| phylogeography and genetic structure of the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa): more evidence for refugia within the iberian glacial refugium. | the pleistocene climatic oscillations promoted the diversification in avian species during the last glacial period. the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa, family phasianidae) has a large natural distribution extending from the mediterranean to humid temperate zones. however, the genetic structure for this species is unknown. the present study investigates the phylogeography, genetic structure and demographic history of a. rufa across its distribution, employing both mitochondrial dna control ... | 2011 | 21535277 |
| concurrent pulmonary adenocarcinoma and silicate pneumoconiosis in a red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa). | an adult red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) presented with concurrent pulmonary carcinoma and severe silicosis. the animal was submitted to the veterinary teaching hospital of the university of córdoba (spain) because of respiratory signs, and it died during clinical examination. at postmortem examination, numerous firm, whitish to yellowish nodules involving the lungs, mainly the right lobe, were found. the histopathologic study revealed numerous peribronchiolar large granulomatous lesions c ... | 2011 | 21500649 |
| isolation from predators: a key factor in the failed release of farmed red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa) to the wild? | 1. the effects of predation isolation were studied in two lines of 10 month-old farmed red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa). birds came from bred generations in captivity (f) and directly from wild parents (w). 2. releases were carried out in march for two consecutive years on private farmland with a stable population of wild red-legged partridge using 68 tagged birds (36 f, 32 w). 3. no statistical differences were found in survival time (mean 18 d) or home range values (mean 7·38 ha); 49% of ... | 2011 | 21491237 |
| bioaccessibility of pb from ammunition in game meat is affected by cooking treatment. | the presence of lead (pb) ammunition residues in game meat has been widely documented, yet little information exists regarding the bioaccessibility of this pb contamination. we study how cooking treatment (recipe) can affect pb bioaccessibility in meat of animals hunted with pb ammunition. | 2011 | 21264290 |
| identification of carotenoid pigments and their fatty acid esters in an avian integument combining hplc-dad and lc-ms analyses. | yellow-orange-red ornaments present in the integuments (feathers, bare parts) of birds are often produced by carotenoid pigments and may serve to signal the quality of the bearer. although carotenoid esterification in tissues is a common phenomenon, most of the work on avian carotenoids has been focused on the identification of free forms or have been done after sample saponification. here we determined free and esterified carotenoid composition in a bird species with red ornaments: the red-legg ... | 2011 | 21239236 |
| age affects the laying performance and egg hatchability of red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa) in captivity. | red-legged partridge breeders are frequently reared in captivity with the aim of producing fertile eggs and chicks. however, little is known regarding the role of breeder age on fertility and egg production performance. therefore, we investigated the effects of breeder age on egg size and shape, flock reproductive performance, fertility, hatchability, and embryonic mortality. in experiment 1, the effects of breeders' age on fertility, hatchability of eggs, and embryo mortality were evaluated. we ... | 2010 | 20952714 |
| carotenoid-based coloration predicts resistance to oxidative damage during immune challenge. | many animal ornaments may have evolved as signals advertising the quality of the bearer. the honesty of the information content of these signals would rely on the costs associated with their expression, these being relatively greater for low-quality than for high-quality individuals. given the physiological functions of carotenoids, carotenoid-based ornaments could indicate individual immunocompetence, and possibly the ability to mount an immune response at a lower cost. we evaluated whether the ... | 2010 | 20435819 |
| sub-chronic effects of nitrate in drinking water on red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa): oxidative stress and t-cell mediated immune function. | in order to evaluate the effects of nitrates on birds, we have exposed captive red-legged partridges to nitrates concentrations of 0 (control), 100 (dwell water in farming areas) or 500 mg/l (fertirrigation level). the cellular immune response, plasma biochemistry, methemoglobin concentration (methb), and oxidative stress biomarkers in blood and tissues were studied after two weeks of exposure. several blood parameters such as aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine phosphokinase and lactate dehy ... | 2010 | 20382380 |
| effect of long-term storage on the hatchability of red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) eggs. | the effect of 0-, 7-, 14-, 21-, 28-, and 35-d storage periods on hatchability and weight loss during storage and incubation of red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) eggs stored at 15 degrees c and 80% rh was studied. there was a significant effect of storage period on egg weight loss during storage (p<0.001), a significant increase occurring in weight loss for each additional week the eggs were stored, and this weight loss amounted to more than 3% for the eggs stored for 35 d. storage period aff ... | 2010 | 20075294 |
| application of indicator kriging to the complementary use of bioindicators at three trophic levels. | the use of biological indicators is widespread in environmental monitoring, although it has long been recognised that each bioindicator is generally associated with a range of potential limitations and shortcomings. to circumvent this problem, this study adopted the complementary use of bioindicators representing different trophic levels and providing different type of information, in an innovative approach to integrate knowledge and to estimate the overall health state of ecosystems. the approa ... | 2009 | 19477568 |
| mitochondrial and nuclear markers for the authentication of partridge meat and the specific identification of red-legged partridge meat products by polymerase chain reaction. | two pcr assays for the identification of partridge meat (red-legged partridge, chukar partridge, barbary partridge, and gray partridge species) and the specific identification of red-legged partridge meat products were developed based on species-specific primers targeting the 12s ribosomal rna mitochondrial gene. moreover, various pcr techniques based on the use of random amplified polymorphic dna markers and nuclear growth hormone and rhodopsin genes were tested to find a method for the differe ... | 2011 | 21177462 |
| influence of the breeding system on the escape response of red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa). | this study aimed to determine the influence of the breeding system on the escape response of red-legged partridges comparing 147 free-born partridges captured in the wild (w) and 164 partridges from a commercial hunting farm with an intensive production system (f). all birds were individually released to the natural environment using wooden cages; the escape response was recorded with a high resolution video camera and 4 behavior parameters were analyzed: reaction time or latency, escape type, a ... | 2010 | 20008796 |
| age and breeding effort as sources of individual variability in oxidative stress markers in a bird species. | oxidative stress is the imbalance between the production of pro-oxidant substances and the level of antioxidant defenses, which leads to oxidative damage. it has been proposed that senescence is the result of accumulated oxidative damage throughout life. in birds, the sources of individual variability in oxidative stress are still poorly understood. among these sources, age, as related to senescence, should be particularly relevant. furthermore, recent findings suggest that breeding effort may a ... | 2013 | 19922287 |
| learning ability of 1-d-old partridges (alectoris rufa) from eggs laid by hens fed with different n-3 fatty acid concentrations. | 1. the diets of commercial strains of laying partridge are usually lower in polyunsaturated fatty acids (pufa) and n-3 fatty acids than the diets of wild partridges. the aim of this experiment was to examine the effects of three different pufa and n-3 concentrations in partridge laying diets. 2. offspring learning ability (passive avoidance test of 1-d-old chicks) was used to assess the effect of three different maternal diets (144 chicks were tested for each diet). a negative experience, allowi ... | 2008 | 19093252 |
| cell-mediated immune activation rapidly decreases plasma carotenoids but does not affect oxidative stress in red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa). | in animals yellow-orange-red sexual traits pigmented by carotenoids have been suggested to act as signals of current health. because carotenoids have important physiological functions, individuals might trade-off allocating these pigments to self-maintenance versus coloration. carotenoids may act as scavengers of free radicals that are released during an immune response. here, we experimentally assessed whether a local cell-mediated immune response affects circulating carotenoids, antioxidant st ... | 2008 | 18552305 |
| developmental stage affects eggshell-breaking strength in two ground-nesting birds: the partridge (alectoris rufa) and the quail (coturnix japonica). | we examined the relationship between embryo development and egg hardness in two ground nesting bird species, the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa; n = 165 eggs) and the quail (coturnix japonica; n = 148 eggs). for both species, we observed a strong effect of developmental stage on egg hardness. eggs near hatching were significantly weaker than unincubated eggs (partridge: 18 and 23 n, respectively, and the quail 7 and 10 n, respectively). we additionally explored the effect of incubation on ... | 2007 | 17600815 |
| repeated sampling but not sampling hour affects plasma carotenoid levels. | carotenoid pigments have become a central subject of research on animal signaling systems during the past decade. thus, measurement of plasma carotenoid levels is widespread in the literature. many plasma biochemical parameters tend to vary with the hour of sampling, which may be an important source of sampling error. however, little is known about this kind of variation for circulating carotenoids. with a sampling protocol that allowed us to separately analyze the effect of sampling hour and re ... | 2007 | 17252521 |
| testosterone increases bioavailability of carotenoids: insights into the honesty of sexual signaling. | androgens and carotenoids play a fundamental role in the expression of secondary sex traits in animals that communicate information on individual quality. in birds, androgens regulate song, aggression, and a variety of sexual ornaments and displays, whereas carotenoids are responsible for the red, yellow, and orange colors of the integument. parallel, but independent, research lines suggest that the evolutionary stability of each signaling system stems from tradeoffs with immune function: androg ... | 2006 | 17121984 |
| incidence of lead shot ingestion in red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa) in great britain. | | 2005 | 16299369 |
| study of survival, dispersal and home range of autumn-released red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa). | 1. on a private property with a stable population of wild red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) and an appropriate habitat for the survival of the species, reinforcement repopulations were carried out in the months of october and november for two consecutive years using 5- to 6-month-old birds reared on a commercial game farm. 2. of the 36 released birds, none was still alive by the following spring's breeding period. mean survival time was 9.4 d in the first year and 7.6 d in the second year. 3 ... | 2005 | 16268096 |
| introgression of chukar genes into a reintroduced red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) population in central italy. | insight regarding the genetic origin and composition of the studied population of the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) is likely to provide general and critical information for the appropriate management and possible conservation of the species. the reintroduced population of red-legged partridges living in pianosa island (national park tuscany archipelago) has proven to be sustainable: captive-bred individuals, morphologically assigned to the taxon a. rufa, were released to the island appr ... | 2005 | 15670128 |
| the effects of fasting and refeeding on biochemical parameters in the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa). | every year, about three million farm-reared red-legged partridges are released in spain for hunting purposes, most of them for restocking where the success is very low. some factors such as the sudden shift from abundant commercial energy-rich diet to natural food and absence of experience at looking for natural food resources could cause a rapid physical deterioration, being more vulnerable to predation and disease. to determine fasting capacity in red-legged partridges, we fasted 32 birds duri ... | 2005 | 15664325 |
| plasma chemistry reference values from captive red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa). | 1. haematological and plasma biochemical parameters of 66 captive red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa) of both sexes were analysed in order to determine reference values, taking sex and age into account. 2. there were no statistically significant differences in haematocrit, plasma glucose content or creatine kinase activity either with age or between sexes. 3. plasma cholesterol concentrations showed differences between sexes, whereas the plasma concentrations of urea, uric acid and creatinine ... | 2004 | 15484735 |
| use of radiotracking techniques to study a summer repopulation with red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) chicks. | on a private property with a stable population of wild red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) and an appropriate habitat for the survival of the species, reinforcement repopulations were carried out using 54 birds that were 2 to 3 mo old and reared on a commercial game farm. this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of repopulations, the behavior in the wild of released partridges, and the possible causes of success or failure of reinforcement population operations. the releases were carried ... | 2004 | 15206613 |
| lead exposition by gunshot ingestion in red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa). | absorption of low concentrations of lead may result in a wide range of sublethal effects in birds. although waterfowl appear the most severely affected group for this heavy metal, leadpoisoning-mortality has been observed in a wide variety of bird species, ie raptors and upland game birds. in this present work, hepatic lead levels in different red-legged partridges are presented to indicate threshold values which could help in future toxicological studies when considering the lack of information ... | 2004 | 15171488 |
| effects of housing type and breeding system on the reproductive capacity of the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa). | current methods of intensive breeding of the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) are based on "industrial" laying practices, including removal and artificial incubation of eggs. these procedures can alter the reproductive behavior and physiology of the birds and, therefore, may not be suitable for use in breeding programs designed to increase wild populations. this study aimed to determine the effects of intensive housing and breeding methods on the laying capacity and reproductive behavior of ... | 2002 | 11873825 |
| marked differences in the splanchnometry of farm-bred and wild red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa l.). | relative weights of heart, spleen, pancreas, and liver and the relative lengths of the small intestine and the cecum were taken from 40 farm-bred and 43 wild juvenile red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa linnaeus) in central spain. expressed as a ratio to head and body length, farm-bred partridges had lighter hearts (17% lighter), spleens (78%), and livers (29%) and shorter small intestines (15%) and cecae (20%), than wild birds of the same age. when expressed as a ratio to body weight, farm-br ... | 2001 | 11469664 |
| the oxidation handicap hypothesis and the carotenoid allocation trade-off. | the oxidation handicap hypothesis proposes that testosterone mediates the trade-off between the expression of secondary sexual traits and the fight against free radicals. coloured traits controlled by testosterone can be produced by carotenoid pigments (yellow-orange-red traits), but carotenoids also help to quench free radicals. recently, it has been shown that testosterone increases the amount of circulating carotenoids in birds. here, a testosterone-mediated trade-off in the carotenoid alloca ... | 2008 | 18713241 |
| exposure of birds to cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides following a forest application for tick control. | a mixture of malathion (4%), carbaryl (2%) and cypermethrin (4%) was applied as dry powder to forest and grasslands at a rate of 5kg/ha for tick control in 1500ha of a deer hunting estate in the south of spain. the effect on plasma cholinesterase (che) of house sparrow and nightingale, and brain che of red-legged partridge was studied. plasma che was lower after the treatment in passerine birds, but brain ache was not affected in partridges. the body condition of house sparrows was significantly ... | 2007 | 21783779 |
| an automated method for the measurement of methaemoglobin in avian blood. | an automated method has been developed for the measurement of methaemoglobin (methb) in blood using a biochemistry analyser. the method was validated using blood collected from red-legged partridges exposed in vitro to increasing concentrations of nitrite in order to obtain different percentages of methb. results obtained using the original manual method and those using the new automated technique were compared and no significant differences were found. intra-day and inter-day variabilities (8.8 ... | 2008 | 17452116 |
| haematology and biochemistry in healthy young pheasants and red-legged partridges and effects of spironucleosis on these parameters. | plasma biochemical and haematological parameters were examined in 4-week-old to 12-week-old game birds. healthy, uninfected pheasants and partridges had similar levels of total protein, albumin, osmolality, na+, cl-, k+, mg2+ and glucose. triglyceride, globulin and ca2+ were significantly higher and po43- was lower in the partridges. pheasants carrying a light to moderate infection with spironucleus had significantly lower total protein, albumin, osmolality, na+, cl-, ca2+ and po43-. in severely ... | 2006 | 16854649 |
| the rally call recognition in males of two hybridizing partridge species, red-legged (alectoris rufa) and rock (a. graeca) partridges. | the red-legged (alectoris rufa) and rock (a. graeca) partridges hybridize and produce fertile offspring along a contact zone in french southern alps. the rally call emitted during pair formation, could play an important role in species recognition, acting as a behavioral reproductive isolating mechanism between males and females. in the present study, the coding system of the rally call was investigated from captive males of the two species and from f1 hybrids. by playing-back natural signals, w ... | 2001 | 11390087 |
| effects of prochloraz and malathion on the red-legged partridge: a semi-natural field study. | a semi-natural field study was carried out to assess the likelihood of a potentiation of toxicity between the ergosterol biosynthesis inhibiting (ebi) fungicide, prochloraz, and the organophosphorus (op) insecticide, malathion, in the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa). groups of partridges kept in four large grassland enclosures were exposed to either prochloraz-treated or control wheat for 7 days after which two of the enclosures were sprayed with malathion whilst the remaining two were sha ... | 1996 | 15091443 |
| anti-predator behavior in pure and hybrid red-legged partridges. | the purpose of this study was to examine the anti-predator behavior in pure red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa) and hybrids with chukar partridges (a. rufa × (a. rufa × a. chukar)). a total of 117 birds (66 pure and 51 hybrid partridges; 74 females and 43 males) maintained in outdoor cages were used at a range of 52 to 55 wk of age. four active fear tests were performed (novel object test, fear of humans test, emergence test, and restraint test) in order to analyze differences between pure an ... | 2019 | 30778564 |
| game meat consumption by hunters and their relatives: a probabilistic approach. | this study aimed to estimate the consumption of meat and products derived from hunting by the consumer population and, specifically, by hunters and their relatives. for this purpose, a survey was conducted on the frequency of consuming meat from the four most representative game species in spain, two of big game, wild boar (sus scrofa) and red deer (cervus elaphus), and two of small game, rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus) and red partridge (alectoris rufa), as well as of processed meat products (sa ... | 2018 | 29912678 |
| a study of the bone marrow precursors and hemoglobin of the blood cells of the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa rufa l.). | the hematological characteristics of the red-legged partridge are reported. in addition to morphological observations of the circulating blood cells, a hemoglobin (hb) analysis and cytochemical and ultrastructural observations of the circulating blood cells and their precursors in the bone marrow are presented. two types of hb, major and minor, were found. hemoglobin electrophoresis revealed that they were composed of three different globin chains. on direct examination of the peripheral blood s ... | 2006 | 8018019 |
| lead in terrestrial game birds from spain. | we analysed exposure to pb and its relationship with lead-based ammunition in seven species of terrestrial game birds-common woodpigeon (columba palumbus), rock dove (columba livia), stock dove (columba oenas), european turtle-dove (streptopelia turtur), red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa), barbary partridge (alectoris barbara) and common quail (coturnix coturnix)-from rural and urban areas in different parts of spain (valencia, castilla-la mancha, castilla y león, madrid, islas canarias and n ... | 2020 | 31755055 |
| an open platform system based on snp type genetic markers for discrimination between alectoris rufa and alectoris chukar. | the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) is one of the most emblematic game species in southern europe. for the conservation of its natural populations against hybridization with chukar partridges (alectoris chukar) a public and agreed control system able to detect genetic introgression between the two species should be established. as the already available method has not been implemented yet, this paper presents an improvement of the genetic analysis technique by using an open platform system ... | 2020 | 33166632 |
| a stereological study of the renal and adrenal glandular structure of red-legged partridge (alectoris chukar). | partridge is a major bird species that has recently gained an increasing importance as an alternative food source and a game animal in hunting tourism. herein, we aimed to examine the histological structure and stereological properties of the renal and adrenal glands of red-legged partridge. | 2020 | 32020577 |
| mate choice and reproductive success in the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa). | behavioral patterns, reproductive success, and concentrations of plasma-luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and estrogen were compared in pairs of red-legged partridges which had either selected their own mates or had been randomly paired. males in self-selected pairs called more frequently than males in non-self-selected pairs. females in self-selected pairs but not those in non-self-selected pairs guarded their nests. females in self-selected pairs had a greater egg production and laid more of ... | 1993 | 8225255 |
| factors affecting the incidence of dawn calling in red-legged and grey partridges. | seasonal variations in the frequency and the timing of calling in red-legged (alectoris rufa) and grey (perdix perdix) partridges, and their relationships with biological and environmental factors, were investigated during 89 morning surveys. in winter, when birds were living in social groups, the vocal activity of both species decreased. most calling began before sunrise. yet many variations in the timing of first calls were observed when sunrise was prior to 0530 h, i.e. when the daylength was ... | 1992 | 24924326 |
| caecal cores and mortality in french partridges (alectoris rufa). | | 1990 | 2301112 |
| [biometry, hematology, plasma biochemistry and plasma and tissues enzymology of the red partridge (alectoris rufa) (author's transl]. | the following parameters have been estimated in 15 red partridges (young adults of both sexes): 1. biometry: relative weight of 10 organs (liver, kidneys, heart, brain, spleen, lungs, small gut, coecum, stomach, gizzard). 2. hematology (mean +/- s.d.): erythrocytes, 3.4 x 10(6) +/- 0.3 x 10(6) cells/mm3; packed cell volume 0.46 +/- 0.17; haemoglobin 103 +/- 27 g/l; mean red blood cell volume, 135.6 +/- 10.4 micrometer3; haemoglobin per red blood cell, 32.2 +/- 5,2 pg; haemoglobin concentration i ... | 1977 | 606140 |
| [biochemical polymorphism in the red partridge (alectoris rufa)]. | egg white proteins, hemoglobin, serum proteins and enzymes from alectoris rufa have been examined by starch gel electrophoresis. all three genetic parameters, mean proportion of loci polymorphic per population (p), mean numbers of alleles per locus (a), and mean proportion of loci heterozygous per individual (h) are given for alectoris rufa, and comparison were made between the proteins of the related species coturnix coturnix japonica. | 1976 | 64137 |
| genetic characterization of vana-enterococcus faecium isolates from wild red-legged partridges in portugal. | vancomycin-resistant enterococci (vre) have been detected in wild animals representing a public health concern. the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) is a common game bird and its meat is consumed in several countries, including portugal. three hundred five fecal samples of red-legged partridge from the north of portugal were screened for vre. samples were cultured on slanetz-bartley agar supplemented with vancomycin (4 mg/l) and six vana-enterococcus faecium were recovered. isolates were te ... | 2017 | 28504889 |
| age and sex ratios in a high-density wild red-legged partridge population. | the dynamics of a wild red-legged partridge population were examined over a 14-year period in spain to identify patterns in age and sex ratios in relation to weather parameters, and to assess the importance of these parameters in population dynamics and management. the results gave age ratios of 1.07 (but 2.13 in july counts), juvenile sex ratios of 1.01 and adult sex ratios of 1.47. overall, 12% more females were hatched and female juvenile mortality was 7.3% higher than in males. sex different ... | 2016 | 27508503 |
| influence of staining method on the values of avian sperm head morphometric variables. | computer-assisted systems for the assessment of sperm morphometry (asma systems) have been used successfully with several mammalian species. unfortunately, they have so far been of little use for assessing bird semen, a consequence of the filiform shape of avian spermatozoa. this study compares two staining techniques (hemacolor(®) and aniline blue staining) for the morphometric analysis of rooster and red-legged partridge spermatozoa as part of a computer-assisted light microscopy method. for b ... | 2015 | 26192019 |
| raman spectroscopy as a non-invasive technique for the quantification of melanins in feathers and hairs. | the quantification of melanins is a complex task due to the chemical heterogeneity of the pigments and the difficulty of their isolation. the best accepted procedure currently consists in the chemical cleavage of melanins and the subsequent detection of degradation products by hplc, which implies the destruction of samples. here, we show that raman spectroscopy is a non-invasive technique that can be used to quantify melanins. we made parallel analyses of the characteristics of pheomelanin and e ... | 2013 | 23890020 |
| harvest of red-legged partridge in central spain. | a basic rule to attain sustainable use of harvested resources is to adjust take to availability. populations of red-legged partridges in spain have decreased in recent decades, and releases of farm-bred partridges to improve short-term availability are increasingly common. we used questionnaires and bird surveys to assess whether harvest was related to availability of wild partridges or intensity of farm-bred partridge releases. we studied 50 hunting estates, including 6 administratively labeled ... | 2012 | 23049142 |
| grass as an oesophageal foreign body in red-legged partridges. | | 2010 | 20665969 |
| testosterone-mediated trade-offs in the old age: a new approach to the immunocompetence handicap and carotenoid-based sexual signalling. | the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis proposes that testosterone mediates a trade-off between sexual signalling and immunocompetence in males. such a trade-off could favour the reliability of sexual signals on the basis that testosterone required for signal expression also promotes immunosuppression. however, the immunosuppressive activity of testosterone has not been convincingly demonstrated. we propose that the optimal solution to the testosterone-mediated trade-off should change with age, ... | 2009 | 19324780 |
| organochiorine insecticide residues in red-legged partridge. | | 1978 | 98189 |
| absence of protection from west nile virus disease and adverse effects in red legged partridges after non-structural ns1 protein administration. | the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) is a competent host for west nile virus (wnv) replication and highly susceptible to wnv disease. with the aim to assess in this species whether the inoculation of non-structural protein ns1 from wnv elicits a protective immune response against wnv infection, groups of partridges were inoculated with recombinant ns1 (ns1 group) or an unrelated recombinant protein (mock group), and challenged with infectious wnv. a third group received no inoculation prior ... | 2018 | 29406280 |
| influence of flavivirus co-circulation in serological diagnostics and surveillance: a model of study using west nile, usutu and bagaza viruses. | this study aims at assessing the serological cross-reactions existing between three mosquito-borne flaviviruses with avian reservoirs co-circulating in europe: west nile (wnv), usutu (usuv) and bagaza (bagv). the study is useful for a better interpretation of serological results in diagnostics and surveillance. serum samples obtained from a natural host, the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa), experimentally infected with wnv, usuv or bagv were analysed using two commercially available wnv co ... | 2019 | 31150146 |
| susceptibility and role as competent host of the red-legged partridge after infection with lineage 1 and 2 west nile virus isolates of mediterranean and central european origin. | west nile virus (wnv; genus flavivirus; family flaviviridae) is the aetiological agent of an emerging, mosquito-borne disease with great impact on human and animal health. over the past 15 years, wnv has been responsible for large epidemics mainly in north america but also in europe, where lineage 1 and more recently lineage 2 strains have caused an upsurge in the number of outbreaks with increased human infection and higher virulence for certain wild bird species. this study aimed to compare th ... | 2018 | 30080671 |
| avoiding bias in parasite excretion estimates: the effect of sampling time and type of faeces. | the study of host-parasite relationships usually requires reliable estimates of parasite intensity, which is often estimated from parasite propagule concentration in faeces. however, parasite excretion in faeces may be subject to variation due to endogenous or exogenous factors that must be identified to obtain reliable results. we analysed the effect of the hour of sample collection on propagule counts of 2 intestinal parasites infecting the red-legged partridge: the capillarid nematode aonchot ... | 2006 | 16707034 |
| carotenoids in eggs and plasma of red-legged partridges: effects of diet and reproductive output. | carotenoids are important dietary constituents in birds. they serve as pigments and play numerous physiological roles in both the laying hen and developing embryo. however, factors determining the absorption of carotenoids and their allocation to different functions are numerous and complex, and causal relationships are generally poorly known. our objective was to determine the degree to which carotenoid levels in egg yolks and the plasma of hens were influenced by differences in diet and reprod ... | 2006 | 12905123 |
| the estimation of density dependence using census data from several sites. | the discussion of density dependence in the ecological literature has tended to concentrate on significance testing, whereas estimation is often of more importance. in this paper we use simulation to investigate the bias and precision of a number of methods for estimating density dependence using census data from several sites. the estimation methods examined were a modification of an existing maximum likelihood approach, a regression method, and a new approach using restricted (or residual) max ... | 2002 | 28466175 |
| the use of biomarkers to measure the interactive effects of chemicals. | biomarker assays that provide measures of the toxic effects of chemicals on key organisms are of particular interest in ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment. typically, such assays provide measures of the molecular mechanisms that underlie toxicity (e.g., inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase activity by organophosphorus insecticides and retardation of the vitamin k cycle by anticoagulant rodenticides). they are particularly valuable for detecting and quantifying toxicity where org ... | 2015 | 9626537 |
| nutritional encephalomalacia in red legged partridges. | | 1986 | 3739194 |
| photorefractoriness and sexual response in aging partridge kept under constant long- and short-day photoperiods. | the duration of post-juvenile refractoriness was studied in red-legged partridge kept under a long constant 16-hr photoperiod from hatch to 55 months of age. a second group of partridge was kept under a short constant 8-hr photoperiod from hatch to 38 months of age. body weight was measured bimonthly, and daily egg production kept on birds reaching sexual maturity. eighty one percent of all birds were alive at 36 months of age. birds kept under a constant 16-hr photoperiod were generally heavier ... | 1980 | 7433373 |
| experimental infection of grey partridges with bagaza virus: pathogenicity evaluation and potential role as a competent host. | bagaza virus (bagv; synonymous to israel turkey meningoencephalomyelitis virus, itv) is a relevant arthropod-borne epornitic flavivirus. in its first emergence in europe (southern spain, 2010) bagv caused an outbreak, severely affecting red-legged partridges and common pheasants. the effects (pathogenicity, role as reservoir host) of bagv in other european phasianids are unknown. to fill this gap, grey partridges were experimentally infected with bagv. the clinical course of the disease was seve ... | 2018 | 29739470 |
| feathers and hair as tools for non-destructive pollution exposure assessment in a mining site of the iberian pyrite belt. | mining is responsible of releasing trace elements to the environment with potential negative effects on wildlife. traditionally, wildlife exposure assessment has been developed by analyzing mainly environmental compartments or internal tissues. nowadays, the use of non-destructive matrices such as hair or feathers has increased. nevertheless, its use in free-living terrestrial mammals or in birds other than raptors or passerines is less frequent. the main objective of our study was to determine ... | 2020 | 32298936 |
| multi-level analysis of exposure to triazole fungicides through treated seed ingestion in the red-legged partridge. | triazole fungicides are the most widely used products to treat cereal seeds. granivorous birds, such as red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa), which consume seeds left on the surface of fields after sowing, have a high risk of exposure. as triazole fungicides can affect sterol synthesis, we tested the hypothesis that treated seed consumption could alter the synthesis of sex hormones and reduce the reproductive capacity of partridges. we exposed adult partridges to seeds treated with four differ ... | 2020 | 32980015 |
| egg overspray with herbicides and fungicides reduces survival of red-legged partridge chicks. | within the environmental risk assessment conducted for pesticide registration in the european union (eu), avian reproductive toxicity is characterized after exposing adults. however, eggs of ground-nesting species can be exposed when pesticide applications occur during laying or incubation. we simulated environmentally realistic exposure of red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) eggs to an herbicide (2,4-d) and a fungicide (tebuconazole) applied to winter cereal crops during the breeding season o ... | 2020 | 32911930 |
| risk assessment of cd, cu, and pb from the consumption of hunted meat: red-legged partridge and wild rabbit. | the objective was to assess that potential health risk from cd, cu, and pb, through the consumption of hunted red-legged partridge and wild rabbit meat, with special focus on the population of hunters and their relatives. mineral content was analyzed by atomic absorption methods (f-aas for cu and gf-aas for cd and pb) after microwave digestion of lyophilized samples. the average concentrations of these elements were 0.008 and 0.01 mg/kg for cd; 1.41 and 1.63 mg/kg for cu and 0.98 and 1.28 mg/kg ... | 2020 | 32734532 |
| high prevalence of the neonicotinoid clothianidin in liver and plasma samples collected from gamebirds during autumn sowing. | since neonicotinoid insecticides were introduced to the agricultural market, evidence of the negative impacts of these systemic compounds on non-target species has accumulated. birds are one of the largest groups of species to inhabit farmland, but the extent of neonicotinoid exposure in avian communities is poorly understood and very little is known about how any exposure may affect wild birds. here, free-living gamebirds were used as a model group to measure the extent of avian exposure to the ... | 2020 | 32629254 |
| protozoan and helminth infections of aviary-reared alectoris rufa (galliformes: phasianidae) before releasing for hunting in the czech republic: infection dynamics and potential risks. | age-related dynamics of protozoan and helminth infections in the red-legged partridge, alectoris rufa, were studied in an intensive breeding aviary in the czech republic before releasing birds for hunting purposes. pooled fecal samples (n = 900) were examined over 3 rearing seasons (2012-2014). a total of 4 protozoan species, cryptosporidium baileyi, cryptosporidium meleagridis, eimeria kofoidi, and eimeria legionensis, and 4 helminths, capillaria phasianina, eucoleus perforans, heterakis gallin ... | 2020 | 32615595 |
| haemoparasites in red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa): first record of haemoproteus sp. in italy? | during a health survey in the province of alessandria (nw italy) 267 free ranging red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa; 137 males and 130 females) were captured in 2009 (n = 101), 2010 (n = 130) and 2011 (n = 36). after biometric data and blood samples collection, animals were released on site. blood samples were used for the preparation of blood smears. a total of 1.5% of smears presented parasites with a light blue finely granular cytoplasm in red blood cells. the parasites were identified, on ... | 2020 | 32508424 |
| using long-term datasets to assess the impacts of dietary exposure to neonicotinoids on farmland bird populations in england. | over the last 20 years, a new group of systemic insecticides-the neonicotinoids-has gained prominence in arable systems, and their application globally has risen year on year. previous modelling studies using long-term data have suggested that neonicotinoid application has had a detrimental impact on bird populations, but these studies were either limited to a single species or neglected to analyse specific exposure pathways in conjunction with observed population trends. using bird abundance da ... | 2019 | 31574132 |
| carotenoid-based coloration predicts both longevity and lifetime fecundity in male birds, but testosterone disrupts signal reliability. | sexual selection promotes the evolution of conspicuous animal ornaments. to evolve as signals, these traits must reliably express the "quality" of the bearer, an indicator of individual fitness. direct estimates of individual fitness may include the contribution of longevity and fecundity. however, evidence of a correlation between the level of signal expression and these two fitness components are scarce, at least among vertebrates. relative fitness is difficult to assess in the wild as age at ... | 2019 | 31442265 |
| body proportions for the facilitation of walking, running and flying: the case of partridges. | predation is one of the most important natural selection forces. prey species can optimize feeding behavior and escape from predators based on mobility conditioned by body proportions. with age, mobility capacity increases and individuals are more efficient in finding resources and safety (e.g., food and refuge). birds' mobility is driven by the dimensions, of the head and torso, as well as the extremities and flight feathers. to assess the relationship between body traits and to understand how ... | 2018 | 30477435 |
| dietary canthaxanthin reduces xanthophyll uptake and red coloration in adult red-legged partridges. | carotenoids give color to conspicuous animal signals that are often the product of sexual selection. knowledge of the mechanisms involved in carotenoid-based signaling is critical to understanding how these traits evolve. however, these mechanisms remain only partially understood. carotenoids are usually viewed as scarce dietary antioxidants whose allocation to ornaments may trade off against health. this trade-off would ensure its reliability as a signal of individual quality. in the case of re ... | 2018 | 30224370 |
| brood size is reduced by half in birds feeding on flutriafol-treated seeds below the recommended application rate. | despite the efforts of the european commission to implement measures that offset the detrimental effects of agricultural intensification, farmland bird populations continue to decline. pesticide use has been pointed out as a major cause of decline, with growing concern about those agro-chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors. we report here on the effects of flutriafol, a ubiquitous systemic fungicide used for cereal seed treatment, on the physiology and reproduction of a declining gamebird. ... | 2018 | 30216876 |
| nutritional value of meat lipid fraction from red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) obtained from wild and farmed specimens1. | the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) is a feathered game species of great socioeconomic importance in its native range and also in the uk. the aim of this study was to present a detailed comparison of meat's lipid fraction obtained from wild and farm-raised specimens and simultaneously compare the breast and leg meat portions. meat from wild specimens had a significant (p < 0.05) lower proportion of saturated fatty acid (less 5.1%) and presented better p/s and n-6/n-3 ratios, and atherogeni ... | 2019 | 30165698 |
| the fractal dimension of a conspicuous ornament varies with mating status and shows assortative mating in wild red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa). | complex body designs, such as plumage ornaments in birds, can be described by fractal geometry. these complex patterns could have a role as visual signals during courtship and social interactions, but an empirical validation in the wild is currently lacking. here, we investigated whether the fractal dimension (fd) of a complex plumage pattern displayed by red-legged partridges alectoris rufa could function as a potential sexual signal. we captured wild birds early in the breeding season and test ... | 2018 | 29959540 |
| the effects of scaling on age, sex and size relationships in red-legged partridges. | wild birds differ in size according to their age and sex, adult birds being larger than juveniles. in the galliforms, males are larger than females, in contrast to some groups, such as the raptors, in which the females are larger. size generally influences the rank hierarchy within a group of birds, although the age, sex, temperament and behaviour of an individual may override its size related rank order. the scaled size of birds according to age and sex affects their physiology and behaviour. p ... | 2018 | 29391508 |
| successful chilling of red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) sperm for use in artificial insemination. | the fertilizing capacity of pure, fresh avian semen may disappear in just half an hour, hindering its successful use in artificial insemination (ai) projects. longer storage requires the use of infra-physiological temperatures and of semen diluents that help preserve the spermatozoa but that do not interfere with their fertilizing capacity. this study examines the effect on sperm quality of storing red-legged partridge sperm for 3 h at 5°c with 2 different semen extenders: 1) a medium referred t ... | 2017 | 29050419 |
| from sport hunting to breeding success: patterns of lead ammunition ingestion and its effects on an endangered raptor. | lead is highly toxic for wildlife, with pernicious consequences especially in long-lived predators. the causes of lead ammunition ingestion in bonelli's eagle (aquila fasciata) and its effects on breeding success were studied in one of the most important populations of this endangered species in europe. regurgitated pellets belonging to different pairs from 2004 to 2014 were analyzed, both in the breeding (1363 pellets from 12 territories) and non-breeding (172 pellets from 9 territories) season ... | 2018 | 28918280 |
| pathogenesis of two western mediterranean west nile virus lineage 1 isolates in experimentally infected red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa). | west nile virus (wnv) is the most widespread flavivirus in the world with a wide vertebrate host range. its geographic expansion and activity continue to increase with important human and equine outbreaks and local bird mortality. in a previous experiment, we demonstrated the susceptibility of 7-week-old red-legged partridges (alectoris rufa) to mediterranean wnv isolates morocco/2003 and spain/2007, which varied in virulence for this gallinaceous species. here we study the pathogenesis of the i ... | 2021 | 34199167 |
| non-native and hybrid in a changing environment: conservation perspectives for the last italian red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) population with long natural history. | the ever-increasing biotic homogenization - especially when associated with introgressive hybridization - raises concern for the reduction of the spatial component of diversity in wildlife worldwide. nonetheless, there is a growing attention to the potential conservation value of hybridization in fastening the adaptive evolutionary responses to rapidly changing selective pressures. under these premises, we investigated the genetic affinity of the red-legged partridge (alectoris rufa) population ... | 2020 | 31935616 |