Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year Filter | PMID(sorted ascending) Filter |
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| divergence, convergence, and the ancestry of feral populations in the domestic rock pigeon. | domestic pigeons are spectacularly diverse and exhibit variation in more traits than any other bird species [1]. in the origin of species, charles darwin repeatedly calls attention to the striking variation among domestic pigeon breeds-generated by thousands of years of artificial selection on a single species by human breeders-as a model for the process of natural divergence among wild populations and species [2]. darwin proposed a morphology-based classification of domestic pigeon breeds [3], ... | 2012 | 22264611 |
| in vitro isolation and seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in stray cats and pigeons in lisbon, portugal. | oral contamination with toxoplasma gondii oocysts shed by cats into the environment has been linked to severe outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis. pigeons (columba livia) are highly susceptible to oral infection with oocysts and indirectly indicate soil contamination, since they feed from the ground. a seroprevalence study was performed on cats and pigeons captured in the city of lisbon. serum samples collected from 1507 pigeons captured at 64 feeding sites and 423 stray cats were screened for anti ... | 2012 | 22341615 |
| outbreak of avian mycobacteriosis in flocks of domestic pigeons: an epidemiological approach. | pigeons are extensively kept for homing and racing purposes in iran. the main objective of this study was to investigate dissemination of m. avium subsp. avium (maa) in pigeon aviaries in tabriz, north-western iran. | 2010 | 22347571 |
| parasitic ventriculitis caused by hadjelia truncata in california rock pigeons (columba livia). | severe ventriculitis and emaciation caused by the infestation of the nematode hadjelia truncata occurred in meat-type breeder rock pigeons (columba livia) in southern and central california. hadjelia truncata can infest several species of birds, although it has only been reported as pathogenic in pigeons. the factors that contribute to h. truncata pathogenicity are not known. the gross and microscopic pathology caused by the infestation of h. truncata in the ventriculus of pigeons and its morpho ... | 2011 | 22362812 |
| evaluation of a fracture pain model in domestic pigeons (columba livia). | to validate a model of postfracture pain in perching birds. | 2012 | 22369526 |
| analgesic effects of meloxicam administration on postoperative orthopedic pain in domestic pigeons (columba livia). | to assess the analgesic effects of 2 doses of meloxicam on the degree of postoperative orthopedic pain in pigeons. | 2012 | 22369527 |
| non-canonical cajal bodies form in the nucleus of late stage avian oocytes lacking functional nucleolus. | in the somatic cell nucleus, there are several universal domains such as nucleolus, sc35-domains, cajal bodies (cbs) and histone locus bodies (hlbs). among them, cbs were described more than 100 years ago; however, we still do not have a final understanding of their nature and biological significance. the giant nucleus of avian and amphibian growing oocytes represents an advantageous model for analysis of functions and biogenesis of various nuclear domains. nevertheless, in large-sized avian ooc ... | 2012 | 22382586 |
| use of slope and feature cues in pigeon (columba livia) goal-searching behavior. | terrain slope provides a directional frame of reference for reorientation and navigation, similar to cardinal directions. previous studies have shown that, in a goal location task, slope is a very salient cue and that pigeons tend to rely on it even if it is not the most informative cue. such a strong dependence on one type of information, when there are more effective predictors of reward, is a key premise for a modular view of information processing. here we tested the provocative hypothesis o ... | 2012 | 22390622 |
| hematology and enzyme histochemistry of peripheral blood lymphocytes in domestic pigeon (columba livia f. domestica). | the purpose of our study was to determine the percentages of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (anae)-positive and acid phosphatase (acp)-positive peripheral blood lymphocytes (pbl) in both sexes of one-year-old domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica). blood samples obtained from 12 healthy domestic pigeons were used. the mean percentages of anae-positive pbl for females and males were 47.8% and 48.8%, respectively, whereas the mean percentages of acp-positive pbl were 67.5% and 68.6%, respe ... | 2012 | 22409509 |
| infections with sarcocystis wenzeli are prevalent in the chickens of yunnan province, china, but not in the flocks of domesticated pigeons or ducks. | the distribution and prevalence of infections with species of sarcocystis in domestic fowl in asia are poorly known. here, ducks, pigeons, and chickens from yunnan province, china were examined for evidence of parasitic infection with sarcocystis spp. one hundred and ninety one chickens, 514 ducks, and nine pigeons were investigated. whereas the ducks and pigeons lacked tissue cysts in their muscle, brain or peripheral nervous system, cysts of sarcocystis wenzeli were identified in 17 of 191 chi ... | 2012 | 22426033 |
| description of riemerella columbipharyngis sp. nov., isolated from the pharynx of healthy domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica), and emended descriptions of the genus riemerella, riemerella anatipestifer and riemerella columbina. | a group of 11 bacterial strains was isolated during microbiological investigations of pharyngeal swabs collected from domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica). phenotypic properties of the isolates closely resembled those of members of the genus riemerella within the family flavobacteriaceae. the genus presently contains two species, riemerella anatipestifer and riemerella columbina. the pigeon isolates differed from r. columbina by their lack of pigment production and negative camp co-haem ... | 2013 | 22427448 |
| change detection by rhesus monkeys (macaca mulatta) and pigeons (columba livia). | two monkeys (macaca mulatta) learned a color change-detection task where two colored circles (selected from a 4-color set) were presented on a 4 × 4 invisible matrix. following a delay, the correct response was to touch the changed colored circle. the monkeys' learning, color transfer, and delay transfer were compared to a similar experiment with pigeons. monkeys, like pigeons (columba livia), showed full transfer to four novel colors, and to delays as long as 6.4 s, suggesting they remembered t ... | 2012 | 22428982 |
| reversal learning in rats (rattus norvegicus) and pigeons (columba livia): qualitative differences in behavioral flexibility. | research has shown that pigeons given a simultaneous visually based discrimination reversal, in which a single reversal occurs at the midpoint of each session, consistently show anticipation prior to the reversal as well as perseveration after the reversal, suggesting that they use a less effective cue (time or trial number into the session) than what would be optimal to maximize reinforcement (local feedback from the most recent trials). in the present research, pigeons (columba livia) and rats ... | 2013 | 22428983 |
| new records and a new species of chewing lice (phthiraptera, amblycera, ischnocera) found on columbidae (columbiformes) in pakistan. | the chewing lice (phthiraptera) of columbidae (columbiformes) from pakistan are studied. six species of chewing lice with new host records are recorded and one new species of the genus colpocephalum is described from columba livia in the karachi region. all the columbid chewing lice from pakistan are keyed out and the new species is illustrated and compared with the closest allied species. | 2012 | 22451786 |
| heterotopic implantation of autologous bone marrow in rock pigeons (columba livia): possible applications in avian bone grafting. | autologous bone marrow, alone or as a composite marrow graft, has received much attention in various species. to assess the potential osteogenicity of autologous, extramedullary bone marrow implants in an avian model, 24 adult pigeons (columba livia) were given intramuscular implantations of autologous marrow aspirated from the medial tibiotarsus. birds were euthanatized at 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after surgery to evaluate whether ectopic bone had formed at the implant sites. primary evalua ... | 2011 | 22458179 |
| pharmacokinetics of clindamycin administered orally to pigeons. | to determine the plasma concentration of clindamycin in pigeons after oral administration, 12 rock pigeons (columba livia) were used in a 2-phase study. in the first phase, 8 pigeons received clindamycin by gavage at 100 mg/kg as a single dose. blood samples were collected at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 hours, and the plasma was separated, frozen, and subsequently analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for clindamycin and its active metabolites, n-demethylclindamycin (ncld) and ... | 2011 | 22458181 |
| identification and molecular analysis of pathogenic yeasts in droppings of domestic pigeons in beijing, china. | feral pigeons are known as reservoirs of pathogenic yeasts that cause opportunistic infections in human. in the outskirts of beijing, china, pigeons are more frequently raised at homes than are encountered in public areas. many studies have focused on the presence of pathogenic yeasts in the excreta (fresh or withered) of a variety kinds of birds, pigeon crop and cloacae. one hundred and forty-three samples of fresh droppings were collected from three suburban pigeon-raising homes in an area of ... | 2012 | 22476559 |
| acquisition of a same-different discrimination task by pigeons (columba livia). | four homing pigeons were trained to discriminate two figures simultaneously presented on an lcd screen. the figure was either a rectangle (a) or a square (b), and four combinations of the two figures, aa, ab, ba, bb, appeared in a pseudo-randomized order. the pigeons' task was to peck one of these figures based upon whether the two figures were identical or not. one pigeon successfully learned this discrimination, with proportions of correct responses above 90% in two consecutive sessions. of th ... | 2012 | 22489391 |
| characterization of pigeon paramyxoviruses (newcastle disease virus) isolated in kazakhstan in 2005. | isolates of newcastle disease virus (ndv) from deceased wild and domestic pigeons in kazakhstan were obtained from the almaty region during 2005 and were genotypically analyzed by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) with primers specific to the viral fusion (f) protein gene. part of the amplified f protein dna product (nucleotide sequence 47-422) and the deduced amino acid sequences were compared phylogenetically with those from strains previously reported in other geo ... | 2012 | 22492000 |
| assessing the effects of three potential chemical repellents to prevent bird damage to corn seeds and seedlings. | bird damage to seeds and seedlings of maize (zea mays) and other crops is widespread, especially in organic farming, because no adequate seed protection is available. in this study, the effect of seed treatments with three substances likely to affect bird feeding behaviour (anthraquinone, pulegone and methyl anthranilate) was tested. their repellent effect was tested in food and seedling choice (treated versus untreated) experiments with feral pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) in aviaries. mo ... | 2013 | 22499556 |
| predator fitness increases with selectivity for odd prey. | the fundamental currency of normative models of animal decision making is darwinian fitness. in foraging ecology, empirical studies typically assess foraging strategies by recording energy intake rates rather than realized reproductive performance. this study provides a rare empirical link, in a vertebrate predator-prey system, between a predator's foraging behavior and direct measures of its reproductive fitness. goshawks accipiter gentilis selectively kill rare color variants of their principa ... | 2012 | 22503502 |
| genetic characterization of a pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 isolated from columba livia in uruguay. | summary. the isolation and molecular characterization of pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (ppmv-1) from a sick racing pigeon in uruguay is reported for the first time. hemagglutination inhibition (hi) tests were performed to detect antibodies against avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (apmv-1), and a hi titer of 1/32 was obtained. tracheal and cloacal swabs were processed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rrt-pcr) with the use of the national veterinary services laboratory-u.s ... | 2012 | 22545555 |
| smoke signals and carrier pigeons. | 2012 | 22572061 | |
| choice behavior of pigeons (columba livia), college students, and preschool children (homo sapiens) in the monty hall dilemma. | in the monty hall dilemma, an individual chooses between three options, only one of which will deliver a prize. after the initial choice, one of the nonchosen options is revealed as a losing option, and the individual can choose to stay with the original choice or switch to the other remaining option. previous studies have found that most adults stay with their initial choice, although the chances of winning are 2/3 for switching and 1/3 for staying. pigeons, college students, and preschool chil ... | 2012 | 22582816 |
| contrasting levels of heavy metals in the feathers of urban pigeons from close habitats suggest limited movements at a restricted scale. | despite restrictions in emissions, heavy metals may remain a major environmental issue due to their numerous sources and their persistence. here, we assessed current levels of 4 metals (copper, cadmium, lead, zinc) in the feathers of 91 feral pigeons (columba livia) from 7 sites in the urbanized region of paris. elements were detected in all pigeons, indicating that metals persist in urbanized areas. the ratio between metal concentrations in the feathers vs. in the environment calculated using d ... | 2012 | 22584112 |
| distribution pattern of apicomplexan parasites (sporozoa: haemosporida) in columba livia, gmelin. | during 39 months of sampling, the prevalence of apicomplexan parasites (haemoproteus and plasmodium) was studied in columba livia gmelin of rohilkhand region, up, india, according to the sex of the host, different seasons and host localities. out of 266 pigeons sampled, 148 pigeons were positive for haemoproteus at a prevalence of 55.63%. only 18 pigeons (2.67%) had a dual haemoproteus and plasmodium infection and 130 pigeons (48.87%) had haemoproteus infection. no pigeons were positive for plas ... | 2011 | 22654310 |
| visual artificial grammar learning: comparative research on humans, kea (nestor notabilis) and pigeons (columba livia). | artificial grammar learning (agl) provides a useful tool for exploring rule learning strategies linked to general purpose pattern perception. to be able to directly compare performance of humans with other species with different memory capacities, we developed an agl task in the visual domain. presenting entire visual patterns simultaneously instead of sequentially minimizes the amount of required working memory. this approach allowed us to evaluate performance levels of two bird species, kea (n ... | 2012 | 22688635 |
| maintenance of core body temperature in anaesthetised pigeons (columba livia domestica): a comparison of two thermal devices. | active thermal devices are used to prevent hypothermia during anaesthetic procedures. two thermal devices, one conductive and one convective, were compared for their effect on maintenance of core body temperature (cbt) during 1h of general anaesthesia in pigeons (columba livia domestica). in a randomised crossover trial, cbt decreased significantly less with the conductive device than when the convective device was used (2.5 ± 0.7°c and 3.8 ± 0.9°c, respectively; p<0.01). moreover, cbt was maint ... | 2012 | 22695002 |
| response of maternally isolated rock pigeons (columba livia domestica) to different dietary concentrations of mannan-oligosaccharide. | prebiotics are being used as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry industry with a variable degree of success. this trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary mannan-oligosaccharide (mos) supplementation on growth performance, selected colonic bacterial population, and immune response in maternally-isolated rock pigeons. the pigeons (n = 36) were randomly distributed in 4 treatment groups (n = 9 per group) with 3 replicates or pens (n = 3) in each group. birds we ... | 2012 | 22700504 |
| molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of fatty acid translocase (fat/cd36) in the pigeon (columba livia domestica). | fatty acid translocase (fat/cd36) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays an important role in transporting long-chain fatty acids. in the current study, a full-length cdna of fat/cd36 was first cloned from the intestine of white king pigeon by rapid amplification of cdna ends (race) method. the full-length cdna of pigeon fat/cd36 was 2,282 bp, including a 5'-untranslated region of 224 bp, a 3'-untranslated region of 642 bp, and an open reading frame of 1,416 bp encoding a protein of 471 amin ... | 2012 | 22700514 |
| evidence for discrete landmark use by pigeons during homing. | considerable efforts have been made to investigate how homing pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) are able to return to their loft from distant, unfamiliar sites while the mechanisms underlying navigation in familiar territory have received less attention. with the recent advent of global positioning system (gps) data loggers small enough to be carried by pigeons, the role of visual environmental features in guiding navigation over familiar areas is beginning to be understood, yet, surprisingly ... | 2012 | 22735350 |
| how effective is preening against mobile ectoparasites? an experimental test with pigeons and hippoboscid flies. | birds combat ectoparasites with many defences but the first line of defence is grooming behaviour, which includes preening with the bill and scratching with the feet. preening has been shown to be very effective against ectoparasites. however, most tests have been with feather lice, which are relatively slow moving. less is known about the effectiveness of preening as a defence against more mobile and evasive ectoparasites such as hippoboscid flies. hippoboscids, which feed on blood, have direct ... | 2012 | 22787587 |
| posthatch development of intestinal morphology and digestive enzyme activities in domestic pigeons (columba livia). | the gastrointestinal tract plays an important role in studies of avian ontogenies because of its key function in nutrient intake. the pattern of intestinal development during postnatal growth in domestic pigeons (columba livia), as an altricial bird, would be different from the pattern observed in precocial poultry. in this study, the intestinal morphology, mucosal enzyme activities, and pancreatic enzyme activities were determined from hatch to 14 d of age in pigeons. rapid morphological develo ... | 2012 | 22802182 |
| the ontogeny of nutrient transporter and digestive enzyme gene expression in domestic pigeon (columba livia) intestine and yolk sac membrane during pre- and posthatch development. | to better understand the digestive capacity in domestic pigeons (columba livia), this study was conducted to evaluate nutrient transporters and digestive enzymes gene expression in small intestine and yolk sac membrane (ysm) during pre- and posthatch development. we investigated the oligopeptide transporter pept1, sodium glucose transporter sglt1, glucose transporter glut2, aminopeptidase-n (apn), and sucrase-isomaltase (si). intestine was collected at embryo d 12, 14, and 16, day of hatch, and ... | 2012 | 22802193 |
| intense flight and endotoxin injection elicit similar effects on leukocyte distributions but dissimilar effects on plasma-based immunological indices in pigeons. | most birds rely on flight for survival. yet as an energetically taxing and physiologically integrative process, flight has many repercussions. studying pigeons (columba livia) and employing physiological and immunological indices that are relevant to ecologists working with wild birds, we determined what, if any, acute immune-like responses result from bouts of intense, non-migratory flight. we compared the effects of flight with the effects of a simulated bacterial infection. we also investigat ... | 2012 | 22811245 |
| the long view: a selective review of 40 years of newcastle disease research. | this review is written for the series celebrating the 40th year since the first issue of avian pathology. the aim of the authors was to cover the developments in newcastle disease (nd) research over the last 40 years that they considered significant. during those 40 years there have been several panzootics of this serious disease in poultry and for the last 30 years there has been a continuing panzootic in domestic pigeons, which has spread to wild birds and poultry. the 40-year period began wit ... | 2012 | 22834545 |
| use of observed wild bird activity on poultry farms and a literature review to target species as high priority for avian influenza testing in 2 regions of canada. | the risk of avian influenza outbreaks in poultry is partially dependent on the probability of contact between domestic poultry and wild birds shedding avian influenza (ai) virus. the major objective of this study was to document wild bird activity on poultry farms to determine which wild bird species should be targeted for ai surveillance in canada. we collected data in 2 major poultry producing regions of canada, southwestern ontario and the fraser valley of british columbia, on the relative ab ... | 0 | 22851777 |
| physiological and hormonal aspects in female domestic pigeons (columba livia) associated with breeding stage and experience. | the present study examined the changes in serum biochemical values, hormone profiles and ovary prolactin receptor (prlr) gene expression occurring in female domestic pigeons (columba livia) under different breeding status and experience. the egg-laying pigeons had lower calcium, total protein, albumin, prolactin levels and higher oestrogen levels than those of incubating birds (p < 0.05). first-time breeders had higher (p < 0.05) progesterone levels and lower (p < 0.05) prolactin levels than tha ... | 2013 | 22853555 |
| study of nebulization delivery of aerosolized fluorescent microspheres to the avian respiratory tract. | this study investigated the delivery of an aerosol of monodisperse microspheres to the respiratory tract of birds following aerosol exposure. adult domestic pigeons (columbia livia domestica, n = 5 birds per timed treatment) were exposed to an aerosol of fluorescent 1.0 microm diameter carboxylate microspheres for 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 hr. during the aerosolization period, the birds were free-standing in a plexiglass treatment chamber and the aerosol was delivered using a commercial nebulizer. immedia ... | 2012 | 22856198 |
| prevalence of pigeon circovirus infections in feral pigeons in ljubljana, slovenia. | pigeon circovirus (picv) was detected by real-time pcr in cloacal swabs, pharyngeal swabs, and serum samples taken from 74 feral pigeons (columba livia var. domestica) that were caught at various locations in the city of ljubljana, slovenia. picv infections were detected in the majority of the tested birds. the highest (74.3%) detection rate was observed in the cloacal swabs and the lowest (31.1%) in serum samples. picv dna was more readily detected in the cloacal swabs, pharyngeal swabs, and se ... | 2012 | 22856208 |
| a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification approach for sex identification of columbidae birds. | because it is difficult to differentiate male and female columbidae birds (e.g., columba livia) on the basis of morphology, detection of dna fragments associated with chromobox-helicase-dna binding genes or female-specific genes have been widely used. the objective was to establish a loop-mediated isothermal amplification system involving the 18s ribosomal rna gene and a female-specific gene for sex identification of columba livia birds. unlike polymerase chain reaction (pcr), random amplificati ... | 2012 | 22898019 |
| dosing of adult pigeons with as little as one #9 lead pellet caused severe δ-alad depression, suggesting potential adverse effects in wild populations. | avian wildlife species commonly ingest lead (pb) spent shot or bullet fragments as grit or mistakenly as food. in previous studies in our laboratory and others, the toxicity varied based on the diet as well as type and quantity of pb ingested. in the current study, domestic pigeons were gavaged with 1, 2, or 3 pb pellets and then followed with weekly radiographs and blood physiologic endpoints for 28 days. pellet retention decreased by roughly 50 % per week as pellets were either absorbed or exc ... | 2012 | 22903291 |
| comparison of the metal concentrations in the feathers of three bird species from southern iran. | this study was conducted to determine the concentration of metals, namely cadmium, lead, cobalt and copper, in the feathers of chukar (alectoris chukar), see-see partridge (ammoperdix griseogularis) and rock dove (columba livia) in order to: examine the species, gender and age related variations in trace metal accumulation, and identify any relationships between species. bird samples were collected in february 2012 from the hormod protected area, southern iran and the concentration of metals wer ... | 2012 | 22933174 |
| serotonergic control of ingestive and post-ingestive behaviors in pigeons (columba livia): the role of 5-ht1a receptor-mediated central mechanisms. | central injections of serotonin (5-ht) produce hyperdipsic and hypnogenic behavioral effects that are correlated to decreased fos-immunorreactivity of 5-ht neurons in free-feeding pigeons. we herein (1) probed the role of 5-ht(1a) receptors on the 5-ht- or 8-oh-dpat-evoked postprandial behaviors and (2) described the sleep-waking states (waking, w; drowsiness, d; slow-wave sleep, sws; rapid-eye movement sleep, rems) and sleep architecture of free-feeding pigeons after these treatments. latency, ... | 2013 | 22954717 |
| muscle function during takeoff and landing flight in the pigeon (columba livia). | this study explored the muscle strain and activation patterns of several key flight muscles of the pigeon (columba livia) during takeoff and landing flight. using electromyography (emg) to measure muscle activation, and sonomicrometry to quantify muscle strain, we evaluated the muscle function patterns of the pectoralis, biceps, humerotriceps and scapulotriceps as pigeons flew between two perches. these recordings were analyzed in the context of three-dimensional wing kinematics. to understand t ... | 2012 | 22972885 |
| distribution of prosaposin mrna in the central nervous system of the pigeon (columba livia). | bioassay and immunohistochemical studies have detected the presence of prosaposin in the central nervous system (cns) of mammals. here, first time, we have determined the partial cdna sequence of pigeon prosaposin and mapped the distribution of its mrna in the pigeon cns. the predicted amino acid sequence of pigeon prosaposin showed 93 and 60% identity to chicken and human prosaposin, respectively. in situ hybridization, autoradiograms showed that the prosaposin mrna expression was found in the ... | 2013 | 22994540 |
| new records of haemoproteus and plasmodium (sporozoa: haemosporida) of rock pigeon (columba livia) in india. | the prevalence, intensity and morpho-variants of new species of haemosporida (haemoproteus and plasmodium) from the rock pigeon, columba livia are described and illustrated for the first time from uttar pradesh state of india. thin blood smears from 266 c. livia indicated 55.63% (haemoproteus) and 6.76% (plasmodium) prevalence and 1-6 pars/100 rbc's (haemoproteus) and 1-2 pars/100 rbc's (plasmodium) intensity of infection. the fully grown intracellular gametocytes of haemoproteus were differenti ... | 2011 | 23024498 |
| prevalence and pathological lesion of trichomonas gallinae in pigeons of iran. | this research was conducted to determine the prevalence and pathological lesion of trichomonas gallinae in pigeons in the northeast part of iran. wet mount preparations from the oral cavity/crop of 418 pigeons (columba livia) captured from various locations in khorasan province analyzed for t. gallinae by giemsa's staining between april 2008 and june 2009. a total of 418 pigeons, 37.32% (n = 156) were infected with t. gallinae. macroscopically, the oropharynx of infected pigeons has white, caseo ... | 2011 | 23024501 |
| prevalence of pigeon haemosporidians and effect of infection on biochemical factors in iran. | prevalence of pigeon haemosporidians and effect of infection with haemoproteus columbae on biochemical factors were investigated in 280 wild pigeons (columba livia) captured from various locations in khorasan province, in eastern of iran, between april 2008 and june 2009. infection prevalence with h. columbae and leucocytozoon was detected 50 and 2%, respectively. however, no pigeon showed infection with plasmodium. alanine aminotransferase (alt), aspartate aminotransferase (ast), and albumin we ... | 2011 | 23024504 |
| further tests of pigeons' (columba livia) planning behavior using a computerized plus-shaped maze task. | miyata and fujita in 2008 reported that pigeons, trained to move a target square to a goal square by pecking, plan one step ahead while performing on a plus-shaped maze, that is, the birds frequently made errors to move the target toward the previous goal direction after the goal jumped to another arm. in the present study, pigeons' planning using this maze was further examined. in experiment 1, when goals appeared at all three of the arms during solution, the birds did not choose the old goal a ... | 2012 | 23033743 |
| conditioned suppression/avoidance as a procedure for testing hearing in birds: the domestic pigeon (columba livia). | although the domestic pigeon is commonly used in learning experiments, it is a notoriously difficult subject in auditory psychophysical experiments, even those in which it need only respond when it detects a sound. this is because pigeons tend to respond in the absence of sound-that is, they have a high false-positive rate-which makes it difficult to determine a pigeon's audiogram. however, false positives are easily controlled in the method of conditioned suppression/avoidance, in which a pigeo ... | 2013 | 23055174 |
| new insights into morphological features of hadjelia truncata (spirurida: habronematidae), as revealed by sem. | hadjelia truncata (spirurida: habronematidae) is a nematode found in the gizzard of several avian species. however, it has been reported pathogenic only in pigeons (columba livia), in which it causes severe ventriculitis. scanning electron microscopy (sem) was used to study the morphological aspects of adult worms of this nematode in detail. males and females measured 6.5-9 and 12-16.5 mm, respectively. the bodies were straight with moderate uniform thickness in both males and females, narrowing ... | 2013 | 23064811 |
| do pigeons (columba livia) seek information when they have insufficient knowledge? | seeking information in uncertain situations has been interpreted as evidence of metacognitive abilities. we examined whether pigeons could monitor their own knowledge states and seek new information when in need. in experiment 1, we required the pigeons to learn novel sequences of responses for various trios of illustrations. on half of the trials, subjects were given the opportunity to ask for "hints" as to the next correct response in a sequence. if the subjects completed a trial correctly wit ... | 2013 | 23065184 |
| [new drugs for small animals in 2011]. | in 2011, nine active pharmaceutical ingredients were released on the german market for small animals. those are the cyclooxygenase-2-inhibitor cimicoxib (cimalgex®), the opium-derived analgesic methadone (comfortan®), the antiemetic metoclopramide (emeprid®), the corticosteroid mometasone furoate in combination with the antifungal agent posaconazole (posatex®), the fluorchinolone-antibiotic pradofloxacin (veraflox®), the insecticide spinosad (comfortis®), the cytostatic toceranib (palladia®) and ... | 2012 | 23076019 |
| not just passengers: pigeons, columba livia, can learn homing routes while flying with a more experienced conspecific. | for animals that travel in groups, the directional choices of conspecifics are potentially a rich source of information for spatial learning. in this study, we investigate how the opportunity to follow a locally experienced demonstrator affects route learning by pigeons over repeated homing flights. this test of social influences on navigation takes advantage of the individually distinctive routes that pigeons establish when trained alone. we found that pigeons learn routes just as effectively w ... | 2013 | 23135677 |
| distribution and characterization of doublecortin-expressing cells and fibers in the brain of the adult pigeon (columba livia). | doublecortin (dcx) is a microtubule-associated protein essential for the migration of immature neurons in the developing and adult vertebrate brain. herein, the distribution of dcx-immunoreactive (dcx-ir) cells in the prosencephalon of the adult pigeon (columba livia) is described, in order to collect the evidence of their immature neural phenotype and to investigate their putative place of origin. bipolar and multipolar dcx-ir cells were observed to be widespread throughout the parenchyma of th ... | 2013 | 23137815 |
| immunohistochemical detection of the putative mechanoproteins asic2 and trpv4 in avian herbst sensory corpuscles. | the avian herbst corpuscles are the equivalent of the pacinian corpuscles in mammals, and detect vibration and the movement of joints and feathers. therefore, they can be regarded as rapidly adapting low-threshold mechanoreceptors. in recent years, it has been establish that some ion channels are involved in mechanosensation and are present in both mechanosensory neurons and mechanoreceptors. here we have used immunohistochemistry to localize some putative mechanoproteins in the herbst corpuscle ... | 2013 | 23152301 |
| striatal dopamine d1 receptors are involved in the dissociation of learning based on reward-magnitude. | here we investigate the contribution of striatal dopamine receptors (d1) to the influence of reward-magnitude on learning. pigeons (columba livia) were trained on a discrimination-task with two pairs of stimuli; correct discrimination resulted in a large reward in one pair of stimuli and in a small reward in the other pair. acquisition of the discrimination-task was accompanied by intracranial injections to the medial striatum, either of a dopamine-antagonist (sch23390) or of vehicle. in the con ... | 2013 | 23159320 |
| sex-specific effects of an avian malaria parasite on an insect vector: support for the resource limitation hypothesis. | many parasites, such as those that cause malaria, depend on an insect vector for transmission between vertebrate hosts. theory predicts that parasites should have little or no effect on the transmission ability of vectors, e.g., parasites should not reduce vector life span as this will limit the temporal window of opportunity for transmission. however, if the parasite and vector compete for limited resources, there may be an unavoidable physiological cost to the vector (resource limitation hypot ... | 2012 | 23236915 |
| sunk cost and work ethic effects reflect suboptimal choice between different work requirements. | we investigated suboptimal choice between different work requirements in pigeons (columba livia), namely the sunk cost effect, an irrational tendency to persist with an initial investment, despite the availability of a better option. pigeons chose between two keys, one with a fixed work requirement to food of 20 pecks (left key), and the other with a work requirement to food which varied across conditions (center key). on some trials within each session, such choices were preceded by an investme ... | 2013 | 23274847 |
| motion parallax processing in pigeon (columba livia) pretectal neurons. | in the visual system of invertebrates and vertebrates there are specialised groups of motion-sensitive neurons, with large receptive fields, which are optimally tuned to respond to optic flow produced by the animals' movement through the 3-d world. from their response characteristics, shared frame of reference with the vestibular or inertial system, and anatomical connections, these neurons have been implicated in the stabilisation of retinal images, the control of posture and balance, and the a ... | 2013 | 23294181 |
| three-dimensional organisation of rna-processing machinery in avian growing oocyte nucleus. | chromosome architecture and assorted nuclear compartments play an essential role in rna transcription and processing. growing vertebrate oocytes represent an advantageous model to study the principles of nuclear structure and function. in this article, the data on three-dimensional (3d) organisation of intact and non-deformed oocyte nuclei (germinal vesicles) in four species of birds (domestic chicken, japanese quail, rock pigeon and chaffinch) obtained by confocal laser scanning microscopy are ... | 2012 | 23318709 |
| the parasitic communities of the rock pigeon columba livia from iraq: component and importance. | the main objectives of the present study were to investigate the rock pigeon parasitic communities from iraq as well as reporting on the prevalence and intensity of various infections from both sexes. | 2012 | 23339946 |
| genomic diversity and evolution of the head crest in the rock pigeon. | the geographic origins of breeds and the genetic basis of variation within the widely distributed and phenotypically diverse domestic rock pigeon (columba livia) remain largely unknown. we generated a rock pigeon reference genome and additional genome sequences representing domestic and feral populations. we found evidence for the origins of major breed groups in the middle east and contributions from a racing breed to north american feral populations. we identified the gene ephb2 as a strong ca ... | 2013 | 23371554 |
| pcr-based diagnosis, molecular characterization and detection of atypical strains of avian chlamydia psittaci in companion and wild birds. | chlamydiosis is one of the most important infectious diseases of birds. in this study, 253 clinical samples were taken from 27 bird species belonging to seven orders. thirty-two (12.6%) samples were positive for chlamydia psittaci major outer membrane gene (ompa) dna by a nested polymerase chain reaction (pcr). twelve nested pcr-positive specimens were typed by ompa gene-based pcr-restricted fragment length polymorphism, using ctu/ctl primers and alui restriction enzyme. four restriction pattern ... | 2013 | 23391180 |
| the first description of a congenital right ventricular cardiac aneurysm in a pigeon (columba livia domestica, cluj blue tumbler pigeon). | congenital cardiac aneurysms and diverticula are rare cardiac outpouchings first described in humans. our paper describes a congenital cardiac aneurysm in the wall of the right ventricle in a pigeon. a number of pigeons (n = 23), cluj blue tumblers (aves: columbiformes: columbidae: columba livia domestica), were found dead (accidental poisoning) in october 5, 2011 in cluj-napoca, central romania. one individual (a 7-mo-old male) presented with a thin-walled pouch in the wall of the right cardiac ... | 2012 | 23397857 |
| modulation of the host th1 immune response in pigeon protozoal encephalitis caused by sarcocystis calchasi. | pigeon protozoal encephalitis (ppe) is an emerging central-nervous disease of domestic pigeons (columba livia f. domestica) reported in germany and the united states. it is caused by the apicomplexan parasite sarcocystis calchasi which is transmitted by accipter hawks. in contrast to other members of the apicomplexa such as toxoplasma and plasmodium, the knowledge about the pathophysiology and host manipulation of sarcocystis is scarce and almost nothing is known about ppe. here we show by mrna ... | 2013 | 23398807 |
| evaluation of three miniplate systems for fracture stabilization in pigeons (columba livia). | bone plates are rarely used in avian fracture management for several reasons, and until recently, there was no plating system considered appropriate for use in birds with a body mass less than 500 g. to evaluate 3 different miniplate systems in avian fracture repair, 3 groups (a, b, and c) of 6 pigeons (columba livia) each were used. the left ulna and radius of the pigeons were transected, and the ulna was stabilized. in group a, a 1.3-mm adaption plate was used. in group b, a limited contact sy ... | 2012 | 23409431 |
| an experimental test of the capture-restraint protocol for estimating the acute stress response. | stress-induced increases in glucocorticoids (gcs) modulate behavior and are key in directing energy reserves. the capture-restraint protocol was developed to experimentally stimulate and quantify the magnitude of the acute stress response by comparing baseline gc levels with those collected after restraining a subject for a period of time, typically 30 min. this protocol has been used extensively in the field and lab, yet few studies have investigated whether it parallels hypothalamic-pituitary- ... | 2013 | 23434787 |
| effects of bridge construction on songbirds and small mammals at blennerhassett island, ohio river, usa. | construction of man-made objects such as roads and bridges may have impacts on wildlife depending on species or location. we investigated songbirds and small mammals along the ohio river, wv, usa at a new bridge both before and after construction and at a bridge crossing that was present throughout the study. comparisons were made at each site over three time periods (1985-1987 [phase i] and 1998-2000 [phase ii] [pre-construction], 2007-2009 [phase iii] [post-construction]) and at three distance ... | 2013 | 23435850 |
| detection and genotyping of toxoplasma gondii strains isolated from birds in the southwest of iran. | 1. the aim of this work was to determine the frequency of occurrence of toxoplasma gondii and genetically analyse isolates from a number of avian hosts in the southwest of iran (khuzestan province). the frequency of t. gondii was determined in free-range chickens (gallus domesticus), sparrows (passer domesticus), pigeons (columba livia) and starlings (sturnus vulgaris). 2. isolates obtained from toxoplasma-infected birds were subjected to molecular typing by pcr-restriction fragment length polym ... | 2013 | 23444856 |
| [sense organs on palps and fore tarsi of gamasid mites (parasitiformes, rhinonyssidae), parasites of the nasal cavity of the great tit, the rock dove, and the eurasian coot]. | the main sensory organs (the palpal organ and the tarsal sensory complex) were examined by scanning electron microscopy method in parasites of the nasal cavity of the great tit parus major (ptilonyssus sairae, ptilonyssus pari), the rock dove columba livia (mesonyssus melloi), and the eurasian coot fulica atra (rallinyssus caudistigmus). it was shown that differences in the topography of sensilla within the tarsal complex correspond to the taxonomic relations between species and genera, whereas ... | 2012 | 23458012 |
| tapeworms of rock dove and domestic chicken in taif area, saudi arabia. | the present study aimed to identify the tapeworms that parasitize the rock dove columba livia palastinae and domestic chicken gallus gallus domesticus in taif governorate, saudi arabia. a total of 115 rock doves and 105 domestic chicken have been examined. birds were brought in from the wells and farms inside and outside the city of taif. in rock doves, the percentage of infection was recorded as cotugnia digonopora 5.21%, hymenolepis carioca 10.43%, raillietina echinobothrida 27.82%, raillietin ... | 2012 | 23469626 |
| a magnetic pulse does not affect homing pigeon navigation: a gps tracking experiment. | the cues by which homing pigeons are able to return to a home loft after displacement to unfamiliar release sites remain debated. a number of experiments in which migratory birds have been treated with a magnetic pulse have produced a disruption in their orientation, which argues that a ferrimagnetic sense is used for navigation in birds. one previous experiment has also indicated an effect of magnetic pulses on homing pigeon navigation, although with inconsistent results. previous studies have ... | 2013 | 23470658 |
| pigeons integrate past knowledge across sensory modalities. | advanced inferring abilities that are used for predator recognition and avoidance have been documented in a variety of animal species that produce alarm calls. in contrast, evidence for cognitive abilities that underpin predation avoidance in nonalarm-calling species is restricted to associative learning of heterospecific alarm calls and predator presence. we investigated cognitive capacities that underlie the perception and computation of external information beyond associative learning by addr ... | 2013 | 23487497 |
| a multifactorial study of variation in interclutch interval and annual reproductive success in the feral pigeon,columba livia. | we examined the relative ability of multiple factors to explain variation in two interrelated life-history traits, interclutch interval and annual reproductive success, in feral pigeons. seasonal influences, brood size, and female body mass and tarsus length explained significant amounts of variation in interclutch interval in this population, while female plumage phenotype was insignificant. these results are discussed in terms of resource allocation and responses to environmental heterogeneity ... | 1989 | 23494350 |
| phylogenetic analysis of columbid herpesvirus-1 in rock pigeons, birds of prey and non-raptorial birds in poland. | the identity of herpesviruses isolated in europe from domestic pigeons (columbid herpesvirus-1 - cohv-1) as well as falcons and owls remains unknown. all these herpesviruses are antigenically and genetically related. the falcons and owls are thought to have become infected during the ingestion of pigeon meat thus suggesting the virus's capacity to infect a wide range of hosts. the aim of the conducted study was to detect the occurrence of cohv-1 and estimating the similarities and differences in ... | 2013 | 23517888 |
| salmonella enterica isolated from pigeon (columba livia) in egypt. | understanding the association between human salmonellosis cases and animal sources is an important epidemiological factor needed to successfully control the spread of the infection within communities. to determine the extent to which pigeons might harbor this pathogen and pose a risk to the human population in egypt, we screened pigeons in cairo for the presence of salmonella relevant to public health and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. the isolated serotypes recovered from pigeon fecal sa ... | 2013 | 23531124 |
| prevalence of haemoproteus columbae and trichomonas gallinae in pigeons (columba domestica) in isfahan, iran. | the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of haemoproteus columbae and trichomonas gallinae in pigeons (columba domestica) in isfahan, iran. study was done on 100 pigeons from january to june 2010 in isfahan located in south of iran. oropharyngeal swabs were taken from all birds. also blood samples were obtained from wing vein and thin smears were prepared from them. all smears were stained by giemsa and were examined by immersion. out of 100 oropharyngeal swab smears 57 (57%) were p ... | 2011 | 23542461 |
| serum protein profiles in domestic pigeons naturally infected with mycobacterium avium subsp. avium. | avian tuberculosis is an important disease affecting all species of birds and is most often caused by mycobacterium avium or mycobacterium genavense. blood proteins are important diagnostic constituents in gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, and infectious diseases. | 2013 | 23577895 |
| pigeons discriminate objects on the basis of abstract familiarity. | knowledge of previous encounters with conspecifics is thought to be beneficial as it allows fast and appropriate behavioral responses toward those animals. this level of categorization goes beyond perceptual similarity and requires the individual to refer to a more abstract common referent, namely familiarity. it has been shown that pigeons are able to form functional classes of conspecifics that are based on familiarity. to date, we do not know whether this ability is restricted to the social c ... | 2013 | 23584617 |
| domestic pigeons. | 2013 | 23618660 | |
| effects of in ovo injection of carbohydrate solution on small intestine development in domestic pigeons (columba livia). | the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that in ovo injection of carbohydrates into pigeon (columba livia) amnion may improve the small intestine development. at d 14.5 of incubation, 80 fertile eggs were injected with 200 μl of carbohydrate solution, and 80 control eggs were not injected. the carbohydrate solution (wt/vol) contained 2.5% maltose + 2.5% sucrose, all dissolved in 0.75% saline. twelve eggs from each treatment were randomly sampled at d 16 of incubation and the day o ... | 2013 | 23658350 |
| characteristics of pigeon paramyxovirus serotype-1 isolates (ppmv-1) from the russian federation from 2001 to 2009. | monitoring programs for highly dangerous avian diseases in the russian federation from 2001 to 2009 detected 77 samples that were pcr positive for avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 (apmv-1) from sick or dead feral and domestic pigeons. nucleotide sequences of the fusion (f) gene, including a nucleotide sequence encoding the f protein cleavage site, were determined for these isolates. all of the studied isolates possessed virulent f0 protein cleavage sites (112krkkrf117, 112rrqkrf117, or 112krqkrf11 ... | 2013 | 23678722 |
| a potential role for parasites in the maintenance of color polymorphism in urban birds. | urbanization is a major challenge for biodiversity conservation, yet the evolutionary processes taking place in urbanized areas remain poorly known. human activities in cities set new selective forces in motion which need to be investigated to predict the evolutionary responses of animal species living in urban areas. in this study, we investigated the role of urbanization and parasites in the maintenance of melanin-based color polymorphism in the feral pigeon columba livia. using a correlative ... | 2013 | 23685880 |
| ethnobotanic importance of plants used in pigeon-breeding in eastern spain. | the importance that birds of the columbidae family have had throughout history is visible on the mediterranean coast. pigeon fancying is the art of breeding and training carrier pigeons and currently, several breeds exist. the sport of racing pigeons consists in covering a distance at maximum possible speed. however, pigeon breeding has another modality called "sport pigeon", where several males follow a female. this study focusses on ethnobotanical knowledge of native and exotic plant species t ... | 2013 | 23688245 |
| seroprevalence of chlamydia psittaci infection in market-sold adult chickens, ducks and pigeons in north-western china. | chlamydia psittaci, the agent of psittacosis in humans, infects a wide range of avian species. to assess the risk of psittacosis posed by domestic birds in the urban environment, the prevalence of c. psittaci antibodies in 413 chickens (gallus domesticus; 305 caged and 108 free-range), 334 ducks (anas spp.; 111 caged and 223 free-range) and 312 pigeons (columba livia) in lanzhou, north-western china, was detected using the indirect haemagglutination assay. the specific antibodies were found in s ... | 2013 | 23699067 |
| manipulation of primary sex ratio in birds: lessons from the homing pigeon (columba livia domestica). | across various animal taxa not only the secondary sex ratio but also the primary sex ratio (at conception) shows significant deviations from the expected equal proportions of sons and daughters. birds are especially intriguing to study this phenomenon as avian females are the heterogametic sex (zw); therefore sex determination might be under direct control of the mother. avian sex ratios vary in relation to environmental or maternal condition, which can also affect the production of maternal ste ... | 2013 | 23720529 |
| testing visual short-term memory of pigeons (columba livia) and a rhesus monkey (macaca mulatta) with a location change detection task. | change detection is commonly used to assess capacity (number of objects) of human visual short-term memory (vstm). comparisons with the performance of non-human animals completing similar tasks have shown similarities and differences in object-based vstm, which is only one aspect ("what") of memory. another important aspect of memory, which has received less attention, is spatial short-term memory for "where" an object is in space. in this article, we show for the first time that a monkey and pi ... | 2013 | 23754273 |
| ctx-m-15-type extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing escherichia coli from wild birds in germany. | the isolation of escherichia coli from wild birds in germany revealed the occurrence of four ctx-m-15-producing strains from four different birds (2.3% of 172 isolates). ctx-m producers were recovered from two eurasian blackbirds, one rock pigeon and a greater white-fronted goose. all ctx-m-producing e. coli revealed a clonal relationship as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (pfge) and were assigned to multilocus sequence type (st) 648. our findings suggest the emergence of a new cl ... | 2010 | 23766249 |
| a simple method to count total faecal capillaria worm eggs in racing pigeons (columba livia). | capillaria columbae and c. longicollis are fine threadworms found in racing pigeons' small intestines that produce a characteristic lemon shaped bipolar egg. clinically, capillariasis in racing pigeons can present as severe illness and it has been suggested that worms may affect race performance. a major aim of this study was to validate a cheap, simple to perform flotation technique for counting capillaria worm eggs in racing pigeon droppings. trials using reference samples of pigeon droppings ... | 2013 | 23830686 |
| genotypic diversity of environmental cryptococcus neoformans isolates from northern portugal. | the cryptococcus neoformans/c. gattii species complex members are the main agents of systemic cryptococcosis. this disease is believed to be acquired from the environment via fungal cell inhalation. often, isolates recovered from environmental and clinical sources have proven to be genotypically similar. we assessed the occurrence of c. neoformans and c. gattii in environmental substrates collected in a portuguese region. twenty-eight isolates were identified as c. neoformans - five from decayin ... | 2014 | 23848429 |
| experimental evaluation of flow-induced noise in level flight of the pigeon (columba livia). | the experimental method employed in an anechoic wind tunnel to characterize flow-induced noise of the pigeon (columba livia) during level flight is described in this letter. a live pigeon was managed to maintain a steady level flight at the wind tunnel test flow of 15 m/s. a microphone array was fabricated, and the conventional beamforming method was then adopted to yield the corresponding narrowband acoustic images and broadband sound pressure spectral results. the results justified the experim ... | 2013 | 23862907 |
| effects of in ovo feeding of carbohydrates on hatchability, body weight, and energy status in domestic pigeons (columba livia). | the effects of in ovo feeding of carbohydrates on hatchability, bw, yolk sac weights (ysw), pectoral muscle weights (pmw), liver and pectoral muscle glycogen concentration, serum glucose level, and hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity of domestic pigeons, hatched from eggs laid by a 40-wk-old breeder flock, were investigated. at 14.5 of incubation, fertile eggs were injected with 200 μl of 1.5% maltose (m) + 1.5% sucrose (s), 2.5% m + 2.5% s, 3.5% m + 3.5% s, or 4.5% m + 4.5% s in 0.75% saline ... | 2013 | 23873560 |
| theoretical modelling of wakes from retractable flapping wings in forward flight. | a free-wake method is used to simulate the wake from retractable, jointed wings. the method serves to complement existing experimental studies that visualise flying animal wakes. simulated wakes are shown to be numerically convergent for a case study of the rock pigeon in minimum power cruising flight. the free-wake model is robust in simulating wakes for a range of wing geometries and dynamics without requiring changes to the numerical method. the method is found to be useful for providing low ... | 2013 | 23882442 |
| testing cognitive navigation in unknown territories: homing pigeons choose different targets. | homing pigeons (columba livia) are believed to adopt a map-and-compass strategy to find their way home. surprisingly, to date a clear demonstration of the use of a cognitive map in free-flight experiments is missing. in this study, we investigated whether homing pigeons use a mental map in which - at an unknown release site - their own position, the home loft and a food loft are represented simultaneously. in order to test this, homing pigeons were trained to fly to a 25-30 km distant food loft. ... | 2013 | 23885090 |
| color differences among feral pigeons (columba livia) are not attributable to sequence variation in the coding region of the melanocortin-1 receptor gene (mc1r). | genetic variation at the melanocortin-1 receptor (mc1r) gene is correlated with melanin color variation in many birds. feral pigeons (columba livia) show two major melanin-based colorations: a red coloration due to pheomelanic pigment and a black coloration due to eumelanic pigment. furthermore, within each color type, feral pigeons display continuous variation in the amount of melanin pigment present in the feathers, with individuals varying from pure white to a full dark melanic color. colorat ... | 2013 | 23915680 |
| epidemiological investigations on the possible risk of distribution of zoonotic bacteria through apparently healthy homing pigeons. | clinically healthy homing pigeons may serve as an unnoticed reservoir for zoonotic bacteria. hence, healthy pigeons from 172 different racing pigeon lofts were examined for salmonella serovars, campylobacter spp. and chlamydophila (chlamydia) psittaci. two samplings were performed during the racing season in summer (1242 adult and 1164 juvenile pigeons) and two during winter (1074 adult pigeons). each sampling was accompanied by a questionnaire to identify risk factors for positive lofts. betwee ... | 2013 | 23930968 |
| an avifaunal survey of mesic manmade ecosystems "oases" in algerian hot-hyperarid lands. | man made ecosystems of dry lands are key habitats due to their ecological characteristics to survey biodiversity. this study investigated bird diversity in three oases of the northern algerian sahara (i.e., biskra in 2006, oued souf in 2008 and ouargla in 2009), by using the spot-mapping method. bird density "d" (pairs/10 ha), species richness "s" (number species), diversity (shannon index) "h'" (in bits), and evenness "e" varied from one oasis to another (biskra: d = 98.5, s = 47, h' = 4.49, e ... | 2013 | 23961217 |
| plasma protein electrophoresis in birds: comparison of a semiautomated agarose gel system with an automated capillary system. | plasma agarose gel electrophoresis (age) is recognized as a very reliable diagnostic tool in avian medicine. within the last 10 years, new electrophoresis techniques such as capillary zone electrophoresis (cze) have emerged in human laboratory medicine but have never been investigated in birds. to investigate the use of cze in birds and to compare it with age, plasma samples from 30 roosters (gallus gallus), 20 black kites (milvus migrans), and 10 racing pigeons (columba livia) were analyzed by ... | 2013 | 23971218 |