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chlamydiosis in a captive group of houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata).a chlamydiosis outbreak occurred in a houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata) captive breeding group in saudi arabia, inducing peracute deaths, highly variable clinical signs, and pathological and histological lesions. typical inclusion bodies in stained impression smears of spleen and prevalence (80%) of antibodies against chlamydia, detected by a competitive enzyme immunoassay test, provided the bases for the diagnosis. this is the first report on a chlamydiosis outbreak in birds of the family ...19938141742
artificial insemination in houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata): influence of the number of spermatozoa and insemination frequency on fertility and ability to hatch.between 1989 and 1992, artificial insemination was used in the reproduction of two subspecies of houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii and chlamydotis undulata undulata) at the national wildlife research center, taif. the laying period was between january and july and the mean annual egg production in c. undulata macqueenii was 10.2 and in c. undulata undulata was 7.6. no differences were found in sperm production between the two subspecies: the mean volume of ejaculate was 0.08 ml; t ...19948182618
pharmacokinetics of doxycycline after parenteral administration in the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata).fourteen adult houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) infected with chlamydia psittaci were administered doxycycline at 100 mg/kg body weight in seven intramuscular or subcutaneous injections at intervals of 7, 7, 7, 6, 6, and 5 days. blood levels of doxycycline were measured after the first and seventh injections at the following intervals: 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, and 180 hours. during these two periods, most of the birds showed plasma doxycycline levels in excess of 1 microg ...19938452507
lead toxicosis in captive houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata maqueenii). 19958560726
debilitating cutaneous poxvirus lesions on two captive houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata).poxvirus was isolated from cutaneous nodules on two young houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) bred in captivity in saudi arabia. birds were emaciated and presented nodules on tibiotarso-tarsometatarsal joints, toes, and the carpal joint. diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology, virus isolation on inoculated chorioallantoic membranes of embryonated chicken's eggs, and electron microscopy. progressive leg lesions were extensive and interfered with walking, significantly debilitating the bird ...20068719229
an epornitic of avian pox in houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii).an epornitic of avian pox occurred in a flock of 123 houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) received at the sulman falcon hospital in the state of bahrain in february 1993. birds displayed conjunctivitis, excessive lacrimation and papilloma-like growths forming amorphous clusters on the third eyelid and on the conjunctiva. examination of eyelid samples under transmission electron microscopy revealed pox virus particles displaying the classical morphology of vaccinia-avipox virions. t ...19968779810
postmortem findings in bustards in the united arab emirates.a review was conducted of 236 postmortem examinations of six species of captive and imported bustards in the united arab emirates for the period 1979-94. the most common causes of death in adult imported houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) were euthanasia due to newcastle disease, aspergillosis, and post-transportation-related deaths. helminth parasites were a common finding in imported houbara bustards, and large parasite burdens occasionally caused intestinal obstruction and dea ...19968790878
seasonal variation of lh, sex steroids, body mass, molt, display, and laying in two subspecies of houbara bustard, chlamydotis undulata macqueenii and chlamydotis undulata undulata, housed in outdoor cages under natural conditions.subspecies of the houbara bustard are resident in north africa (chlamydotis undulata undulata) or are partial latitudinal migrants in asia (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii). houbara breed in arid or semiarid zones, and the reproductive biology of wild houbara is largely unknown. body mass, molt, courtship display, laying, and plasma concentrations of lh, testosterone, and progesterone were measured in captive-bred birds of both subspecies, housed in outdoor cages under natural conditions, over a ...19968860314
serological survey for avian viruses in houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii). 19968883351
cross-protection test of an avian poxvirus isolated from houbara bustards.an avian poxvirus was isolated previously from the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata). we carried out a cross-protection test on 66 captive-bred canaries. thirty-five canaries were vaccinated with a commercial canary poxvirus (cp) vaccine. three weeks later all 66 birds were assigned randomly to six different groups: group ia (n = 14) was vaccinated and challenged with houbara bustard poxvirus (hp) strain; group ib (n = 13) was vaccinated and challenged with a cp strain; group ic (n = 7) was ...19968980803
parasites of wild houbara bustards in the united arab emirates.seven free-living houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueeni) wild-caught in the united arab emirates (uae) were examined for helminth parasites. of five birds investigated post mortem, one was free of gastrointestinal helminths. two other birds expelled worms following clinical examination and anthelmintic treatment. this is the first report of the parasites of free-living, as opposed to captive, houbara bastards in the uae. in infested wild birds, fewer species of helminths were recovere ...19968991913
avian paramyxovirus type 1 infection in houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii): clinical and pathologic findings.clinical and pathologic findings of avian paramyxovirus type 1 (pmv-1) in 19 houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) imported from pakistan into the united arab emirates and one captive-bred bird are reported. clinical signs included circling, walking backward, ataxia, opisthotonos, torticollis, recumbency, head tilt, head shaking, head tremor, tucking of head under keel, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and diarrhea. the length of time imported birds exhibited clinical signs varied f ...19979365947
comparative morphology of the alimentary tract and its glandular derivatives of captive bustards.this study describes the gross anatomy of the alimentary tract of houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii), kori bustards (ardeotis kori), rufous-crested bustards (eupodotis ruficrista) and white-bellied bustards (eupodotis senegalensis) maintained in captivity by the national avian research center in the united arab emirates. the morphology of the alimentary tract and the proportions of each region were similar in all 4 species. the length of the oesophagus, combined proventriculus an ...19979418995
pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration in houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii).the in-vitro activity of enrofloxacin against 117 strains of bacteria isolated from bustards was determined. minimum inhibitory concentrations for 72% of the proteus spp., e. coli, salmonella spp. and klebsiella spp. (n = 61) and for 48% of the streptococci spp. and staphylococci spp. (n = 31) were < or = 0.5 microg/ml. the minimum inhibitory concentration (mic) of 76% of pseudomonas spp. (n = 25) was < or = 2 microg/ml. fourteen strains were resistant to concentrations > or = 128 microg/ml. the ...19989731951
antibody response to newcastle disease vaccination in a flock of young houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata).twelve young houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) were vaccinated with a lentogenic strain of newcastle disease virus. another seven birds were kept in close contact with the treated flock but were not vaccinated. antibody levels were measured in all birds with hemagglutination inhibition test over the course of 1 yr. antibody formation with no side effects was observed in 18 birds. the duration and amplitude of the antibody response differed between the groups.19989732045
drug metabolizing enzyme systems in the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata).this study compared catalytic and immunochemical properties of drug metabolizing phase i and ii enzyme systems in houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata) liver and kidney and rat liver. p450 content in bustard liver (0.34 +/- 0.03 nmol mg-1 protein) was 50% lower than that of rat liver (0.70 +/- 0.02 nmol mg-1 protein). with the exception of aniline hydroxylase activity, monooxygenase activities using aminopyrine, ethoxyresorufin and ethoxycoumarin as substrates were all significantly lower than ...19989827052
radiographic monitoring of the ossification of long bones in kori (ardeotis kori) and white-bellied (eupodotis senegalensis) bustards.a serial radiographic study was conducted on eight kori bustard (ardeotis kori) and four white-bellied bustard (eupodotis senegalensis) chicks to determine the pattern of long bone development and to establish radiographic standards for assessing skeletal maturity. the ossification pattern, appearance of secondary ossification centres, and epiphyseal fusion of the long bones in kori and white-bellied bustards were similar to those in houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii), rufous-cre ...19989839896
antibody response of kori bustards (ardeotis kori) and houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) to live and inactivated newcastle disease vaccines.adult houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) and juvenile kori bustards (ardeotis kori) were given four regimens of commercially available inactivated and live poultry paramyxovirus type 1 (pmv-1) vaccines. immunologic response to vaccination was assessed by hemagglutination inhibition assay of serum. kori bustards, to which a dose of 0.5 ml of a commercially available inactivated vaccine for poultry had been administered intramuscularly (0.15 ml/kg body weight), failed to develop hemagglutinat ...199810065854
age-related plasma chemistry changes in houbara and kori bustards in the united arab emirates.plasma chemistry parameters were measured in adult (> 1.5 yr) and juvenile (4-8 and 9-16 wk) captive houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) and from adult (> 1.5 yr) and juvenile (4-8, 9-16, 17-24, 25-32, 33-40 and 41-52 wk) captive kori bustards (ardeotis kori) to study age-related changes. a comparison of the values obtained was made between adult and juvenile bustards of both species and from the literature with other bustard species. significant differences between adult and juve ...199910073343
temperature-dependent inhibition of motility in spermatozoa from different avian species.this study demonstrates that the pattern of temperature-dependent inhibition of chicken sperm motility at 40 degrees c in vitro, and its release by calcium, is also found in drake spermatozoa and, partially, in turkey spermatozoa. however, no such temperature-dependent inhibition was found in spermatozoa from japanese quail and houbara bustard, for which physiological levels of calcium at 40 degrees c had an inhibitory and no effect on sperm motility, respectively. thus, on the basis of this evi ...199910610041
serum bile acids in captive bustards.blood samples were collected from clinically normal male and female houbara (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii), kori (ardeotis kori), buff-crested (eupodotis ruficrista gindiana) and white-bellied bustards (e. senegalensis) to determine serum bile acid concentrations. bile acid concentrations were determined by analysis with an ultrospec 3000 ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometer, using an enzymatic bile acid test. the results provided values of serum bile acid concentrations for the four species ...199910676148
variability in the size of the nucleus in spermatozoa from houbara bustards, chlamydotis undulata undulata.semen collected from 3-year-old male houbara bustards contained large proportions (6-40%) of spermatozoa with large nuclei. in these spermatozoa, the length of the nucleus was up to twice the mean length of the nucleus in normal spermatozoa. the lengths of the acrosome, midpiece and flagella were all normally distributed, but the length of the nucleus formed a bimodal distribution. the proportion of spermatozoa with large nuclei varied among males, but not among different semen samples collected ...199910690198
peptidergic and aminergic neurotransmitters of the exocrine pancreas of the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata).the immunochemical distribution of peptidergic and aminergic neurotransmitters in the exocrine pancreas of the houbara bustard, chlamydotis undulata, was determined. immunoreactivity to choline acetyltransferase (chat), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (vip), and galanin (gal) occurred mainly as varicose terminals in the walls of capillaries around the acini and arterioles within the connective tissue. neuronal cell bodies immunoreactive to chat were infrequently observed. neuropeptide y (npy), ...200010723078
peptidergic hormones and neuropeptides, and aminergic neurotransmitters of the pancreatic islets of the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata).immunoreactivity to insulin (ins), somatostatin (som), glucagon (glu) and pancreatic polypeptide (pp) was found in 70%, 22%, 15% and 11% respectively of houbara pancreatic endocrine islet cells. whilst ins occurred centrally and som was observed both in peripherally and centrally located islets, the other hormones were localised in peripheral islet cells; som was also observed in neuronal cell bodies and nerve fibres. in addition, the islet cells contained substance p (sp) (65%) in the centre an ...200010739019
radiographic analysis of the growth rate of long bones in bustards.a serial radiographic study was conducted on seven houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii), 10 rufous-crested bustard (eupodotis ruficrista), four white-bellied bustard (eupodotis senegalensis) and eight kori bustard (ardeotis kori) chicks to determine the growth rate of long bones and to establish radiographic standards for assessing skeletal maturity. the growth rates of the tarsometatarsus and tibiotarsus in the bustard species investigated were similar to those in domestic fowl (ga ...200011124094
neurotransmitters regulating acid secretion in the proventriculus of the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata): a morphological viewpoint.endocrine cells containing somatostatin (som), gastrin-releasing peptide (grp), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nnos) and nerve fibers containing choline acetyl transferase (chat), tyrosine hydroxylase (th), galanin (gal), substance p (sp), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (vip) were immunolocalized in the proventriculus of the houbara bustard, chlamydotis undulata. while grp-immunoreactive (grp-ir) cells occur in the inner zone, somatostatin (som-ir) and polyclonal nnos (nnos-ir) immun ...200111304748
ventricular septal defect in a houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii).a ventricular septal defect was found in a juvenile captive-bred houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata) that died suddenly. the case history indicated that the bird had a retarded growth and maturation rate. gross pathology demonstrated massive internal hemorrhage, an enlarged heart with an interventricular septal defect, one shrunken liver lobe, and hypoplastic kidneys. histologically, the liver was characterized by fatty degeneration, and there was hydropic degeneration of the cardiac muscle f ...200311332487
bacterial flora of the conjunctiva and nasal cavity in normal and diseased captive bustards.a survey was carried out to describe the normal aerobic bacterial flora of the conjunctiva and nasal cavity of captive houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata), kori bustards (ardeotis kori), and white-bellied bustards (eupodotis senegalensis) maintained at the national avian research center, abu dhabi, united arab emirates. a total of 58 samples were examined from the nasal cavity and 55 samples from the conjunctiva of healthy bustards. there was no bacterial growth in 45% of conjunctival sample ...200111417826
physiological responses of houbara bustards to high ambient temperatures.desert birds often experience a scarcity of drinking water and food and must survive episodes of high ambient temperature (t(a)). the physiological mechanisms that promote survival during extended periods of high t(a) have received little attention. we investigated the physiological responses of wild-caught and captive-reared houbara bustards, chlamydotis macqueenii, to t(a) values ranging from below 0 degrees c to 55 degrees c, well above those in most previous studies of birds. captive-reared ...200211893764
plasma concentrations of vitamin e in six species of bustard (gruiformes: otididae).vitamin e (measured as alpha-tocopherol) and cholesterol concentrations were determined in plasma samples collected from 86 clinically healthy captive adult bustards of six species and 23 captive juveniles (6-12 mo old) of two of these species. adult houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) had higher plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations than juveniles (adult: mean +/- se, 11.07 +/- 0.41 micrograms/ml, n = 32; juvenile: 6.33 +/- 0.48, n = 12) and higher alpha-tocopherol: cholesterol ...200212038141
medical dilemmas associated with rehabilitating confiscated houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) after avian pox and paramyxovirus type 1 infection.projects to rehabilitate confiscated animals must carefully consider the risks of disease when determining whether to release these animals back into the wild or to incorporate them into captive breeding programs. avipox and paramyxovirus type 1 (pmv-1) infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality during rehabilitation of confiscated houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii). this paper presents key findings of an intensive health monitoring program (physical condition, he ...200212238369
age-related hematologic changes in captive-reared houbara, white-bellied, and rufous-crested bustards.blood samples were obtained at monthly intervals between april 1994 and march 1996 from captive-bred houbara (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii), rufous-crested (eupodotis ruficrista gindiana), and white-bellied (eupodotis senegalensis) bustards from 4-24 wk of age. hematology investigations were conducted to determine age-related changes and to establish reference values for growing chicks of these species. there were significant age-related changes in hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red cell count i ...200212528450
semen quality in captive houbara bustard, chlamydotis undulata undulata.semen quality in captive-bred houbara bustards, chlamydotis undulata undulata, was assessed during three consecutive breeding seasons. in any one season, sperm quality, in terms of the proportion of eosin-permeable spermatozoa and of spermatozoa with abnormally large nuclei, varied among individual males, but not among their ejaculates. neither the proportion of spermatozoa with large nuclei, nor those permeable to eosin were related to the total sperm output of males. the fertilizing ability of ...200212617782
mitochondrial control region diversity of the houbara bustard chlamydotis undulata complex and genetic structure along the atlantic seaboard of north africa.the houbara bustard, chlamydotis undulata, is a declining cryptic desert bird whose range extends from north africa to central asia. three subspecies are currently recognized by geographical distribution and morphology: c.u.fuertaventurae, c.u.undulata and c.u.macqueenii. we have sequenced 854 bp of mitochondrial control region from 73 birds to describe their population genetic structure with a particular sampling focus on the connectivity between c.u.fuertaventurae and c.u.undulata along the at ...200414653787
paraspiralatus sakeri n. g., n. sp. (nematoda: spiruroidea, spirocercidae) from saker falcons, falco cherrug in saudi arabia and the first report of larvae from the subcutaneous tissues of houbara bustards, chlamydotis undulata macqueeni in pakistan.a new nematode genus and species, paraspiralatus sakeri, is described from the stomach of a wild-caught, female saker falcon in saudi arabia. this spirurid differs from the nearest genus and species spiralatus baeri chabaud, brygoo & durette, 1963 in the shape of the pseudolabia, shape of the buccal capsule and absence of a large cephalic vesicle. in addition, third stage spirurid larvae were recovered for the first time from subcutaneous tissues of two houbara bustards. these had died in the ra ...200414972034
intestinal protozoa and associated bacteria in captive houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) in the united arab emirates.a protozoal survey was carried out in 114 captive houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) in the united arab emirates. trichomonas gallinarum, chilomastix gallinarum, giardia spp. and lophomonas spp. were detected from faecal samples of 49 (43%) captive houbara bustards. culture and identification studies were carried out to assess associated bacteria. the bacteria isolated from birds negative to protozoa included enterococcus spp., aerococcus spp., micrococci spp., proteus spp., enterobacter sp ...199916147554
assessment of newcastle disease vaccination of houbara bustard breeders (chlamydotis undulata undulata).the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata undulata) is endangered in north africa. through a captive-breeding program established in morocco by the emirates center for wildlife propagation, wild populations are being supplemented by the releasing of captive-reared birds. newcastle disease, which is caused by newcastle disease virus (ndv; avian paramyxovirus type 1), can infect houbara bustards and is a significant threat through contact with backyard poultry and possibly wild birds. three vaccin ...200516456166
serological response of houbara bustards to an h5n1 vaccine. 200616782864
cryopreservation of avian spermatozoa.this chapter describes a simple system for cryopreservation of avian spermatozoa as pellets, formed by dropping volumes of sperm suspension directly into liquid nitrogen with dimethylacetamide as cryoprotectant. the method originates from the group at the research institute of farm animal breeding and genetics at st. petersburg-pushkin and is described here for chicken spermatozoa, but has also been adapted successfully for other species, such as houbara bustards and pheasants.200718080473
fatty liver syndrome in captive bustards: clinical, pathological and epidemiological findings.clinical, pathological, and epidemiological findings are presented on fatty liver syndrome mainly in houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii), but also in some other bustard species. of 72 houbara bustards, 34 (47%) had fatty liver diagnosed post-mortem. males and females were equally susceptible, and both adults and juvenile birds were affected. bustards with fatty liver had significantly greater abdominal fat reserves than unaffected birds. other predisposing factors included poor hu ...199718483887
a novel, nonsurgical method for the treatment of tibiotarsal rotation in houbara bustard (chlamydotis macqueenii) chicks.rotational limb deformity due to tibiotarsal rotation can affect captive-bred houbara bustard chicks (chlamydotis macqueenii) from an early age. if not completely corrected, the affected birds can neither be released into the wild nor used in captive-breeding projects. a nonsurgical orthopedic method was developed to correct this deformity before growth is completed. the method consists of hobbling digits iii and the distal part of the tarsometatarsus of each leg with a self-adhesive conforming ...200818543599
concurrent avian pox and newcastle disease infection in a houbara bustard (chlamydotts undulatd).a case of acute respiratory disease was observed on a 3-month-old houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulatd) at the national wildlife research center (nwrc) breeding unit. newcastle disease (nd) and avian pox viruses were isolated from the lungs, spleen and trachea of the affected bird. a heavy secondary bacterial infection was also noticed. the clinical and pathological findings observed in this case are described. it is the first description of the isolation of nd virus from a houbara bustard. the ...199518645813
haemoproteus in the houbara (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) and the rufous-crested bustard (eupodotis ruficrista) in the united arab emirates.a routine microscopic examination of blood smears from 52 houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenit) recently imported into the united arab emirates revealed that 32 (61.5%) birds were infected with haemoproteus tendeiroi and h. telfordi. haemoproteus tendeiroi was found alone in most of the infected birds, whereas a combination of h. telfordi and h. tendeiroi was found together in two birds, and only one bird was infected with h. telfordi alone. in eight recently imported rufous-crested ...199618645836
normal blood chemistry of the kori bustard (ardeotis kori).blood samples were obtained from clinically normal captive adult kori bustards (ardeotis kori) in order to establish normal reference blood chemistry values for the species. twenty-four different tests were conducted using a kodak ektachem dt ii dry-chemistry system. a comparison of the values obtained was made with those of two sub-species of houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii and chlamydotis undulata undulata) and the great bustard (otis tarda), and showed some similarities betwe ...199618645847
normal blood chemistry of the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata).blood samples were obtained from two sub-species of captive houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata undulata and chlamydotis undulara macqueenii) in order to establish normal blood chemistry reference values. the two sub-species were housed under the same conditions, the only difference being that c. u. undulata were fed exclusively on concentrated feed (in the form of pellets) and c. u. macqueenii were fed on a mixture of concentrated feed, minced meat and mixed vegetables/fruits. twenty one dif ...199618645848
bacterial flora of captive houbara (chlamydotis undulata), kori (ardeotis kori) and rufous-crested (eupodotis ruficrista) bustards.a survey was carried out to investigate the aerobic bacterial flora of captive houbara (chlamydotis undulata), kori (ardeotis kori) and rufous-crested (eupodotis ruficrista) bustards maintained at the national avian research center, abu dhabi, united arab emirates. none of the houbara or rufous-crested bustards sampled were bred in captivity by the center but four of the kori bustards sampled were captive-bred. faecal, cloacal, oropharyngeal and skin samples (from under the wing) from clinically ...199618645872
haematozoa of raptors and other birds from britain, spain and the united arab emirates.in britain, 20.3% of raptors examined were infected with haematozoa and in spain 14.2%. of the birds from the united arab emirates 24.1% were found to be infected. haemoproteus tinnunculi, h. nisi, leucocytozoon toddi, l. ziemanni and trypanosoma avium were identified from raptors and h. telfordi from a houbara bustard.198318766803
isolation and identification of highly pathogenic avian influenza h5n1 virus from houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) and contact falcons.highly pathogenic influenza virus (hpaiv) h5n1 has caused mortality and morbidity in many species of domestic and wild bird. the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) is a solitary bird that inhabits semi-desert regions. it is known to be susceptible to avianpox, avian paramyxovirus type 1, and low-pathogenicity avian influenza h9n2. we report an outbreak of h5n1 hpaiv in houbara bustards, which were introduced into the kingdom of saudi arabia for falconry purposes. ninety-three per ...200919130352
mycoplasmas isolated from stone curlews (burhinus oedicnemus) used in falconry in the united arab emirates.the aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of transmission of mycoplasma spp. from quarry to hunting falcons in the middle east. groups of 17 houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) and 29 stone curlews (burhinus oedicnemus) kept at three different private collections in dubai were evaluated for the presence of mycoplasma. additionally, 10 falcons used for hunting were investigated for comparison. the falcons showed no clinical signs and were examined within the scope of a routine health che ...200919569479
male health status, signalled by courtship display, reveals ejaculate quality and hatching success in a lekking species.1. the information content of secondary sexual traits and the benefits gathered by choosy females are at the heart of sexual selection theory. indicator models of sexual selection assume that secondary sexual traits reflect the phenotypic/genetic quality of their bearers and that females gather benefits from choosing these high-quality males. 2. here, we tested the idea that courtship display reflects the health status in a bird species with a lek-based mating system, the houbara bustard (chlamy ...201020412349
epidemic outbreaks, diagnostics, and control measures of the h5n1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in the kingdom of saudi arabia, 2007-08.the first outbreak of h5n1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (hpai) in the kingdom of saudi arabia (ksa) occurred in two "backyard" flocks of houbara bustards and falcons in february 2007. subsequent outbreaks were seen through the end of 2007 in "backyard" birds including native chickens, ostriches, turkeys, ducks, and peacocks. from november 2007 through january 2008, h5n1 hpai outbreaks occurred in 19 commercial poultry premises, including two broiler breeder farms, one layer breeder farm, on ...201020521658
watching sexy displays improves hatching success and offspring growth through maternal allocation.male attractiveness can have tremendous effects on the fitness of his offspring via good genes, but also via enhanced maternal allocation of resources. yet the proximate mechanisms influencing differential maternal allocation in relation to male sexiness are poorly known. here, we studied the importance of visual stimulation for maternal allocation in the houbara bustard, a vulnerable bird species bred in captivity to support wild populations. artificial insemination allowed controlling for pote ...201020538650
hematologic and plasma biochemical reference values in indian peafowl (pavo cristatus).blood samples were collected from captive, adult, clinically normal indian peafowl (pavo cristatus) for hematologic and plasma biochemical analyses. hematologic parameters investigated were total red blood cell count, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, fibrinogen, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, differential white blood cell count, and thrombocyte count. plasma biochemical parameters investigated were alanine aminotransferase ...201020806654
primordial germ cell-mediated chimera technology produces viable pure-line houbara bustard offspring: potential for repopulating an endangered species.the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata) is a wild seasonal breeding bird populating arid sandy semi-desert habitats in north africa and the middle east. its population has declined drastically during the last two decades and it is classified as vulnerable. captive breeding programmes have, hitherto, been unsuccessful in reviving population numbers and thus radical technological solutions are essential for the long term survival of this species. the purpose of this study was to investigate the ...201021209914
migratory pathways and connectivity in asian houbara bustards: evidence from 15 years of satellite tracking.information on migratory pathways and connectivity is essential to understanding population dynamics and structure of migrant species. our manuscript uses a unique dataset, the fruit of 103 individual asian houbara bustards captured on their breeding grounds in central asia over 15 years and equipped with satellite transmitters, to provide a better understanding of migratory pathways and connectivity; such information is critical to the implementation of biologically sound conservation measures ...201121687684
sexually extravagant males age more rapidly.evolutionary theories of ageing posit that increased reproductive investment occurs at the expense of physiological declines in later life. males typically invest heavily in costly sexual ornaments and behaviour, but evidence that the expression of these traits can cause senescence is lacking. long-lived houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) engage in extravagant sexual displays to attract mates and here we show that males investing most in these displays experience a rapid senescent deteriora ...201121806745
immune-mediated change in the expression of a sexual trait predicts offspring survival in the wild.the "good genes" theory of sexual selection postulates that females choose mates that will improve their offspring's fitness through the inheritance of paternal genes. in spite of the attention that this hypothesis has given rise to, the empirical evidence remains sparse, mostly because of the difficulties of controlling for the many environmental factors that may covary with both the paternal phenotype and offspring fitness. here, we tested the hypothesis that offspring sired by males of a pref ...201121984912
Genetic Differentiation among Migrant and Resident Populations of the Threatened Asian Houbara Bustard.The Asian houbara bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii is a partial migrant of conservation concern found in deserts of central Asia and the Middle East. In the southern part of the species range, resident populations have been greatly fragmented and reduced by sustained human pressure. In the north, birds migrate from breeding grounds between West Kazakhstan and Mongolia to wintering areas in the Middle East and south central Asia. Extensive satellite tracking has shown substantial partitioning in mi ...201222140252
dna barcodes of asian houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii).populations of houbara bustards have dramatically declined in recent years. captive breeding and reintroduction programs have had limited success in reviving population numbers and thus new technological solutions involving molecular methods are essential for the long term survival of this species. in this study, we sequenced the 694 bp segment of coi gene of the four specimens of asian houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata macqueenii). we also compared these sequences with earlier published bar ...201222408462
genetic variability characterization of the moroccan houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata undulata) inferred from pedigree analysis.a moroccan houbara bustard pedigree was analyzed to evaluate the genetic variability in captive breeding population using genealogical approaches. the whole houbara breeding flock (wp) for the period 1993-2004 was made up of 531 birds comprising 346 females and 185 males. the reference population (rp) comprised 198 individuals ready for reproduction from 2000 to 2004 cohorts. the corresponding percentage of known ancestors was estimated as 98.23% for the parent generation, 41.19% for the grandpa ...201322753080
patterns of genetic diversity and population structure of the threatened houbara and macqueen's bustards as revealed by microsatellite markers.the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata) is a threatened avian species that is rapidly declining throughout its range, especially in north africa, asia and the canary islands. we examined the population structure and genetic variation for the three houbara subspecies c. undulata undulata, c. u. fuertaventurae and c. u. macqueenii. a total of 266 birds from 10 populations were genotyped using seven polymorphic microsatellite markers. the analysis of microsatellite loci generated 1821 genotypes ...201223079815
quantitative genetics of sexual display, ejaculate quality and size in a lekking species.the investment into extravagant sexual display and competitive sperm are two essential components of pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection. even though the selective forces acting on sexual display and sperm characteristics have been extensively studied in recent years, the genetic architecture underlying the expression of these traits has been rarely explored. here, we estimated the genetic variances and covariances of traits linked with ejaculate size and quality, and sexual display in the ...201323228188
on the life cycle and morphology of development stages of paraspiralatus sakeri gibbons et al., 2004 (nematoda: spiroidea, spirocercidae), a heteroxenic stomach parasite of falcons.pitted darkling beetles (adesmia cancellata) were infected with nematode eggs found in the alimentary tract of a gyrfalcon (falco rusticolus) naturally infected with paraspiralatus sakeri. third-stage larvae in numbers between 1 and 84 were removed from the beetles 5 weeks postinfection and were used for morphological studies as well as to infect domestic chicken, yellow-bellied geckos (hemidactylus flaviviridis) and fringe-toed lizards (acanthodactylus schmidti). all experimental animals, necro ...201424652447
does recognized genetic management in supportive breeding prevent genetic changes in life-history traits?supportive breeding is one of the last resort conservation strategies to avoid species extinction. management of captive populations is challenging because several harmful genetic processes need to be avoided. several recommendations have been proposed to limit these deleterious effects, but empirical assessments of these strategies remain scarce. we investigated the outcome of a genetic management in a supportive breeding for the houbara bustard. at the phenotypic level, we found an increase ov ...201424944566
diversity of avipoxviruses in captive-bred houbara bustard.implementation of conservation breeding programs is a key step to ensuring the sustainability of many endangered species. infectious diseases can be serious threats for the success of such initiatives especially since knowledge on pathogens affecting those species is usually scarce. houbara bustard species (chlamydotis undulata and chlamydotis macqueenii), whose populations have declined over the last decades, have been captive-bred for conservation purposes for more than 15 years. avipoxviruses ...201425270742
the sperm of aging male bustards retards their offspring's development.understanding whether the sperm of older males has a diminished capacity to produce successful offspring is a key challenge in evolutionary biology. we investigate this issue using 10 years of reproductive data on captive long-lived houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata), where the use of artificial insemination techniques means parents can only influence offspring quality via their gametes. here we show that paternal aging reduces both the likelihood that eggs hatch and the rate at which chick ...201525647605
outbreaks of pox disease due to canarypox-like and fowlpox-like viruses in large-scale houbara bustard captive-breeding programmes, in morocco and the united arab emirates.infectious diseases can be serious threats for the success of reinforcement programmes of endangered species. houbara bustard species (chlamydotis undulata and chlamydotis macqueenii), whose populations declined in the last decades, have been captive-bred for conservation purposes for more than 15 years in north africa and the middle east. field observations show that pox disease, caused by avipoxviruses (apv), regularly emerges in conservation projects of houbara bustard, despite a very strict ...201625651753
quantitative genetics of the aging of reproductive traits in the houbara bustard.do all traits within an organism age for the same reason? evolutionary theories of aging share a common assumption: the strength of natural selection declines with age. a corollary is that additive genetic variance should increase with age. however, not all senescent traits display such increases suggesting that other mechanisms may be at play. using longitudinal data collected from more than 5400 houbara bustards (chlamydotis undulata) with an exhaustive recorded pedigree, we investigated the g ...201526218735
avian poxvirus infection in a flamingo (phoenicopterus ruber) of the lisbon zoo.avian poxviruses (apv) are very large viruses spread worldwide in a variety of hosts. they are responsible for a disease usually referred to as pox, mainly characterized by nodular lesions on feather-free regions of the body. on may 2010, a young american flamingo (phoenicopterus ruber) of the lisbon zoo (portugal) developed a nodular lesion suggestive of poxvirus infection on its right foot. avipoxvirus was isolated from the lesion and a fragment of the p4b-encoding gene was amplified by polyme ...201627010277
low impact of avian pox on captive-bred houbara bustard breeding performance.avian pox, a disease caused by avipoxviruses, is a major cause of decline of some endangered bird species. while its impact has been assessed in several species in the wild, effects of the disease in conservation breeding have never been studied. houbara bustard species (chlamydotis undulata and chlamydotis macqueenii), whose populations declined in the last decades, have been captive bred for conservation purposes for more than 20 years. while mortality and morbidity induced by avipoxviruses ca ...201728243593
habitat suitability and demography, a time-dependent relationship.the habitat suitability index, which reflects spatial variability in species occurrence probability, has been shown to exhibit various contrasting relationships with local demographic performances (survival, productivity) in several species. one proposed explanation for these discrepancies is that the link between the habitat suitability index and demography is influenced by density-dependent, temporally variable processes. based on the survival rates of more than 3,000 nests monitored over 12 y ...201728405285
booming far: the long-range vocal strategy of a lekking bird.the pressures of selection acting on transmission of information by acoustic signals are particularly high in long-distance communication networks. males of the north african houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata undulata) produce extremely low-frequency vocalizations called 'booms' as a component of their courtship displays. these displays are performed on sites separated by a distance of on average 550 m, constituting exploded leks. here, we investigate the acoustic features of booms involved ...201728879001
wildlife-vehicle collisions in lanzarote biosphere reserve, canary islands.insular wildlife is more prone to extinction than their mainland relatives. thus, a basic understanding of non-natural mortality sources is the first step in the development of conservation management plans. the canary islands are an important tourist destination due to their unique climate and rich scenery and biodiversity. during the last few decades, there has been significant development of urban areas and busy road networks. however, there have been no studies describing the effects of road ...201829561864
discovery and sequence analysis of four deltacoronaviruses from birds in the middle east reveal interspecies jumping with recombination as a potential mechanism for avian-to-avian and avian-to-mammalian transmission.the emergence of middle east respiratory syndrome showed once again that coronaviruses (covs) in animals are potential source for epidemics in humans. to explore the diversity of deltacoronaviruses in animals in the middle east, we tested fecal samples from 1,356 mammals and birds in dubai, the united arab emirates. four novel deltacoronaviruses were detected from eight birds of four species by reverse transcription-pcr (rt-pcr): falcov uae-hku27 from a falcon, houcov uae-hku28 from a houbara bu ...201829769348
no evidence for prezygotic postcopulatory avoidance of kin despite high inbreeding depression.offspring resulting from mating among close relatives can suffer from impaired fitness through the expression of recessive alleles with deleterious effects. postcopulatory sperm selection (a prezygotic mechanism of cryptic female choice) has been suggested to be an effective way to avoid inbreeding. to investigate whether postcopulatory female choice allows the avoidance of fertilization by close kin, we performed artificial inseminations in a promiscuous bird, the houbara bustard (chlamydotis u ...201830565783
banding cytogenetics of the vulnerable species houbara bustard (otidiformes) and comparative analysis with the domestic fowl.the houbara bustard chlamydotisundulata (jacquin, 1784) is an emblematic and endangered bird of steppes and desert spaces of north africa. this species belonging to otidiformes is recognized as vulnerable by the international union for nature conservation. the critical situation of this species and the revision of its classification on the tree of birds encouraged the authors to start accumulating chromosome data. for that, we propose the gtg- and rbg-banded karyotypes of the houbara bustard pre ...201930701036
sperm competition accentuates selection on ejaculate attributes.ejaculate attributes are important factors driving the probability of fertilizing eggs. when females mate with several males, competition between sperm to fertilize eggs should accentuate selection on ejaculate attributes. we tested this hypothesis in the north african houbara bustard ( chlamydotis undulata undulata) by comparing the strength of selection acting on two ejaculate attributes when sperm from single males or sperm from different males were used for insemination. in agreement with th ...201930890070
male vocalizations convey information on kinship and inbreeding in a lekking bird.kinship and inbreeding are two major components involved in sexual selection and mating system evolution. however, the mechanisms underlying recognition and discrimination of genetically related or inbred individuals remain unclear. we investigated whether kinship and inbreeding information is related to low-frequency vocalizations, "booms," produced by males during their courtship in the lekking houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata undulata). based on a captive breeding program where the pedig ...201931031916
exposure to and circulation of avian influenza and newcastle disease viruses in peridomestic wild birds in the united arab emirates.avian influenza and newcastle disease viruses (aiv, ndv) are major pathogens of captive and wild birds worldwide. wetlands and their associated bird communities, especially waterfowl and shorebirds, are known to play a central role in the epidemiology of these diseases as maintenance hosts. however, these viruses also circulate in places where these ecosystems and communities are uncommon, suggesting the involvement of other taxa in their epidemiological cycles. in the arid region of abu dhabi o ...202031622187
post-copulatory sexual selection allows females to alleviate the fitness costs incurred when mating with senescing males.male senescence has detrimental effects on reproductive success and offspring fitness. when females mate with multiple males during the same reproductive bout, post-copulatory sexual selection that operates either through sperm competition or cryptic female choice might allow females to skew fertilization success towards young males and as such limit the fitness costs incurred when eggs are fertilized by senescing males. here, we experimentally tested this hypothesis. we artificially inseminated ...201931640511
genetic assessment of a conservation breeding program of the houbara bustard (chlamydotis undulata undulata) in morocco, based on pedigree and molecular analyses.protection and restoration of species in the wild may require conservation breeding programs under genetic management to minimize deleterious effects of genetic changes that occur in captivity, while preserving populations' genetic diversity and evolutionary resilience. here, through interannual pedigree analyses, we first assessed the efficiency of a 21-year genetic management, including minimization of mean kinship, inbreeding avoidance, and regular addition of founders, of a conservation bree ...202032956518
exposure assessment for avian influenza and newcastle disease viruses from peridomestic wild birds in a conservation breeding site in the united arab emirates.worldwide, wild birds are frequently suspected to be involved in the occurrence of outbreaks of different diseases in captive-bred birds although proofs are lacking and most of the dedicated studies are insufficiently conclusive to confirm or characterize the roles of wild birds in such outbreaks. the aim of this study was to assess and compare, for the most abundant peridomestic wild birds, the different exposure routes for avian influenza and newcastle disease viruses in conservation breeding ...202134333870
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