industry, involving the international exchange of various species and regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). South Africa plays a significant role as both an importer and exporter within this market. By analysing over 13 million records from the CITES database, spanning from 1975 to 2023, we aimed to access South Africa’s role in the international pet trade and to analyse trade volume and trends over time. Our findings indicate that alien species dominate exports, particularly birds and mammals, while native species are traded in lower volume, involving only a few species. The top 10 traded species for birds and mammals belong to the genera Agapornis and Callithrix, while 80% of reptile exports were native, with Stigmochelys pardalis being the most exported species. Bird and mammal exports are primarily composed of captive-bred individuals, whereas both captive-bred and wild-sourced individuals contribute to reptile exports. Approximately 100 countries import various species from South Africa, with Asia and Europe as major importers of birds. The extensive exportation of South Africa’s native species, particularly reptiles, raises significant conservation concerns regarding the potential impact on local biodiversity. Full article

Competent authorities of many countries, including Belgium, impose control measures (preventing wild bird access to feeders and water facilities, indoor confinement of captive birds, or fencing off outdoor ranges with nets) on professional and non-professional keepers of birds to prevent the spread of avian influenza (AI). Flemish laying hen farmers (FAR, n = 33) and private keepers of captive birds (PRI, n = 263) were surveyed about their opinion on and compliance with AI measures legally imposed during the most recent high-risk period before this survey in 2021. Participants answered questions on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = the worst, 3 = neutral, and 5 = the best). FAR indicated better compliance with the AI measures than PRI, except for net confinement. FAR indicated that they and other poultry farmers complied better with AI measures than PRI. Additionally, PRI indicated that they better complied than other PRI keepers. FAR regarded the AI measures as more effective than PRI. To prevent the spread of AI more effectively, national authorities could focus on information campaigns explaining to private bird keepers the need for the various control measures that they impose. If these campaigns fail, local authorities may need stricter enforcement or alternative ways to increase compliance. Full article

Short-wavelength artificial light at night is increasingly being associated with health and ecological risks. The negative impact of this relatively new source of pollution has been studied intensively in wild birds but to a much lesser extent in captive conspecifics. Using an avian model, our objective was to evaluate the effects of short-wavelength (200 lux at 460 nm) lighting on the body mass and reproductive success of Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) under captive conditions. Birds were maintained under a naturally increasing photoperiod from March to June, with one daily artificial light at night exposure of increasing duration (0, 30, 60, and 90 min) in the middle of the dark period. During the experiments, birds were monitored monthly for body mass, number of eggs laid, hatching success, and melatonin sulfate levels in droppings. Artificial light at night increased body mass and decreased melatonin sulfate levels as well as the number of eggs and hatching success in a duration dose-dependent manner. Our findings provide further evidence of the potential adverse impact of artificial light at night on captive birds and advocate the need for effective controlling measures for light pollution. Full article

The global trade of non-native pet birds has increased in recent decades, and this has accelerated the introduction of invasive birds in the wild. This study employed ensemble species distribution modelling (eSDM) to assess potential habitat suitability and environmental predictor variables influencing the potential distribution of non-native pet bird species reported lost and sighted in South Africa. We used data and information on lost and found pet birds from previous studies to establish and describe scenarios of how pet birds may transition from captivity to the wild. Our study revealed that models fitted and performed well in predicting the suitability for African grey (Psittacus erithacus), Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), Green-cheeked conure (Pyrrhura molinae), Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), and Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), with the mean weighted AUC and TSS values greater than 0.765. The predicted habitat suitability differed among species, with the suitability threshold indicating that between 61% and 87% of areas were predicted as suitable. Species with greater suitability included the African grey, Cockatiel, and Rose-ringed parakeet, which demonstrated significant overlap between their habitat suitability and reported lost cases. Human footprint, bioclimatic variables, and vegetation indices largely influenced predictive habitat suitability. The pathway scenario showed the key mechanisms driving the transition of pet birds from captivity to the wild, including the role of pet owners, animal rescues, adoption practices, and environmental suitability. Our study found that urban landscapes, which are heavily populated, are at high risk of potential invasion by pet birds. Thus, implementing a thorough surveillance survey is crucial for monitoring and evaluating the establishment potential of pet species not yet reported in the wild. Full article

In the European Union, salmonellosis is one of the most important zoonoses reported. Poultry meat and egg products are the most common food matrices associated with Salmonella presence. Moreover, wild and domestic animals could represent an important reservoir that could favour the direct and indirect transmission of pathogens to humans. Salmonella spp. can infect carnivorous or omnivorous wild birds that regularly ingest food and water exposed to faecal contamination. Birds kept in captivity can act as reservoirs of Salmonella spp. following ingestion of infected prey or feed. In this paper, we describe the isolation of different Salmonella serovars in several species of raptors hosted in aviaries in an Italian wildlife centre and in the raw chicken necks used as their feed but intended for human consumption. Characterisations of strains were carried out by integrating classical methods and whole genome sequencing analysis. The strains of S. bredeney isolated in poultry meat and birds belonged to the same cluster, with some of them being multidrug-resistant (MDR) and carrying the Col(pHAD28) plasmid-borne qnrB19 (fluoro)quinolone resistance gene, thus confirming the source of infection. Differently, the S. infantis found in feed and raptors were all MDR, carried a plasmid of emerging S. infantis (pESI)-like plasmid and belonged to different clusters, possibly suggesting a long-lasting infection or the presence of additional undetected sources. Due to the high risk of fuelling a reservoir of human pathogens, the control and treatment of feed for captive species are crucial. Full article

The host’s physiological well-being is intricately associated with the gut microbiota. However, previous studies regarding the intestinal microbiota have focused on domesticated or captive birds. This study used high-throughput sequencing technology to identify the gut bacterial communities of sympatric bean geese, hooded cranes, and domestic geese. The results indicated that the gut bacterial diversity in domestic geese and hooded cranes showed considerably higher diversity than bean geese. The gut bacterial community compositions varied significantly among the three hosts (p < 0.05). Compared to the hooded crane, the bean goose and domestic goose were more similar in their genotype and evolutionary history, with less difference in the bacterial community composition and assembly processes between the two species. Thus, the results might support the crucial role of host genotypes on their gut microbiota. The gut bacteria of wild hooded cranes and bean geese had a greater capacity for energy metabolism compared to domestic geese, suggesting that wild birds may rely more on their gut microbiota to survive in cold conditions. Moreover, the intestines of the three hosts were identified as harboring potential pathogens. The relative abundance of pathogens was higher in the hooded crane compared to the other two species. The hooded crane gut bacterial community assemblage revealed the least deterministic process with the lowest filtering/selection on the gut microbiota, which might have been a reason for the highest number of pathogens result. Compared to the hooded crane, the sympatric bean goose showed the least diversity and relative abundance of pathogens. The intestinal bacterial co-occurrence network showed the highest stability in the bean goose, potentially enhancing host resistance to adverse environments and reducing the susceptibility to pathogen invasion. In this study, the pathogens were also discovered to overlap among the three hosts, reminding us to monitor the potential for pathogen transmission between poultry and wild birds. Overall, the current findings have the potential to enhance the understanding of gut bacterial and pathogenic community structures in poultry and wild birds. Full article