Publications

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gamasoidosis caused by the special lineage l1 of dermanyssus gallinae (acarina: dermanyssidae): a case of heavy infestation in a public place in italy.among gamasina (acari: mesostigmata) mites, some dermanyssoid species are known to cause gamasoidosis, a human dermatitis characterized by papulosquamous eruptions and urticarian lesions. we describe a case of mite infestation which occurred in public conference halls in ferrara (italy), affecting four people who attended the place and showed signs of gamasoidosis. the mites were collected and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy and mitochondrial dna sequencing (cy ...201728483708
gastrointestinal helminths of two populations of wild pigeons (columba livia) in brazil.the present study analyzed gastrointestinal helminth communities in 265 wild pigeons (columba livia) living in the municipalities of são paulo and tatuí, state of são paulo, brazil, over a one-year period. the birds were caught next to grain storage warehouses and were necropsied. a total of 790 parasites comprising one nematode species and one cestode genus were recovered from 110 pigeons, thus yielding an overall prevalence of 41.5%, mean intensity of infection of 7.2 ± 1.6 (range 1-144) and d ...201729211134
an evaluation of the international society for animal genetics recommended parentage and identification panel for the domestic pigeon (columba livia domestica).in this study, the international society for animal genetics (isag) recommended panel for the identification of the domestic pigeon (columba livia domestica) is characterized based on commonly used statistical parameters. the marker panel is based on 16 short tandem repeat (str) loci (pign15, pign10, pign57, pign26, cliμd16, cliμd19, pign12, cliμd17, cliμt17, pign04, cliμd01, cliμd11, cliμd35, cliμt02, cliμt13, cliμt43). the alleles of the 16 loci consist of a mixture of tri-, tetra-, penta- and ...201728449233
first description of cryptosporidium parvum in carrier pigeons (columba livia).the carrier pigeon and the domestic pigeon are different breeds of the species columba livia. carrier pigeons are used for recreational activities such as bird contests and exhibitions. due to the close contact with humans, these birds may potentially represent a public health risk, since they can host and disseminate zoonotic parasites, such as those belonging to the genus cryptosporidium (phylum apicomplexa). the purpose of this work was the detection by microscopic and molecular techniques of ...201728807284
how do seasonality and host traits influence the distribution patterns of parasites on juveniles and adults of columba livia?parasites may influence host fitness and consequently exert a selective pressure on distinct phenotypes of the host population. this pressure can result in an evolutionary response, maintaining only individuals with certain traits in the population. the present study was aimed at identifying the morphological characteristics of juveniles and adults of columba livia that may influence the distribution patterns of lice, pseudolynchia canariensis and haemoproteus columbae and how the populations of ...201728859962
buparvaquone therapy in a rock pigeon infected with haemoproteus columbae showing torticollis.a clinical haemoproteus columbae infection in a two months rock pigeon was diagnosed on the basis of outward signs and blood smear examination. the clinical signs suggestive of pigeon malaria were anorexia, depression, inability to fly, circling movements and episodes of torticollis. the characteristic halter shaped gametocytes were seen, in thin blood smear, encircling the nucleus of erythrocytes. buparvaquone therapy, two intramuscular injections at the rate of 5 mg/kg at 72 h interval, was su ...201728615870
characterization and epidemiology of pigeon paramyxovirus type-1 viruses (ppmv-1) isolated in macedonia.we have characterized in this study 10 ppmv-1 isolated from domestic pigeons and one ppmv-1 isolated from a feral pigeon in the period 2007-2012, using both classical methods (hi test and icpi test) and molecular methods (rt-qpcr, rt-pcr, and nucleotide sequencing). using phylogenetic analysis of partial fusion gene sequences, these viruses clustered with recent european ppmv-1 isolates (eu/re) within the genotype vib/1. all isolates possessed virulent cleavage site motifs with variable morbidit ...201728665727
pcr identification and phylogenetic analysis of trichomonas gallinae from domestic pigeons in guangzhou, china.avian trichomoniasis caused by trichomonas gallinae is a serious protozoan disease worldwide. the domestic pigeon (columba livia domestica) is the main host for t. gallinae and plays an important role in the spread of the disease. based on the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal dna of this parasite, a pair of primers (tgf2/tgr2) was designed and used to develop a pcr assay for the diagnosis of t. gallinae infection in domestic pigeons. this approach allowed the identification of t ...201728719959
environmental factors and zoonotic pathogen ecology in urban exploiter species.knowledge of pathogen ecology, including the impacts of environmental factors on pathogen and host dynamics, is essential for determining the risk that zoonotic pathogens pose to people. this review synthesizes the scientific literature on environmental factors that influence the ecology and epidemiology of zoonotic microparasites (bacteria, viruses and protozoa) in globally invasive urban exploiter wildlife species (i.e., rock doves [columba livia domestica], european starlings [sturnus vulgari ...201728631116
comparative myology of the ankle of leopardus wiedii and l. geoffroyi (carnivora: felidae): functional consistency with osteology, locomotor habits and hunting in captivity.leopardus wiedii (margay) is the only arboreal neotropical felid able to climb head-first down trees, due to its ability to rotate its tarsal joint 180°. a closely related, similar-sized species, l. geoffroyi (geoffroy's cat) exhibits more typical terrestrial habits and lacks the arboreal capabilities of l. wiedii. there is osteological evidence that supports a mechanical specialization of l. wiedii's tarsal joint for inversion, but there have been no studies on the myology of this specializatio ...201729329954
co-occurrence of mycoplasma species and pigeon herpesvirus-1 infection in racing pigeons ( columba livia).oropharyngeal swab samples were collected from 438 live racing pigeons ( columba livia), with and without signs of respiratory disease, that were housed in 220 lofts in 3 provinces in the western part of the netherlands. polymerase chain reaction (pcr) was used to identify mycoplasma species and pigeon herpesvirus-1 (phv-1) from the samples. in 8.6% of the pigeon lofts tested, signs of respiratory disease were present in pigeons at sampling, and in 30.9% of the sampled pigeon lofts, respiratory ...201729327955
radiographic and ultrasonographic characteristics of ventral abdominal hernia in pigeons (columba livia).five female egg-laying pigeons presented with painless, reducible, ventral abdominal swellings located between the keel and the pubis, or close to the cloaca. based on clinical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic examination, these pigeons were diagnosed with ventral abdominal hernia requiring surgical interference. reduction was successfully performed under general anesthesia. radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations were beneficial for confirming the diagnosis and visualizing the hernial ...201729237997
pigeons (columba livia) know when they will need hints: prospective metacognition for reference memory?despite their impressive cognitive abilities, avian species have shown less evidence for metacognition than mammals. we suspect that commonly used tasks such as matching to sample might be too demanding to allow metacognitive processing within birds' working memory. here, we examined whether pigeons could control their behavior as a function of knowledge levels on a three-item sequence learning task, a reference memory task supposedly requiring fewer working memory resources. the experiment used ...201729230574
detection of avian reoviruses in wild birds in poland.the purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of avian reovirus (arv) infections in wild birds in poland and attempt to propagate the selected arv strains in chicken embryo kidney (cek) cells or chicken spf embryos.201729978079
maternal thyroid hormones enhance hatching success but decrease nestling body mass in the rock pigeon (columba livia).thyroid hormones (ths) - triiodothyronine (t3) and thyroxine (t4) - are essential for embryonic development in vertebrates. all vertebrate embryos are exposed to ths from maternal origin. as maternal th levels are known to be essential to embryonic development, the natural variation of maternal ths probably represents a pathway of maternal effects that can modify offspring phenotype. however, potential fitness consequences of variation of maternal th exposure within the normal physiological rang ...201727793722
neural correlates of sample-coding and reward-coding in the delay activity of neurons in the entopallium and nidopallium caudolaterale of pigeons (columba livia).we recorded neuronal activity from the nidopallium caudolaterale, the avian equivalent of mammalian prefrontal cortex, and the entopallium, the avian equivalent of the mammalian visual cortex, in four birds trained on a differential outcomes delayed matching-to-sample procedure in which one sample stimulus was followed by reward and the other was not. despite similar incidence of reward-specific and reward-unspecific delay cell types across the two areas, overall entopallium delay activity occur ...201727720742
the effect of food quality during growth on spatial memory consolidation in adult pigeons.poor environmental conditions experienced during early development can have negative long-term consequences on fitness. animals can compensate for negative developmental effects through phenotypic plasticity by diverting resources from non-vital to vital traits such as spatial memory to enhance foraging efficiency. we tested in young feral pigeons (columba livia) how diets of different nutritional value during development affect the capacity to retrieve food hidden in a spatially complex environ ...201727913599
pigeons use distinct stop phases to control pecking.pecking at small targets requires accurate spatial coordination of the head. planning of the peck has been proposed to occur in two distinct stop phases, but although this idea has now been around for a long time, the specific functional roles of these stop phases remain unsolved. here, we investigated the characteristics of the two stop phases using high-speed motion capture and examined their functions with two experiments. in experiment 1, we tested the hypothesis that the second stop phase i ...201727885041
sensitivity of the avian motion system to light and dark stimuli.global motion perception is important for mobile organisms. in laterally eyed birds, global motion appears to be processed in the entopallium, a neural structure that is part of the tectofugal pathway. electrophysiological research has shown that motion selective cells in the entopallium are most responsive to small dark moving targets. here, we investigated whether this bias toward dark targets of entopallial cells is mirrored by perceptual performance in a motion detection task in pigeons. we ...201727743012
effects of in vitro and in vivo avermectin exposure on alpha synuclein expression and proteasomal activity in pigeons.avermectins (avms) are used worldwide in agriculture and veterinary medicine. residues of avermectin drugs, causing toxicological effects on non-target organisms, have raised great concern. the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of avm on the expression levels of alpha synuclein (α-syn) and proteasomal activity in pigeon (columba livia) neurons both in vivo and in vitro. the results showed that, the mrna and protein levels of α-syn increased in avm treated groups relative to contro ...201727677079
reducing the availability of food to control feral pigeons: changes in population size and composition.as feeding by humans is one of the main food resources to pigeons (columba livia), there is general agreement that public education that aims to reduce the food base may be the most feasible way to reduce pigeon abundance. however, except for the classic example of basel, the method has rarely been tested or implemented. we provide results from a 1 year study in the city of barcelona where we tested the effect of public education on pigeon population abundance and composition.201726947574
trace metals affect early maternal transfer of immune components in the feral pigeon.maternal early transfers of immune components influence eggs' hatching probability and nestlings' survival. they depend on females' own immunity and, because they are costly, on their physiological state. therefore, trace metals, whether toxic and immunosuppressive (e.g., lead, cadmium, etc.) or necessary and immunostimulant (e.g., zinc, copper, iron, etc.), are likely to affect the amount of immune components transferred into the eggs. it may also vary with plumage eumelanin level, which is kno ...201727153130
complete genome sequence and evolution analysis of a columbid herpesvirus type 1 from feral pigeon in china.here, we report the genome sequence of a feral pigeon alphaherpesvirus (columbid herpesvirus type 1, cohv-1), strain hlj, and compare it with other avian alphaherpesviruses. the cohv-1 strain hlj genome is 204,237 bp in length and encodes approximately 130 putative protein-coding genes. phylogenetically, cohv-1 complete genome resides in a monophyletic group with the falconid herpesvirus type 1 (fahv-1) genome, distant from other alphaherpesviruses. interestingly, the evolutionary analysis of pa ...201728316016
the mesencephalic gct-ico complex and tonic immobility in pigeons (columba livia): a c-fos study.tonic immobility (ti) is a response to a predator attack, or other inescapable danger, characterized by immobility, analgesia and unresponsiveness to external stimuli. in mammals, the periaqueductal gray (pag) and deep tectal regions control the expression of ti as well as other defensive behaviors. in birds, little is known about the mesencephalic circuitry involved in the control of ti. here, adult pigeons (both sex, n = 4/group), randomly assigned to non-handled, handled or ti groups, were ki ...201727447458
ultrasound biomicroscopy and tonometry in ophthalmologically normal pigeon eyes.to evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound biomicroscopy (ubm) and tonometry in pigeons and to provide biometric reference ranges for normal pigeon eyes.201728074538
avermectin induced global dna hypomethylation and over-expression of heat shock proteins in cardiac tissues of pigeon.despite increasing evidences pointing to residues of avermectin (avm) pose toxic effects on non-target organisms in environment, but the data in pigeon is insufficient. the alteration of global dna methylation and response of heat shock proteins (hsps) are important for assessing the avm toxicity in cardiac tissues of pigeon (columba livia). to investigate the effects of avm exposure in cardiac tissues of pigeon, we detected the expression levels of dna methyltransferases (dnmts), methylated dna ...201728043331
evaluation of gastroscopy and biopsy of the proventriculus and ventriculus in pigeons (columba livia).objective to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gastroscopy and biopsy of the proventriculus and ventriculus in pigeons (columba livia). animals 15 adult pigeons. procedures each pigeon was anesthetized, and the upper gastrointestinal tract (from the cervical portion of the esophagus to the ventriculus) was endoscopically evaluated by use of a rigid endoscope inserted orally. saline (0.9% nacl) solution was orally infused to achieve lumen dilation and visibility. two mucosal biopsy specimens we ...201728029291
field evidence of bird poisonings by imidacloprid-treated seeds: a review of incidents reported by the french sagir network from 1995 to 2014.the large-scale use of neonicotinoid insecticides has raised growing concerns about their potential adverse effects on farmland birds, and more generally on biodiversity. imidacloprid, the first neonicotinoid commercialized, has been identified as posing a risk for seed-eating birds when it is used as seed treatment of some crops since the consumption of a few dressed seeds could cause mortality. but evidence of direct effects in the field is lacking. here, we reviewed the 103 wildlife mortality ...201728028702
molecular and functional characterization of pigeon (columba livia) tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3.tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (traf3) plays a key antiviral role by promoting type i interferon production. we cloned the pigeon traf3 gene (pitraf3) according to its predicted mrna sequence to investigate its function. the 1704-bp full-length open reading frame encodes a 567-amino acid protein. one ring finger, two traf-type zinc fingers, one coiled coil, and one math domain were inferred. rt-pcr showed that pitraf3 was expressed in all tissues, with relatively weak express ...201728024872
assessing the acquisition of anticipatory responding in the pigeon using reaction time.we report a novel method for investigating the acquisition of anticipatory responding in the pigeon. four pigeons (columba livia) received food for pecking a starburst target stimulus displayed in the bottom-left or bottom-right portion of a computer screen. the target stimulus was preceded by 1 of 3 fractal images displayed in either the upper-left or upper-right portion of the screen: 1 of the fractals was perfectly correlated with the target appearing in the bottom-left, the second fractal wa ...201728383941
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 (blatem , 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 a ...201728233464
water requirements and drinking rates of homing pigeons: a consideration for exposure risk of migratory birds.access to water along a bird's migratory flyway is essential during the vital process of migration. because of the scarcity of water in some environments, there is potential for migratory birds to encounter and drink from contaminated bodies of water. ingestion of contaminated water may cause injury and compromise flying ability, leading to a disruption of migration. to determine injury to birds from potential exposure, it is essential to know not only the concentration of a given contaminant in ...201728195437
pigeon circovirus infection in disqualified racing pigeons from taiwan.pigeons (columba livia) infected with pigeon circovirus (picv) have been reported worldwide. the present study diagnosed picv infection in tissue samples of disqualified racing pigeons in taiwan, using molecular and microscopy diagnostics. among the 164 dead pigeons examined, 96.95% (159/164) tested positive for picv. severe histopathological lesions, with characteristic inclusions, were observed in various organs of the picv-infected pigeons. multiglobular basophilic intranuclear and intracytop ...201728132523
experimental infection with highly pathogenic h5n8 avian influenza viruses in the mandarin duck (aix galericulata) and domestic pigeon (columba livia domestica).wild birds play a major role in the evolution, maintenance, and dissemination of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (hpaiv). sub-clinical infection with hpai in resident wild birds could be a source of dissemination of hpaiv and continuous outbreaks. in this study, the pathogenicity and infectivity of two strains of h5n8 clade 2.3.4.4 virus were evaluated in the mandarin duck (aix galericulata) and domestic pigeon (columba livia domestica). none of the birds experimentally infected with h ...201728619174
detection and molecular status of isospora sp. from the domestic pigeon (columba livia domestica).the domestic pigeon, columba livia domestica, is reared for meat production, as a pet, or for racing. few reports have characterized the parasitic protists from the genus isospora isolated from columbiformes. we detected isospora-like oocysts from c. livia reared for racing. the oocyst contained two sporocysts, and each sporocyst included four sporozoites. the sporulated oocysts (n=4) were spherical; their mean diameters were 25.6 (24.0-27.2)×24.7 (23.4-26.0) μm. micropyles, polar granules, and ...201728495225
pigeons and their droppings as reservoirs of candida and other zoonotic yeasts.the importance of pigeons as reservoirs and carriers of cryptococcus neoformans and other species of this genus is well-known; however, less is known about their role as reservoirs and carriers of other yeasts that impact public health.201728720316
are baboons learning "orthographic" representations? probably not.the ability of baboons (papio papio) to distinguish between english words and nonwords has been modeled using a deep learning convolutional network model that simulates a ventral pathway in which lexical representations of different granularity develop. however, given that pigeons (columba livia), whose brain morphology is drastically different, can also be trained to distinguish between english words and nonwords, it appears that a less species-specific learning algorithm may be required to exp ...201728859134
repair of tibiotarsal rotation in 7 chukar partridges (alectoris chukar) and 12 domestic pigeons (columba livia domestica) with type-2 external skeletal fixator intramedullary pin tie-in.rotational deformities of the long bones affect various avian species. tibiotarsal rotation may cause the leg to deviate up to 180° from the dorsoplantar axis in a matter of days, thus preventing the birds from walking freely and leading to the inability to stand. in this study, tibiotarsal rotation observed in pigeons and partridges was managed by creating a closed fracture in the tibiotarsus and then, following reduction, stabilizing it with an intramedullary tie-in type 2 external skeletal fi ...201728891696
novel avian oropharyngeal trichomonads isolated from european turtle doves (streptopelia turtur) and racing pigeons (columba livia): genetic and morphometric characterisation of clonal cultures.extensive diversity has been described within the avian oropharyngeal trichomonad complex in recent years. in this study we developed clonal cultures from four isolates selected by their different its1/5.8s/its2 (its) genotype and their association with gross lesions of avian trichomonosis. isolates were obtained from an adult racing pigeon and a nestling of eurasian eagle owl with macroscopic lesions, and from a juvenile wood pigeon and an european turtle dove without clinical signs. multi-locu ...201728864154
association of dopamine d2 receptor gene polymorphisms with reproduction traits in domestic pigeons (columba livia).dopamine inhibited prolactin secretion via dopamine d2 receptor (drd2) at the pituitary level, but its effects on reproduction in pigeons are unclear. in this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) in the exons of drd2 gene were identified and analyzed by using dna sequencing methods in 60 female domestic pigeons (columba livia), and the association between drd2 polymorphisms and reproduction traits was also analyzed. sequencing results showed that 7 nucleotide mutations were detected in ...201732908403
experimental infection with brazilian newcastle disease virus strain in pigeons and chickens.this study was designed with the goal of adding as much information as possible about the role of pigeons (columba livia) and chickens (gallus gallus) in newcastle disease virus epidemiology. these species were submitted to direct experimental infection with newcastle disease virus to evaluate interspecies transmission and virus-host relationships. the results obtained in four experimental models were analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for ...201726887250
antitrichomonal activity of peganum harmala alkaloid extract against trichomoniasis in pigeon (columba livia domestica).1. this study was designed to evaluate the antitrichomonal effects of p. harmala alkaloid extract against t. gallinae, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as comparing it to that of metronidazole, conventional antitrichomonal medication and harmine and harmaline, the two alkaloids present in p. harmala. 2. t. gallinae were collected by the wet mount method from infected free-living pigeons. the in vitro assay was performed using multi-well plates containing test compounds in final concentrations ...201728084792
captive and free-living urban pigeons (columba livia) from brazil as carriers of multidrug-resistant pathogenic escherichia coli.thirty escherichia coli isolates from captive and free-living pigeons in brazil were characterised. virulence-associated genes identified in pigeons included those which occur relatively frequently in avian pathogenic e. coli (apec) from commercial poultry worldwide. eleven of 30 e. coli isolates from pigeons, belonging mainly to b1 and b2 phylogenetic groups, had high or intermediate pathogenicity for 1-day-old chicks. the frequency of multi-drug resistant (mdr) e. coli in captive pigeons was r ...201728093116
application of pigeon circovirus recombinant capsid protein for detecting anti-picv antibodies in the sera of asymptomatic domestic pigeons and the potential use of a combination of serological and molecular tests for controlling circovirus infections in pigeon breeding flocks.the aim of this study was to evaluate the serologic status of domestic pigeons not infected and asymptomatically infected with the pigeon circovirus (picv) with the use of an enzyme-linked assay based on picv recombinant capsid protein as a plate antigen. recombinant picv capsid protein was produced by transforming e. coli bl21 (de3) rosetta colonies with expression plasmids.blood samples and cloacal swabs were collected from 171 asymptomatic pigeons. the birds were divided into two groups (infe ...201727578880
pseudomalaria in a domestic pigeon: a case report.microscopic examination of thin blood smear of a domestic pigeon brought to teaching veterinary clinical complex, junagadh, gujarat revealed mature and immature halter shaped gametocytes of haemoproteus columbae encircling the nucleated erythrocytes. the disease was diagnosed as acute infection of pigeon malaria more notably known as pseudomalaria. the parasitic infection was further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene fragment amplifying 207 base ...201728316429
identification of a novel aviadenovirus, designated pigeon adenovirus 2 in domestic pigeons (columba livia).the young pigeon disease syndrome (ypds) affects mainly young pigeons of less than one year of age and leads to crop stasis, vomitus, diarrhea, anorexia and occasionally death. this disease is internationally a major health problem because of its seasonal appearance during competitions such as homing pigeon races or exhibitions of ornamental birds. while the etiology of ypds is still unclear, adenoviruses are frequently discussed as potential causative agents. electron microscopy of feces from a ...201727697452
natural infections with pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1: pathologic changes in eurasian collared-doves ( streptopelia decaocto) and rock pigeons ( columba livia) in the united states.pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1 (ppmv-1) is a globally distributed, virulent member of the avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 serogroup that causes mortality in columbiformes and poultry. following introduction into the united states in the mid-1980s, ppmv-1 rapidly spread causing numerous mortality events in eurasian collared-doves ( streptopelia decaocto) (ecdos) and rock pigeons ( columba livia) (ropis). the investigators reviewed pathological findings of 70 naturally infected, free-ranging colum ...201728382855
genomic characterization of a wild-bird-origin pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (ppmv-1) first isolated in the northwest region of china.pigeon paramyxovirus type-1(ppmv-1) is an enzootic in pigeon flocks and causes severe economic losses in the poultry industry in many countries. a ppmv-1 isolate, abbreviated as ppmv-1/ql-01/ch/15, was isolated from a great spotted woodpecker in the northwest region of china in 2015. the complete genome was sequenced, and the results showed that the virus genome was 15,192 nt in length, in the gene arrangement 3'-np-p-m-f-hn-l-5'. several amino acid mutations were identified in the functional do ...201727882444
prevalence of columbid herpesvirus infection in feral pigeons (columba livia) from new south wales and victoria, australia, with spillover into a wild powerful owl (ninox struena).columbid herpesvirus-1 (cohv-1) is widespread in feral pigeons ( columba livia ) in north america and europe. we used a pcr assay to detect cohv-1 dna in oral and cloacal tissues and oral swabs from naturally infected pigeons. fifty-three feral pigeons from five flocks in australia (n=3 from south-central victoria and n=2 from sydney) were examined for cohv-1 dna. we detected cohv-1 dna in oral mucosa and cloacal mucosa, with higher concentrations in the oral mucosa. the sensitivity of testing o ...201728192040
molecular identification of enterocytozoon bieneusi, cryptosporidium, and giardia in brazilian captive birds.a total of 85 fecal samples from captive birds collected from october 2013 to september 2014 in uberlândia and belo horizonte in the state of minas gerais (brazil) were evaluated for the presence of enterocytozoon bieneusi, cryptosporidium, and giardia by pcr. of these, three birds were found positive for e. bieneusi (3.5%), two for cryptosporidium (2.3%), and one for giardia (1.2%). two genotypes of e. bieneusi were detected by nucleotide sequence analysis of the its region, genotypes d and per ...201727815734
could the environmental toxicity of diclofenac in vultures been predictable if preclinical testing methodology were applied?diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical agent was responsible for the death of millions of gyps vulture's in the indian sub-region with the safety of the other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids) being questionable. with preclinical safety testing not well established for avian species unlike for mammalian and environmental toxicity, we ask the question if a preclinical model could have predicted the toxic effect of the drug. for this study, we test an organisatio ...201830445374
behavioural traits of individual homing pigeons, columba livia f. domestica, in their homing flights.homing tracks of two groups of pigeons, columba livia f. domestica, were analyzed in view of difference between individual birds and correlations between characteristic variables, looking at the initial phase while the pigeons were still at the release site, and the homing phase separately. individual birds differed significantly in their flying speed during the initial phase, and one pigeon tended to stay longer at the release site than the others. there were no significant differences in stead ...201830260962
prevalence of haemoproteus columbae (apicomplexa: haemoproteidae) and trichomonas gallinae (metamonada: trichomonadidae) infections among pigeons (columba livia) in west azerbaijan province, iran.a cross-sectional survey was performed on domestic pigeons (columba liviadomestica) to evaluate the prevalence of haemoproteus columbae and trichomonas gallinae in west azerbaijan province, northwest of iran between july 2015 and september 2016. five hundred and sixty oropharyngeal swab smears were examined, 297 (53%) of which were identified to be positive for t. gallinae. also, the results obtained from blood smears examination indicated that 115 (20.5%) cases were found to be infected with h. ...201830242806
comparative chromosome painting in columbidae (columbiformes) reinforces divergence in passerea and columbea.pigeons and doves (columbiformes) are one of the oldest and most diverse extant lineages of birds. however, the karyotype evolution within columbiformes remains unclear. to delineate the synteny-conserved segments and karyotypic differences among four columbidae species, we used chromosome painting from gallus gallus (gga, 2n = 78) and leucopternis albicollis (lal, 2n = 68). besides that, a set of painting probes for the eared dove, zenaida auriculata (zau, 2n = 76), was generated from flow-sort ...201829882066
effects of nidopallium caudolaterale inactivation on serial-order behavior in pigeons ( columba livia).serial-order behavior is the ability to complete a sequence of responses in a predetermined order to achieve a reward. in birds, serial-order behavior is thought to be impaired by damage to the nidopallium caudolaterale (ncl). in the current study, we examined the role of the ncl in serial-order behavior by training pigeons on a 4-item serial-order task and a go/no-go discrimination task. following training, pigeons received infusions of 1 μl of either tetrodotoxin (ttx) or saline. saline infusi ...201829873614
prevalence and risk factors of trichomonas gallinae and trichomonosis in golden eagle ( aquila chrysaetos) nestlings in western north america.avian trichomonosis, caused by the protozoan trichomonas gallinae, affects bird-eating raptors worldwide. raptors can develop trichomonosis by feeding on infected prey, particularly rock pigeons (c olumba livia), which are a reservoir for t. gallinae. raptors may be particularly vulnerable to t. gallinae infection in degraded habitats, where changes in resources may cause raptors to switch from foraging on native prey to synanthropic avian species such as rock pigeons. golden eagles ( aquila chr ...201829863970
prevalence of toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum, and sarcocystis species dna in the heart and breast muscles of rock pigeons (columbia livia).little is known about the prevalence of protozoan parasites in the muscles of rock pigeons (columbia livia). the muscles from 54 (heart from 45 and breast from 54) rock pigeons were examined for dna of toxoplasma gondii, neospora caninum, and sarcocystis species using pcr. twenty-four were female and 30 were males. the birds were part of flocks of pigeons housed at the tombs of saints in lahore, pakistan. birds that died or were euthanized due to poor health were submitted for necropsy at the de ...201829854422
genetic characterization of 11 microsatellite loci in egyptian pigeons (columba livia domestica) and their cross-species amplification in other columbidae populations.this study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity and relationships of 10 egyptian pigeon populations belonging to columba livia domestica speciesusing 11 microsatellite markers and to investigate the success of these markers amplification across another eight pigeon species.201829805216
anatomical, histological and immunohistochemical study of testicular development in columba livia (aves: columbiformes).in this work, testicular ontogeny is analyzed at the anatomical, histological and immunohistochemical levels; the latter through the detection of gnrhr and pcna in the testicles of embryos, neonates and juveniles of columba livia. we analyzed 150 embryos, 25 neonates and 5 juveniles by means of observations under a stereoscopic magnifying glass and scanning electron microscope (sem). the histological analysis was performed using hematoxylin-eosin staining techniques and the pas reaction. for the ...201829776745
phoretic dispersal influences parasite population genetic structure.dispersal is a fundamental component of the life history of most species. dispersal influences fitness, population dynamics, gene flow, genetic drift and population genetic structure. even small differences in dispersal can alter ecological interactions and trigger an evolutionary cascade. linking such ecological processes with evolutionary patterns is difficult, but can be carried out in the proper comparative context. here, we investigate how differences in phoretic dispersal influence the pop ...201829752753
post-hatching growth of the pectoralis muscle in pigeon and its functional implications.the avian pectoralis muscle is responsible for the wing's downstroke, which provides birds with lift and thrust for flight. in the present study, architectural parameters were investigated through growth in the pigeon (columba livia), an altricial bird species, from the ages of 4 days to 12 months, in order to assess the morphological changes and effects of increasing body mass. muscle mass, fascicle length (fl), and physiological cross-sectional area (pcsa) increased with strong positive allome ...201829729220
genomic insights into natural selection in the common loon (gavia immer): evidence for aquatic adaptation.the common loon (gavia immer) is one of five species that comprise the avian order gaviiformes. loons are specialized divers, reaching depths up to 60 m while staying submerged for intervals up to three minutes. in this study we used comparative genomics to investigate the genetic basis of the common loon adaptations to its ecological niche. we used illumina short read dna sequence data from a female bird to produce a draft assembly of the common loon (gavia immer) genome.201829703132
identification of a transcriptionally forward α gene and two υ genes within the pigeon (columba livia) igh gene locus.compared with mammals, the bird ig genetic system relies on gene conversion to create an ab repertoire, with inversion of the iga-encoding gene and very few cases of ig subclass diversification. although gene conversion has been studied intensively, class-switch recombination, a mechanism by which the igh c region is exchanged, has rarely been investigated in birds. in this study, based on the published genome of pigeon (columba livia) and high-throughput transcriptome sequencing of immune-relat ...201829686053
pigeons deploy selective attention to efficiently learn a stagewise multidimensional visual discrimination task.we trained 8 pigeons (columba livia) on a stagewise go/no-go visual discrimination task of increasing complexity, to document the dynamics of selective attention. we constructed negative compound stimuli (s-s) on the basis of their overall similarity to a positive compound stimulus (s+) along 4 binary-valued dimensions: shape (circle/square), size (large/small), line orientation (horizontal/vertical), and brightness (dark/light). starting with 1 s+ and 1 s- that differed in all 4 dimensional val ...201829683695
prevalence and molecular characterization of trichomonas gallinae from domestic pigeons in beijing, china.trichomonas gallinae is a globally distributed protozoan parasite, mainly affect the upper avian digestive tract and can bring huge economic losses to pigeon industry. the objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and genotypes of t. gallinae in beijing, china. a total of 569 samples of throat swabs of pigeon were collected from pigeon farms in shunyi district, fangshan district, daxing district and miyun district of beijing. the overall prevalence was 28.30%. the significan ...201830145387
overwintering behavior of drosophila suzukii, and potential springtime diets for egg maturation.spotted wing drosophila, drosophila suzukii (matsumura) (diptera: drosophilidae), is a serious agricultural pest, which lays eggs in ripe and ripening fruits of several cultivated and wild host plants. here we explore several factors that may be critical to winter survival and improve d. suzukii's ability to successfully overwinter in northern climates and reestablish populations in the spring. cold acclimation improved mobility in low-temperature laboratory mobility assays and improved survivor ...201830124807
early embryonic modification of maternal hormones differs systematically among embryos of different laying order: a study in birds.vertebrate embryos are exposed to maternal hormones that can profoundly affect their later phenotype. although it is known that the embryo can metabolize these maternal hormones, the metabolic outcomes, their quantitative dynamics and timing are poorly understood. moreover, it is unknown whether embryos can adjust their metabolic activity to, for example, hormones or other maternal signals. we studied the dynamics of maternal steroids in fertilized and unfertilized rock pigeon eggs during early ...201830110617
columbid circoviruses detected in free ranging pigeons from southern brazil: insights on picv evolution.pigeon circovirus (picv) is taxonomically classified as a member of the circovirus genus, family circoviridae. the virus contains a single stranded dna genome of approximately 2 kb, with minor length variations among different isolates. the occurrence of picv infections in pigeons (columba livia) has been documented worldwide over the past 20 years; however, in brazil there were still no reports on picv detection. this study identifies seven picv genomes recovered from domestic pigeons of south ...201830105520
a comprehensive analysis of the genomic organization, expression and phylogeny of immunoglobulin light chain genes in pigeon (columba livia).previous studies on immunoglobulin light chain (igl) genes in avian species are limited to galloanseres, and few studies have investigated igl genes in neoaves, which includes most living birds. based on published genome data, we demonstrate that the pigeon (columba livia) igl locus spans approximately 24 kb of dna and contains twenty vλ segments located upstream of a single pair of jλ-cλ. among the identified vλ gene segments, four segments are structurally intact and all four segments are able ...201830096338
persistent pigeons (columba livia) learn how to produce a list.in the featured article for this issue of the journal of comparative psychology, scarf, johnston, and colombo (2018) showed that pigeons learned to reproduce (by pecking icons presented on a screen) a four-item serially ordered list without specific training on that list, as macaques did (figure 1). in scarf et al.'s (2018) study, all five birds given structured training subsequently mastered multiple sets of two-item, then three-item, and finally four-item lists, with a diminishing training reg ...201830080070
personality and the collective: bold homing pigeons occupy higher leadership ranks in flocks.while collective movement is ecologically widespread and conveys numerous benefits on individuals, it also poses a coordination problem: who controls the group's movements? the role that animal 'personalities' play in this question has recently become a focus of research interest. although many animal groups have distributed leadership (i.e. multiple individuals influence collective decisions), studies linking personality and leadership have focused predominantly on the group's single most influ ...201829581403
effect of the exploratory behaviour on a bird's ability to categorize a predator.despite the encountering of a predator always being extremely threatening, there is a significant plasticity among individuals in how they cope with such a situation. in laboratory experiments with wild-caught great tits (parus major), we tested the effect of exploratory behaviour (performance in novel food, object and environment test, startle test) on the ability of individual birds to assess the threat represented by a predator. we presented a wooden dummy of the european sparrowhawk (accipit ...201829581025
pigeons at the edge of the empire: bioarchaeological evidences for extensive management of pigeons in a byzantine desert settlement in the southern levant.metric data of 6th century ce pigeons from the negev desert, israel, are employed to test competing hypotheses on flock management strategies: that directed selection for size or shape took place under intensive management; or, alternatively, that stabilizing selection was a stronger determinant of size and shape under extensive management conditions. the results of the analysis support the second hypothesis by demonstrating that the byzantine negev pigeons were like wild pigeon (columba livia) ...201829561880
changes in hormone profiles, growth factors, and mrna expression of the related receptors in crop tissue, relative organ weight, and serum biochemical parameters in the domestic pigeon (columba livia) during incubation and chick-rearing periods under artificial farming conditions.the present study was conducted to determine the changes in concentrations of hormones and growth factors and their related receptor gene expressions in crop tissue, relative organ weight, and serum biochemical parameters in male and female pigeons during incubation and chick-rearing periods under artificial farming conditions. seventy-eight pairs of 60-week-old white king pigeons with 2 fertile eggs per pair were randomly divided into 13 groups by different breeding stages. serum prolactin and ...201829554306
improved genome assembly and annotation for the rock pigeon (columba livia).the domestic rock pigeon (columba livia) is among the most widely distributed and phenotypically diverse avian species. c. livia is broadly studied in ecology, genetics, physiology, behavior, and evolutionary biology, and has recently emerged as a model for understanding the molecular basis of anatomical diversity, the magnetic sense, and other key aspects of avian biology. here we report an update to the c. livia genome reference assembly and gene annotation dataset. greatly increased scaffold ...201829519939
gastrointestinal parasites in captive and free-ranging birds and potential cross-transmission in a zoo environment.gastrointestinal parasites are commonly reported in wild birds, but transmission amongst avifauna in zoological settings, and between these captive birds and wild birds in surrounding areas, remains poorly understood. a survey was undertaken to investigate the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in captive and free-ranging birds at bristol zoo gardens between may and july 2016. a total of 348 fecal samples from 32 avian species were examined using the mini-flotac flotation method. parasites ...201829517437
the myodural bridge in the common rock pigeon (columbia livia): morphology and possible physiological implications.the dense connective tissue that connects muscles to the cervical spinal dura mater is known as the myodural bridge in human anatomy and has been a subject of interest to anatomists and clinicians. the myodural bridge was originally discovered in humans, and also has been observed in other mammals and in reptilian sauropsids. we investigated the existence of the myodural bridge in a bird, that is, the common rock pigeon columba livia, to expand the understanding of the structure and function of ...201830284324
a method for investigating change blindness in pigeons (columba livia).change blindness is a phenomenon of visual attention, whereby changes to a visual display go unnoticed under certain specific circumstances. while many laboratory procedures have been developed that produce change blindness in humans, the flicker paradigm has emerged as a particularly effective method. in the flicker paradigm, two visual displays are presented in alternation with one another. if successive displays are separated by a short inter-stimulus interval (isi), change detection is impai ...201830247480
reproduction impairments in metal-polluted environments and parental hormones: no evidence for a causal association in an experimental study in breeding feral pigeons exposed to lead and zinc.humans are responsible for land-cover changes resulting in the emission of hazardous chemical elements including metallic trace elements i.e. mtes. as a consequence, urban wildlife is exposed to high concentrations of mtes, which exposure is linked to reproductive impairments. mte effects on reproduction outputs might result from mte exposure disrupting the endocrine pathways involved in reproductive behaviours. in birds, there is strong evidence that prolactin, corticosterone and testosterone a ...201829957582
quantifying syringeal dynamics in vitro using electroglottography.the complex and elaborate vocalizations uttered by many of the 10,000 extant bird species are considered a major driver in their evolutionary success, warranting study of the underlying mechanisms of vocal production. additionally, birdsong has developed into a highly productive model system for vocal imitation learning and motor control, where, in contrast to humans, we have experimental access to the entire neuromechanical control loop. in human voice production, complex laryngeal geometry, vo ...201829880637
chlamydia psittaci and c. avium in feral pigeon (columba livia domestica) droppings in two cities in the netherlands.feral pigeons (columba livia domestica) live and breed in many city centres and contact with their droppings can be a hazard for human health if the birds carry chlamydia psittaci.201829806552
evaluation of pigeon egg yolk for post thaw quality, enzyme leakage and fertility of buffalo (bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa.egg yolk is used as a cryoprotectant in semen preservation. however, its composition varies according to the species which may influence its effectiveness during the freeze-thaw process. therefore, study was conducted to identify the optimum level of pigeon egg yolk (pey) in tris citric acid (tca) extender for freezability and in vivo fertility of buffalo semen. semen was collected at weekly intervals for a period of three weeks (replicates) from 6 nili ravi buffalo bulls (2 ejaculates/bull/repl ...201830006129
investigation of non-cb1, non-cb2 win55212-2-sensitive g-protein-coupled receptors in the brains of mammals, birds, and amphibians.previous studies have found non-cb1 non-cb2 g-protein-coupled receptors in rodents that are activated by the aminoalkylindole cannabinoid agonist win55212-2. this work obtained evidence for the presence or absence of similar receptors in the brains of other mammals, birds and amphibians.201830376752
ethnomedicinal applications of animal species by the local communities of punjab, pakistan.different species of animals are being utilized in traditional therapies by various cultures for a long time and such uses still exist in folk medicine. the present study aimed to document animal-based traditional therapies used by the local communities of jhelum and lahore districts of the punjab province, pakistan.201830111346
perforating foreign body in the ventriculus of a pet pigeon (columba livia domestica).case description a 2-year-old female pigeon was evaluated because of a 5-day history of lower than typical activity level, weight loss, and polyuria. clinical findings whole-body radiography revealed a linear metallic foreign body in the area of the ventriculus. fluoroscopy followed by contrast-enhanced ct was performed to further characterize the lesion location, revealing that the foreign body had perforated the ventral aspect of the ventriculus wall and that the ventral extremity of the forei ...201830668254
the importance of checking leishmania promastigotes viability in the proteomics analysis of secretions.the study was conducted to detect the prevalence of haemoprotozoan parasites in the domestic and wild pigeons in niğde province.201830604686
spectral properties of brain activity under two anesthetics and their potential for inducing natural sleep in birds.both mammals and birds exhibit two sleep states, slow wave sleep (sws) and rapid eye movement (rem) sleep. studying certain aspects of sleep-related electrophysiology in freely behaving animals can present numerous methodological constraints, particularly when even fine body movements interfere with electrophysiological signals. interestingly, under light general anesthesia, mammals and birds also exhibit slow waves similar to those observed during natural sws. for these reasons, slow waves occu ...201830538619
experimental infection of racing pigeons (columba livia domestica) with highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4 sub-group b h5n8 avian influenza virus.reported mass mortalities in wild pigeons and doves during the 2017/2018 clade 2.3.4.4 hpai h5n8 outbreaks in south africa necessitated an investigation of healthy racing pigeons for their susceptibility and ability to transmit a clade 2.3.4.4 sub-group b virus of south african origin. pigeons challenged with medium (104.5 eid50) and high doses (106 eid50) but not a low dose (103 eid50) of virus, shed virus in low levels of <103 eid50/ml from the oropharynx and cloaca for up to eight days, with ...201830473343
correction: behavioural traits of individual homing pigeons, columba livia f. domestica, in their homing flights.[this corrects the article doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201291.].201830462737
survey of parasites in domestic pigeons (columba livia) in tripoli, libya.this study was a preliminary survey for identification of parasites (endoparasites and ectoparasites) and their prevalence in domestic pigeons (columba livia) in tripoli; libya. one hundred adult domestic pigeons were purchased from different markets of tripoli. blood smears were prepared from each bird and examined using light microscopy with oil immersion lens for the presence of blood parasites. oropharyngeal swab was taken from each pigeon and were processed through direct smear method and s ...201830425959
nonapeptide receptor distributions in promising avian models for the neuroecology of flocking.collective behaviors, including flocking and group vocalizing, are readily observable across a diversity of free-living avian populations, yet we know little about how neural and ecological factors interactively regulate these behaviors. because of their involvement in mediating a variety of social behaviors, including avian flocking, nonapeptides are likely mediators of collective behaviors. to advance the neuroecological study of collective behaviors in birds, we sought to map the neuroanatomi ...201830386202
immunogenicity of pigeon circovirus recombinant capsid protein in pigeons.pigeon circovirus (picv) is the most frequently diagnosed virus in pigeons and is thought to be one of the causative factors of a complex disease called the young pigeon disease syndrome (ypds). the development of a vaccine against this virus could be a strategy for ypds control. since laboratory culture of picv is impossible, its recombinant capsid protein (rcp) can be considered as a potential antigen candidate in sub-unit vaccines. the aim of this basic research was to evaluate the immune res ...201830384424
requiem for a heavyweight - can anything more be learned from homing pigeons about the sensory and spatial-representational basis of avian navigation?the homing pigeon (columba livia) has long served as a study species to exhaustively investigate the sensory and spatial (map)-representational mechanisms that guide avian navigation. however, several factors have contributed to recent questioning of whether homing pigeons are as valuable as they once were as a general model for the study of the sensory and map-like, spatial-representational mechanisms of avian navigation. these reservations include: the success of this research program in unvei ...201830348670
human activities and landscape features interact to closely define the distribution and dispersal of an urban commensal.the rock pigeon, columba livia, is a cosmopolitan human commensal, domesticated thousands of years ago. however, the human-mediated factors governing its distribution and dispersal are not well understood. in this study, we performed (a) hierarchical distance sampling on ~400 island-wide point transects, (b) a population genomic inquiry based on ~7,000 snps from almost 150 individuals, and (c) landscape genomic analyses on the basis of extensive ecological and socio-economic databases to charact ...201830344630
homing pigeons.dora biro introduces homing domestic pigeons specialized for messaging duties.201830205071
a novel group a rotavirus associated with acute illness and hepatic necrosis in pigeons (columba livia), in australia.cases of vomiting and diarrhoea were reported in racing pigeons in western australia in may, 2016. morbidity and mortality rates were high. similar clinical disease was seen in victoria in december and by early 2017 had been reported in all states except the northern territory, in different classes of domestic pigeon-racing, fancy and meat bird-and in a flock of feral pigeons. autopsy findings were frequently unremarkable; histological examination demonstrated significant hepatic necrosis as the ...201830204797
head-mounted sensors reveal visual attention of free-flying homing pigeons.gaze behavior offers valuable insights into attention and cognition. however, technological limitations have prevented the examination of animals' gaze behavior in natural, information-rich contexts; for example, during navigation through complex environments. therefore, we developed a lightweight custom-made logger equipped with an inertial measurement unit (imu) and gps to simultaneously track the head movements and flight trajectories of free-flying homing pigeons. pigeons have a limited rang ...201830190414
gonadal steroid levels in rock pigeon eggs do not represent adequately maternal allocation.maternal hormones deposited in the egg can provide a powerful model for the study of maternal effects. the differential amount of maternal hormones in the yolk of freshly laid eggs is assumed to represent differential maternal allocation. however, some evidence suggests that these amounts do not reflect maternal allocation that in fact takes place before ovulation. we compared the amounts of a wide array of gonadal steroids and their metabolites in the yolk of pre-ovulatory follicles with those ...201830046065
molecular characterization of two novel sub-sublineages of pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 in china.pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (ppmv-1) infection is enzootic in pigeon flocks and poses a potential risk to the poultry industry in china. to gain insight into the biological characteristics and transmission routes of circulating ppmv-1 in pigeons, 13 ppmv-1 isolates from domestic pigeons isolated during 2011-2015 in guangxi province, china, were characterized using a pathogenicity assessment and phylogenetic analysis. all ppmv-1 isolates were mesogenic or lentogenic strains and had a mean death t ...201830043204
setting the bar.analyzing the genomes of rock pigeons demonstrates that genetic variation comes in many forms and can have unexpected origins.201830015614
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