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a bacterially-expressed recombinant envelope protein from usutu virus induces neutralizing antibodies in rabbits.recently, an emerging flavivirus, usutu virus (usuv), has caused an epidemic among birds in europe, resulting in a massive die-off in eurasian blackbirds. currently found only in europe and africa, it can be envisioned that usutu virus will follow the path of other flaviviruses, like west nile virus and zika virus, and will spread via its mosquito vectors and bird hosts to other parts of the world. several cases of human infections by usutu virus have already been published. anticipating this sp ...202133669414
a sentinel serological study in selected zoo animals to assess early detection of west nile and usutu virus circulation in slovenia.monitoring infectious diseases is a crucial part of preventive veterinary medicine in zoological collections. this zoo environment contains a great variety of animal species that are in contact with wildlife species as a potential source of infectious diseases. wild birds may be a source of west nile virus (wnv) and usutu (usuv) virus, which are both emerging pathogens of rising concern. the aim of this study was to use zoo animals as sentinels for the early detection of wnv and usuv in slovenia ...202133917545
west nile and usutu viruses' surveillance in birds of the province of ferrara, italy, from 2015 to 2019.west nile (wnv) and usutu (usuv) viruses are mosquito-borne flaviviruses. thanks to their importance as zoonotic diseases, a regional plan for surveillance of arboviruses was implemented in emilia-romagna in 2009. the province of ferrara belongs to the emilia-romagna region, and it is an endemic territory for these viruses, with favorable ecological conditions for abundance of mosquitoes and wild birds. from 2015 to 2019, we collected 1842 dead-found birds at a wildlife rehabilitation center, wh ...202134372573
elevated risk of bacterial vaginosis among users of the copper intrauterine device: a prospective longitudinal cohort study.limited evidence suggests that the nonhormonal contraceptive copper intrauterine device (cu-iud) may increase bacterial vaginosis (bv) risk, possibly due to increased volume and duration of menses, a common side effect of cu-iud use. although increases in bleeding typically resolve within 6-12 months following initiation, evaluations of the association between cu-iud and bv have not included more than 6 months of follow-up.202132505132
migratory birds as disseminators of ticks and the tick-borne pathogens borrelia bacteria and tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) virus: a seasonal study at ottenby bird observatory in south-eastern sweden.birds can act as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens and can also disperse pathogen-containing ticks to both nearby and remote localities. the aims of this study were to estimate tick infestation patterns on migratory birds and the prevalence of different borrelia species and tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev) in ticks removed from birds in south-eastern sweden.202033272317
study of usutu virus neuropathogenicity in mice and human cellular models.usutu virus (usuv), an african mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to west nile virus, was first isolated in south africa in 1959. usuv emerged in europe two decades ago, causing notably massive mortality in eurasian blackbirds. usuv is attracting increasing attention due to its potential for emergence and its rapid spread in europe in recent years. although mainly asymptomatic or responsible for mild clinical signs, usuv was recently described as being associated with neurological disorde ...202032324736
epidemiology of usutu virus: the european scenario.usutu virus (usuv) is an emerging arbovirus isolated in 1959 (usutu river, swaziland). previously restricted to sub-saharan africa, the virus was introduced in europe in 1996. while the usuv has received little attention in africa, the virus emergence has prompted numerous studies with robust epidemiological surveillance programs in europe. the natural transmission cycle of usuv involves mosquitoes (vectors) and birds (amplifying hosts) with humans and other mammals considered incidental ("dead- ...202032858963
clinical validation of the aptima bacterial vaginosis and aptima candida/trichomonas vaginitis assays: results from a prospective multicenter clinical study.infectious vaginitis due to bacterial vaginosis (bv), vulvovaginal candidiasis (vvc), and trichomonas vaginalis accounts for a significant proportion of all gynecologic visits in the united states. a prospective multicenter clinical study was conducted to validate the performance of two new in vitro diagnostic transcription-mediated amplification nucleic acid amplification tests (naats) for diagnosis of bv, vvc, and trichomoniasis. patient- and clinician-collected vaginal-swab samples obtained f ...202031748322
the effect of calendula officinalis versus metronidazole on bacterial vaginosis in women: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.bacterial vaginosis (bv) is a common disorder among women of reproductive age. this study aimed to compare the effect of a calendula officinalis extract-based cream and metronidazole on bv among women of reproductive age. in this study, 80 women of reproductive age with bv were randomly assigned to the c. officinalis (n = 40) or metronidazole (n = 40). diagnosis of bv was confirmed when at least 3 of the 4 amsel criteria were met (ph >4.5, whitish grey or thin homogeneous discharge, release of a ...202029441319
free-ranging avifauna as a source of generalist parasites for captive birds in zoological settings: an overview of parasite records and potential for cross-transmission.captive birds in zoological settings often harbor parasites, but little information is available about the potential for free-ranging avifauna to act as a source of infection. this review summarizes the gastrointestinal parasites found in zoo birds globally and in seven common free-ranging avian species [mallard (anas platyrhynchos), eurasian blackbird (turdus merula), common starling (sturnus vulgaris), eurasian jackdaw (corvus monedula), house sparrow (passer domesticus), european robin (erith ...202033005675
experimental usutu virus infection in domestic canaries serinus canaria.usutu virus (usuv) is a neurotropic flavivirus closely related to west nile virus (wnv). its enzootic cycle mainly involves mosquitoes and birds. human infection can occur with occasional, but sometimes severe, neurological complications. since its emergence and spread in europe over the last two decades, usuv has been linked to significant avian outbreaks, especially among passeriformes, including european blackbirds (turdus merula). strikingly, no in vivo avian model exists so far to study thi ...202032023880
effects of forest structure on the interaction between avian hosts, dipteran vectors and haemosporidian parasites.forest habitats are important biodiversity refuges for a wide variety of bird species. parasitism may modulate host species presence and abundance, and parasite effects can change according to forest management practices. such processes are not well studied in vector-borne avian haemosporidians. we analyzed the effects of forest management on bird-dipteran-haemosporidian interactions, using seven common bird species in managed and unmanaged beech forest habitats in northeastern germany. we assum ...202032814584
getting under the birds' skin: tissue tropism of borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in naturally and experimentally infected avian hosts.wild birds are frequently exposed to the zoonotic tick-borne bacteria borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), and some bird species act as reservoirs for some borrelia genospecies. studying the tropism of borrelia in the host, how it is sequestered in different organs, and whether it is maintained in circulation and/or in the host's skin is important to understand pathogenicity, infectivity to vector ticks and reservoir competency.we evaluated tissue dissemination of borrelia in blackbirds (turd ...202031612324
treating male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis (stepup): a protocol for a randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical effectiveness of male partner treatment for reducing the risk of bv recurrence.bacterial vaginosis (bv) is estimated to affect 1 in 3 women globally and is associated with obstetric and gynaecological sequelae. current recommended therapies have good short-term efficacy but 1 in 2 women experience bv recurrence within 6 months of treatment. evidence of male carriage of bv-organisms suggests that male partners may be reinfecting women with bv-associated bacteria (henceforth referred to as bv-organisms) and impacting on the efficacy of treatment approaches solely directed to ...202033176727
mitochondrial dna in ixodus ricinus (acari: ixodidae) on birds reflects ticks' transportation routes to lista, norway.ticks are important pathogen vectors, and large mammals and birds have the greatest potential for dispersing them. to study tick dispersal by migrating birds, we have analysed genetic variations in mitochondrial dna control region from ixodes ricinus from northward migrating blackbird, turdus merula, and (european) robin, erithacus rubecula, at the lista bird observatory in southwestern norway. we compared their genetic structure with that of resident tick populations from areas covering their e ...202033130437
detection of usutu virus infection in wild birds in the united kingdom, 2020.in august 2020, as part of a long-term disease surveillance programme, usutu virus was detected in five eurasian blackbirds (turdus merula) and one house sparrow (passer domesticus) from greater london, england. this was initially detected by reverse transcription-pcr and was confirmed by virus isolation and by immunohistochemical detection of flavivirus in tissues. phylogenetic analysis identified usutu virus african 3.2 lineage, which is prevalent in the netherlands and belgium, suggesting a p ...202033063656
structural and proteomic analyses of vitelline membrane proteins of blackbird (turdus merula) and song thrush (turdus philomelos).in this study, we aimed to perform structural and proteomic analysis of the vitelline membrane (vm) of two species birds belonging to the family turdidae: blackbird (turdus merula) and song thrush (turdus philomelos). we performed structural analyses using scanning electron microscopy. the vm proteins were identified and compared to the best-known chicken vm proteins. according to our results, vm of both species has a typical three-layered structure: the outer layer, inner layer, and the continu ...202033168893
two new species of the genus psorosa zeller, 1846 (lepidoptera: pyralidae, phycitinae) from south kazakhstan.psorosa desaturata sp. nov. and psorosa pseudoelbursella sp. nov. are described from karatau mts. in south kazakhstan. male and female genitalia of the species as well as the habitus of the imagines are illustrated. psorosa desaturata sp. nov. is similar to psorosa nucleolella (möschler, 1866) and psorosa mediterranella amsel, 1954. psorosa pseudoelbursella sp. nov. belongs to the psorosa maraschella caradja, 1910 species group.202033056463
usutu virus epizootic in belgium in 2017 and 2018: evidence of virus endemization and ongoing introduction events.wildlife surveillance allowed the monitoring of the zoonotic mosquito-borne usutu virus (usuv) in birds and bats (pipistrellus pipistrellus) in southern belgium in 2017 and 2018. usuv-rna was detected in 69 birds (of 253) from 15 species, among which 7 species had not previously been reported to be susceptible to the infection. similarly, 2 bats (of 10) were detected positive by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (rt-qpcr). usuv-associated lesions were mainly found in e ...202031479400
presence and diversity of mixed avian plasmodium spp. infections in introduced birds whose distribution overlapped with threatened new zealand endemic birds.aims: to determine the presence of infection and co-infection of plasmodium lineages in introduced birds at translocation sites for the north island saddleback (philesturnus rufusater), to investigate their role as plasmodium spp. reservoirs.methods: blood samples were collected from introduced bird species, with a special focus on blackbirds (turdus merula) and song thrushes (turdus philomelos), at six locations in the north island of new zealand that were the origin, or translocation sites, fo ...202031645214
notes on taxonomy and distribution of some palaearctic ancylosis zeller, 1839 (lepidoptera: pyralidae: phycitinae).the taxonomy of several ancylosis species is revised. four new synonyms are established: ancylosis brunneonervella roesler, 1970 syn. nov. of ancylosis albicosta (staudinger, 1870); ancylosis psammicola (roesler, 1970) syn. nov. of ancylosis leucocephala (staudinger, 1879); ancylosis unicolorella (roesler, 1970) syn. nov. of ancylosis pallida (staudinger, 1870). the following taxa are re-instated as separate species: ancylosis delicatella (möschler, 1860) spec. rev., stat. nov. and ancylosis cil ...202033056266
migrant blackbirds, turdus merula, have higher plasma levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to residents, but not enhanced fatty acid unsaturation index.birds have been observed to have dietary preferences for unsaturated fatty acids during migration. polyunsaturated fatty acids (pufas) may increase the exercise performance of migrant birds; however, pufas are also peroxidation prone and might therefore incur increased costs in terms of enhanced oxidative damage in migratory individuals. to shed light on this potential constraint, we analyzed plasma fatty acid (fa) composition and estimated the unsaturation index as a proxy for susceptibility to ...202033005375
physician awareness and adherence to clinical practice guidelines in the diagnosis of vaginitis patients: a retrospective chart review.vaginitis is one of the main causes of primary care and gynecological visits in the united states. the most common infectious causes are bacterial vaginosis (bv), vulvovaginal candidiasis (vvc), and trichomoniasis. a physician survey was conducted to measure awareness of vaginitis clinical guidelines and availability of in-office point-of-care (poc) diagnostic tools. participants were asked to perform a chart review to evaluate diagnostic practices for their symptomatic vaginitis patients. a tot ...202032985960
the effect of quercus (oak gal) vaginal cream versus metronidazole vaginal gel on bacterial vaginosis: a double‑blind randomized controlled trial.this study was aimed to compare the effect of an oak gall extract‑based cream and a metronidazole gel on the bacterial vaginosis among women in reproductive age.202032951746
impact of microablative fractional radiofrequency on the vaginal health, microbiota, and cellularity of postmenopausal women.we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of microablative fractional radiofrequency (mafrf) in the non-hormonal treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause.202032756817
local population structure and seasonal variability of borrelia garinii genotypes in ixodes ricinus ticks, slovakia.lyme disease (ld) is the most common tick-borne human disease in europe, and borrelia garinii, which is associated with avian reservoirs, is one of the most genetically diverse and widespread human pathogenic genospecies from the b. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex. the clinical manifestations of ld are known to vary between regions and depend on the genetic strain even within borrelia genospecies. it is thus of importance to explore the genetic diversity of such pathogenic borreliae for th ...202032455590
effects on vaginal microbiota restoration and cervical epithelialization in positive hpv patients undergoing vaginal treatment with carboxy-methyl-beta-glucan.evaluate the effects of carboxy-methyl-beta-glucan on cervical epithelialization and on the vaginal microbiota in patients with hpv infection or low-grade cervical preneoplastic lesion (cin 1).202032420349
five percent monolaurin vaginal gel for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.the aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that 5% monolaurin vaginal gel, a naturally occurring monoglyceride shown to have antimicrobial effects on vaginal pathogens without affecting lactobacillus species, cures bacterial vaginosis (bv).202032379102
review of the tribe anerastiini (lepidoptera: pyralidae: phycitinae) from ukraine.five species of the tribe anerastiini from ukraine are reviewed. coenochroa ablutella (zeller, 1839) is reported from ukraine for the first time. hypsotropa limbella zeller, 1848 is removed from the list of pyralidae of ukraine as it was based on a misidentification. five new synonyms are established: hafisia amsel, 1950 syn. nov. of zophodiodes ragonot, 1887; hafisia lundbladi amsel, 1950 syn. nov. of zophodiodes leucocostella ragonot, 1887; anerastia korbi caradja, 1910 syn. nov. of coenochroa ...202032230037
asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis is associated with depletion of mature superficial cells shed from the vaginal epithelium.previous studies have described bacterial vaginosis (bv) as associated with increased cell-shedding from the cervicovaginal epithelium. cell-shedding in excess of cell-proliferation is thought to decrease epithelial barrier function and increase susceptibility to infection. this study evaluated the number of shed cells in mid-vaginal smears from women with a diagnosis of symptomatic bv (sbv, n = 17), asymptomatic bv (abv, n = 71), or no bv (n = 104) by amsel criteria. the sbv smears contained si ...202032211347
physiological stress does not increase with urbanization in european blackbirds: evidence from hormonal, immunological and cellular indicators.urbanization changes the landscape structure and ecological processes of natural habitats. while urban areas expose animal communities to novel challenges, they may also provide more stable environments in which environmental fluctuations are buffered. species´ ecology and physiology may determine their capacity to cope with the city life. however, the physiological mechanisms underlying organismal responses to urbanization, and whether different physiological systems are equally affected by urb ...202032169634
maternal effects and urbanization: variation of yolk androgens and immunoglobulin in city and forest blackbirds.wildlife inhabiting urban environments exhibit drastic changes in morphology, physiology, and behavior. it has often been argued that these phenotypic responses could be the result of micro-evolutionary changes following the urbanization process. however, other mechanisms such as phenotypic plasticity, maternal effects, and developmental plasticity could be involved as well. to address maternal effects as potential mechanisms, we compared maternal hormone and antibody concentrations in eggs betw ...202032128150
evaluation of vulvovaginitis and hygiene habits of women attended in primary health care units of the family.this study aims to investigate the occurrence of vulvovaginal infections, to describe and to relate the hygiene habits of women who were treated at the units of primary attention to family health in a municipality in the interior of brazil.202032099484
oral intake of lactobacilli can be helpful in symptomatic bacterial vaginosis: a randomized clinical study.the aim of the study was to explore a role of oral intake of a mixture of 3 lactobacillus species in recurrence of bacterial vaginosis (bv).202032091443
genomic monitoring to understand the emergence and spread of usutu virus in the netherlands, 2016-2018.usutu virus (usuv) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus circulating in western europe that causes die-offs of mainly common blackbirds (turdus merula). in the netherlands, usuv was first detected in 2016, when it was identified as the likely cause of an outbreak in birds. in this study, dead blackbirds were collected, screened for the presence of usuv and submitted to nanopore-based sequencing. genomic sequences of 112 usuv were obtained and phylogenetic analysis showed that most viruses identified be ...202032071379
haemosporidioses in wild eurasian blackbirds (turdus merula) and song thrushes (t. philomelos): an in situ hybridization study with emphasis on exo-erythrocytic parasite burden.passerine birds are frequently infected with diverse haemosporidian parasites. while infections are traditionally considered benign in wild birds, recent studies demonstrated mortalities of passerine species due to exo-erythrocytic development of the parasites, which can damage organs in affected hosts. however, exo-erythrocytic development remains insufficiently investigated for most haemosporidian species and thus little is known about the virulence of tissue stages in wild passerine birds. th ...202032050970
stopover departure decisions in songbirds: do long-distance migrants depart earlier and more independently of weather conditions than medium-distance migrants?songbirds following distinct migration strategies (e.g. long- vs. short- to medium-distance migrants) often differ in their speed of migration during autumn and, thus, are assumed to face different time constraints. during migration, most songbird species alternate migratory flights with stopover periods. many of them restrict these migratory flights to the night, i.e., they are nocturnal migrants. at stopover, nocturnal migrants need to select a specific night (night-to-night decision) and time ...202032047634
association of risk factors with spontaneous preterm labour with intact foetal membranes.spontaneous preterm labour refers to the onset of uterine contractions of sufficient strength and frequency to effect progressive dilatation between 24 and 37 weeks of gestation. the objective of the study was to determine an association between risk factors and spontaneous preterm labour with intact foetal membranes.202031933306
responses of new zealand forest birds to management of introduced mammals.over the past 1000 years new zealand has lost 40-50% of its bird species, and over half of these extinctions are attributable to predation by introduced mammals. populations of many extant forest bird species continue to be depredated by mammals, especially rats, possums, and mustelids. the management history of new zealand's forests over the past 50 years presents a unique opportunity because a varied program of mammalian predator control has created a replicated management experiment. we condu ...202031893568
a biochemiluminescent sialidase assay for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.bacterial vaginosis (bv) is a common condition among women of reproductive age. a sensitive, quantitative and rapid assay is needed for the diagnosis of and, particularly, therapy monitoring for bv. bacterial sialidase appears to play an important role in bacterial biofilms on vaginal epithelium, a condition closely associated with bv. here, we report a biochemiluminescent sialidase assay that uses a substrate derivatized with firefly luciferin. in the presence of sialidase in the reaction, the ...201931882933
vaginal microbiome transplantation in women with intractable bacterial vaginosis.we report the results of a first exploratory study testing the use of vaginal microbiome transplantation (vmt) from healthy donors as a therapeutic alternative for patients suffering from symptomatic, intractable and recurrent bacterial vaginosis (clinicaltrials.gov nct02236429 ). in our case series, five patients were treated, and in four of them vmt was associated with full long-term remission until the end of follow-up at 5-21 months after vmt, defined as marked improvement of symptoms, amsel ...201931591599
conventional oral and secondary high dose vaginal metronidazole therapy for recurrent bacterial vaginosis: clinical outcomes, impacts of sex and menses.oral metronidazole therapy is the standard of care for bacterial vaginosis (bv), yet it has alarming rates of recurrence and refractory responses among recurrent bv (rbv) patients. this study addresses whether high dose vaginal metronidazole therapy (hdm) is beneficial in rbv patients who fail after standard of care (soc) therapy, whether diagnostic test scores proximal to the hdm predict clinical outcome, and whether menses, coitus, or race influences therapy outcome.201931413606
targeted surveillance reveals native and invasive mosquito species infected with usutu virus.the emergence of usutu virus (usuv) in europe was first reported in austria, 2001, and the virus has since spread to many european countries. initial outbreaks are marked by a mass die-off of european blackbirds (turdus merula) and other bird species. during outbreaks, the virus has been detected in pools of culex pipiens mosquitoes, and these mosquitoes are probably the most important enzootic vectors. beginning in 2017, a second wave of blackbird deaths associated with usuv was observed in eas ...201930665453
different dynamics of usutu virus infections in austria and hungary, 2017-2018.usutu virus (usuv), a mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to west nile virus, emerged in austria in 2001, when it caused a considerable mass-mortality of eurasian blackbirds. cases in birds increased until 2003 and quickly declined thereafter, presumably due to developing herd immunity. since 2006, no further cases were recorded, until two blackbirds were tested positive in 2016. in hungary, usuv first appeared in 2005 and has caused only sporadic infections since then. initially, the only ...201931505099
west nile virus epizootic in germany, 2018.the summer of 2018 in germany was the second hottest and driest on record. these generally extremely favorable climatic conditions most likely triggered the further expansion and the efficient propagation of the zoonotic arthropod-borne west nile virus in many southern/southeastern and even central european countries. wnv infections were detected for the first time in resident wild and aviary birds, such as common blackbirds, northern goshawks and great grey owls in eastern and southeastern germ ...201930550796
multiple lineages of usutu virus (flaviviridae, flavivirus) in blackbirds (turdus merula) and mosquitoes (culex pipiens, cx. modestus) in the czech republic (2016-2019).usutu virus (usuv) is a flavivirus (flaviviridae: flavivirus) of an african origin transmitted among its natural hosts (diverse species of birds) by mosquitoes. the virus was introduced multiple times to europe where it caused mortality of blackbirds (turdus merula) and certain other susceptible species of birds. in this study, we report detection of usuv rna in blackbirds, culex pipiens and cx. modestus mosquitoes in the czech republic, and isolation of 10 new czech usuv strains from carcasses ...201931744087
an annotated checklist of gelechiidae (lepidoptera) of israel with description of two new species.one hundred forty-six species of gelechiidae including 36 new records are reported from israel. anarsia balioneura meyrick, 1921 and polyhymno chionarcha meyrick, 1913 are recorded for the first time in the palaearctic region. two new species are described: metzneria freidbergi sp. nov., and scrobipalpa aravensis sp. nov. six new synonyms are established: stygmatoptera hartig, 1936 syn. nov. of polyhymno chambers, 1874; eulamprotes bradley, 1971 syn. nov. of oxypteryx rebel, 1911; polyhymno abai ...201931715980
an annotated catalogue of elachistinae of the world (lepidoptera: gelechioidea: elachistidae).an annotated catalogue of world species of elachistinae (lepidoptera: gelechioidea: elachistidae) is presented. the classification follows recent phylogenetic studies. genera and the species within each genus are listed in alphabetical order. all family, genus and species-group names of elachistinae published before 28 august 2018 are treated. sixty-six genus-group names are listed, 60 of which are nomenclaturally available. in the classification followed in this catalogue the species are placed ...201931712495
assortative mating frames establishment in a young island bird population.successful island colonizations are key events to understand range dynamic processes, but studying a young population right after it reaches establishment is a rare opportunity in natural systems. the genetic structure of a recently established population may offer unique insights into its colonization history and demographic processes that are important for a successful colonization. here, we studied the population genetics of a recently established island population of eurasian blackbirds (ave ...201931598228
host responses to foreign eggs across the avian visual color space.despite extensive research on the sensory and cognitive processes of host rejection of avian brood parasites' eggs, the underlying perceptual and cognitive mechanisms are not sufficiently understood. historically, most studies of host egg discrimination assumed that hosts rejected a parasite's egg from their nest based on the perceived color and pattern differences between the parasite's egg and their own. a recent study used a continuous range of parasitic egg colors and discovered that hosts w ...201931251649
high susceptibility of the laboratory-reared biting midges culicoides nubeculosus to haemoproteus infections, with review on culicoides species that transmit avian haemoproteids.haemosporidian parasites belonging to haemoproteus cause avian diseases, however, vectors remain unidentified for the majority of described species. we used the laboratory-reared biting midges culicoides nubeculosus to determine if the sporogonic development of three widespread haemoproteus parasites completes in this insect. the midges were reared and fed on one common blackbird, white wagtail and thrush nightingale naturally infected with haemoproteus minutus, haemoproteus motacillae and haemo ...201930176948
ixodes frontalis: a neglected but ubiquitous tick species in germany.the ornithophilic tick species ixodes frontalis (panzer) is spatially distributed in europe, asia and northern africa. it can serve as a carrier of different bacteria and viruses, but little is known of its actual vector competence. in addition, adult females of this species are associated with the avian "tick-related syndrome" (trs). like most ornithophilic tick species, i. frontalis is usually collected from bird nests or directly from their hosts. reports of i. frontalis being collected with ...201931093856
air sac trematodes: morishitium polonicum as a newly identified cause of death in the common blackbird (turdus merula).necropsy of two free-ranging common blackbirds (turdus merula) found dead in central italy revealed the presence of a high number of cyclocoelid flukes in the coelomatic cavity. cyclocoelid flukes primarily infect avian respiratory system. histologically, air sac walls were covered with a fibrinous exudate containing degenerate heterophils, many trematodes and some colonies of gram-positive cocci. the superficial bronchi and parabronchi were markedly distended, and the adjacent pulmonary parench ...201931011529
antimicrobial resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing escherichia coli in common wild bird species in switzerland.a total of 294 fecal swabs from 294 wild birds in switzerland were cultivated for antimicrobial resistant (amr) escherichia coli. samples were also subcultivated to detect e. coli with extended-spectrum β-lactamases (esbl), carbapenemases, and plasmid-mediated aminoglycoside or colistin resistance, respectively. samples from 17 (5.8%) of the birds contained 19 amr e. coli, whereof 26.3% were multidrug resistant. five (1.7%) esbl-producing e. coli were detected. the isolates harbored blactx-m-1 ( ...201931006991
comparison of amsel criteria, nugent score, culture and two ce-ivd marked quantitative real-time pcrs with microbiota analysis for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.bacterial vaginosis (bv) is a common gynaecological condition. diagnosis of bv is typically based on amsel criteria, nugent score and/or bacterial culture. in this study, these conventional methods and two ce-ivd marked quantitative real-time (q)pcr assays were compared with microbiota analysis for the diagnosis of bv. eighty women were evaluated for bv during two sequential hospital visits by amsel criteria, nugent score, culture, the amplisens® florocenosis/bacterial vaginosis-frt pcr kit (int ...201930903536
combined vaginal administration of nystatin, diiodohydroxyquin, and benzalkonium chloride versus oral metronidazole for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.to compare combined vaginal administration of nystatin, diiodohydroxyquin, and benzalkonium chloride versus oral metronidazole for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (bv).201930895611
incubation period and risk factors support sexual transmission of bacterial vaginosis in women who have sex with women.the epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis (bv) favours sexual transmission of bv-associated bacteria. we examined incubation period and risk factors for incident bv (ibv) in a prospective study of women who have sex with women (wsw).201930872415
prognostic indicators of recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.following all forms of therapy for bacterial vaginosis (bv), recurrence rates are extremely high. many diagnostic tests are available that differentiate bacterial vaginosis from other types of vaginal disorders, but none predict recurrence after treatment, nor are any vetted for monitoring ongoing responses to treatment. our goal was to determine which tests, and at what optimal times, have prognostic value in predicting recurrence. this prospective cohort study monitored 74 highly recurrent bv ...201930842235
combined oral contraceptive pill-exposure alone does not reduce the risk of bacterial vaginosis recurrence in a pilot randomised controlled trial.we conducted a pilot open-label randomised controlled trial of combined (oestrogen-progesterone) oral contraceptive pill (cocp)-exposure aimed to examine its effect on bv-recurrence following first-line antibiotics compared to antibiotics alone. ninety-five women with symptomatic bv were prescribed antibiotic therapy, randomised to cocp-exposure (intervention) or current non-hormonal contraceptive practices (control) and followed monthly for six-months or until bv-recurrence. modified intention- ...201930837554
estimating age-dependent survival from age-aggregated ringing data-extending the use of historical records.bird ring-recovery data have been widely used to estimate demographic parameters such as survival probabilities since the mid-20th century. however, while the total number of birds ringed each year is usually known, historical information on age at ringing is often not available. a standard ring-recovery model, for which information on age at ringing is required, cannot be used when historical data are incomplete. we develop a new model to estimate age-dependent survival probabilities from such ...201930766667
screening for multiple tick-borne pathogens in ixodes ricinus ticks from birds in denmark during spring and autumn migration seasons.presently, it is uncertain to what extent seasonal migrating birds contribute to the introduction of ticks and tick-associated pathogens in denmark. to quantify this phenomenon, we captured birds during the spring and autumn migration at three field sites in denmark and screened them for ticks. bird-derived ticks were identified to tick species and screened for 37 tick-borne pathogens using real-time pcr. overall, 807 birds, representing 44 bird species, were captured and examined for ticks duri ...201930709658
exposure to pb impairs breeding success and is associated with longer lifespan in urban european blackbirds.although several factors have been highlighted to explain the influence of urbanization on bird fitness and survival, the role of persistent toxicants such as lead (pb), which is typically present in urban areas worldwide, has seldom been studied despite the ecological importance of such a widespread stressor. studying free-living european blackbirds (turdus merula) in city parks, we tested the hypothesis that low-dose chronic exposure to pb could shape the life-history traits of urban birds. th ...201930679484
haemoproteus minutus is highly virulent for australasian and south american parrots.haemoproteus and plasmodium species are widespread avian blood parasites. several plasmodium species are known for their high virulence and have caused significant declines in naïve bird populations. the impact of closely related haemoproteus parasites is largely unknown. recently we reported a lethal disease in two parrot aviaries caused by haemoproteus parasites.201930654841
different competence as a lyme borreliosis causative agent reservoir found in two thrush species: the blackbird (turdus merula) and the song thrush (turdus philomelos).passerine birds are significantly involved in the dissemination of borreliella spp. bacteria (formerly borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex), the causative agent of most common and important tick-spread disease lyme borreliosis. among several dozen investigated passerine bird species, thrushes (turdidae) have been reported as a relatively good pathogen reservoirs and disseminators. the principal aim of the study was to identify the differences in borreliella spp. reservoir competence between ...201930615582
species diversity, host preference and arbovirus detection of culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) in south-eastern serbia.culicoides (diptera: ceratopogonidae) is a genus of small biting midges (also known as "no-see ums") that currently includes 1368 described species. they are proven or suspected vectors for important pathogens affecting animals such as bluetongue virus (btv) and schmallenberg virus (sbv). currently little information is available on the species of culicoides present in serbia. thus, the aim of this study was to examine species diversity, host preference and the presence of btv and sbv rna in cul ...201930683145
parasites in space and time: a case study of haemosporidian spatiotemporal prevalence in urban birds.prevalence responses to anthropic factors differ across hosts and parasite species. we here analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of avian haemosporidian prevalence in bird assemblages of the mooswald forest (i.e., urban greenspace; freiburg, germany), in response to local environmental features (e.g., water sources, human presence (visited)/absence (unvisited)) and bird-level traits (e.g., body condition, age, sex) in 2 years. we used a nested pcr protocol (mitochondrial (mt)dna cytochrome b (c ...201930673588
coccidian parasites from birds at rehabilitation centers in portugal, with notes on avispora bubonis in old world.portugal has some rehabilitation centers for wild animals, which are responsible for the rehabilitation and reintroduction of birds, among other animals, into the wild. coccidian parasites of these wild birds in rehabilitation centers are especially important because these centers can introduce coccidian species into new environments through the reintroduction of their respective hosts. in this context, the current study aimed to identify intestinal coccidia from wild birds at two rehabilitation ...201931141018
redox imbalance correlates with high nugent score in bacterial vaginosis.the main goal of this work was to highlight the significance of redox imbalance in the pathophysiology of bacterial vaginosis (bv). we studied the pro-oxidant (malondialdehyde) and antioxidants (glutathione, total antioxidant capacity) in the vaginal fluids of women and compared them on the basis of their nugent score (ns).201829239072
efficacy and safety of vaginally administered lyophilized lactobacillus crispatus ip 174178 in the prevention of bacterial vaginosis recurrence.bacterial vaginosis (bv) is a recurrent disease in women despite treatment by antibiotics. this study investigated the impact of a vaginal probiotic, lactobacillus crispatus ip174178* (lc), on the rate of recurrence and time to recurrence.201829196153
effect of a yoghurt drink containing lactobacillus strains on bacterial vaginosis in women - a double-blind, randomised, controlled clinical pilot trial.bacterial vaginosis (bv) is characterised by a depletion of lactobacilli in favour of an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria. it is associated with increased risk for urogenital infections and abortion. in this study we assessed the effect of a yoghurt drink containing lactobacillus strains on bv. the strains had been isolated from healthy pregnant women and selected for acidification capacity, production of h2o2, glycogen utilisation, bile salt tolerance and inhibition of pathogens. using amsel cr ...201829065710
normative ratings for perceptual and motor attributes of 750 object concepts in spanish.subjective ratings of perceptual and motor attributes were obtained for a set of 750 concrete concepts in spanish by requiring scale-based judgments from a sample of university students (n = 539). following on the work of amsel, urbach, and kutas (2012), the seven attributes were color, motion, sound, smell, taste, graspability, and pain. normative data based on the obtained ratings are provided as a tool for future investigations. additionally, the relationships of these attributes to other lex ...201829052168
the effect of prebiotic vaginal gel with adjuvant oral metronidazole tablets on treatment and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis: a triple-blind randomized controlled study.bacterial vaginosis is a change in the normal vaginal bacterial flora that leads to loss of hydrogen peroxide producing lactobacilli and overgrowth of predominantly anaerobic bacteria. the present study was conducted to compare the effects of prebiotic vaginal gel with oral metronidazole tablet and metronidazole tablet alone on treatment and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.201828983665
vaginal microbiome variances in sample groups categorized by clinical criteria of bacterial vaginosis.one of the most common and recurrent vaginal infections is bacterial vaginosis (bv). the diagnosis is based on changes to the "normal" vaginal microbiome; however, the normal microbiome appears to differ according to reproductive status and ethnicity, and even among individuals within these groups. the amsel criteria and nugent score test are widely used for diagnosing bv; however, these tests are based on different criteria, and so may indicate distinct changes in the vaginal microbial communit ...201830598080
revision of the genus megacraspedus zeller, 1839, a challenging taxonomic tightrope of species delimitation (lepidoptera, gelechiidae).the taxonomy of the palearctic genus megacraspedus zeller, 1839 (lepidoptera, gelechiidae) is revised, based on external morphology, genitalia and dna barcodes. an integrative taxonomic approach supports the existence of 85 species which are arranged in 24 species groups (disputed taxa from other faunal regions are discussed). morphology of all species is described and figured in detail. for 35 species both sexes are described; for 46 species only the male sex is reported, in one species the mal ...201830532621
comparing the effect of sucrose gel and metronidazole gel in treatment of clinical symptoms of bacterial vaginosis: a randomized controlled trial.lactobacilli, as normal vaginal flora, have a central role in controlling body environment and preventing the growth of pathogens. sucrose, by promoting the growth of lactobacilli, accelerates the suppression of pathogenic bacteria. the aim of this research was to compare the effects of sucrose gel with those of metronidazole gel in treating women with bacterial vaginosis (bv).201830367673
taxonomic study of the genus evergestis hübner, 1825 (lepidoptera: crambidae: glaphyriinae) in iran with description of a new species.the iranian species of the genus evergestis were reviewed taxonomically and as a result, evergestis pazukii sp. n. is described as a new species, e. comealis amsel stat. n. is raised to species level from the subspecies e. caesialis comealis, and four species, namely e. flavifuscalis rebel, e. limbata (linnaeus), e. pechi (bethune-baker), and e. serratalis staudinger are newly reported from iran. furthermore, the females of evergestis africalis (guenée), and e. nomadalis (lederer), and the male ...201830313551
infrared thermography provides insight into the thermal properties of bird nests.thermal properties of nests have been investigated using a variety of techniques. infrared (ir) thermography has the advantage of being a non-invasive technique allowing the integrity of the nest wall to be retained during measurement. this study investigated the insulative properties of nests of the eurasian bullfinch (pyrrhula pyrrhula), the common blackbird (turdus merula) and the song thrush (turdus philomelos) using ir thermography. nests were inverted over a heat source and the temperature ...201830143304
effect of vaginal suppository on bacterial vaginitis based on persian medicine (iranian traditional medicine): a randomised double blind clinical study.this trial was conducted on 127 women aged 18-50 years with bacterial vaginosis to compare the vaginal suppository of metronidazole with forzejeh, a vaginal suppository of herbal persian medicine combination of tribulus terrestris, myrtus commuis, foeniculum vulgare and tamarindus indica. the patients (63 in metronidazole group and 64 in forzejeh group) received the medications for 1 week. their symptoms including the amount and odour of discharge and cervical pain were assessed using a question ...201830084707
two new species of brusqeulia razowski & becker, 2000 from the neotropics, with comments on the systematic position of the genus in relation to the apolychrosis amsel, 1962 group of genera (lepidoptera, tortricidae, cochylini).two new species of the neotropical genus brusqeulia razowski & becker, 2000, are described and illustrated: b. yunkensis pérez santa-rita & baixeras, sp. n. from bolivia and b. araguensis pérez sant-rita & baixeras, sp. n. from venezuela. the systematic position and diagnostic characters of the genus are reviewed, resulting in the synonymy of pinhaisania razowski & becker, 2000, with brusqeulia, and the combination b. crispula (razowski & becker, 2000), comb. n. new characters of the female geni ...201830002594
ghrelin, corticosterone and the resumption of migration from stopover, an automated telemetry study.the spectacular natural phenomenon of avian migration is evidently shaped by physical factors, but we know little about the underlying physiological regulation. this contrast is especially apparent for the process of departure on a migratory flight. the decision to resume migration is shaped by a suite of departure cues from innate rhythms, and intrinsic and extrinsic factors. it currently appears that these departure cues are translated into actual departure by the hormone corticosterone, but o ...201829958878
multicenter study establishing the clinical validity of a nucleic-acid amplification-based assay for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.the present study sought to validate the clinical performance of a previously described pcr-based assay for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (bv). a total of 1579 patients were enrolled in 5 locations; samples were classified as bv positive (n=538) or negative (n=1,041) based on an algorithm utilizing quantitative gram-stain analysis of vaginal discharge and clinical evaluation (amsel criteria); a next-generation sequencing (ngs) approach to determining diversity of vaginal microbiota was us ...201829937222
identification of key bacteria involved in the induction of incident bacterial vaginosis: a prospective study.the sequence of events preceding incident bacterial vaginosis (ibv) is unclear.201829718358
nest predation risk modifies nestlings' immune function depending on the level of threat.predation risk is thought to modify the physiology of prey mainly through the stress response. however, little is known about its potential effects on the immunity of animals, particularly in young individuals, despite the importance of overcoming wounding and pathogen aggression following a predator attack. we investigated the effect of four progressive levels of nest predation risk on several components of the immune system in common blackbird (turdus merula) nestlings by presenting them with ...201829666198
the stimulation of the vaginal immune system with short-term administration of a vaginal gel containing fraction of propionibacterium acnes, hyaluronic acid and polycarbophil is efficacious in vaginal infections dependent on disorders in the vaginal ecosystem.the vaginal immune system (vis) is the first defense against antigens recognized as foreign. substances capable of locally activating the vis could be a valid strategy to treat vulvo-vaginal infections (vvi), caused by changes in the vaginal ecosystem, such as bacterial vaginosis (bv), vulvo-vaginal candidiasis (ca), and mixed vaginitis (mv). bacterial lysates, obtained by crushing bacterial cultures, exert immuno-modulatory activities. the parietal fraction from propionibacterium acnes is a pat ...201829648469
urban blackbirds have shorter telomeres.urbanization, one of the most extreme human-induced environmental changes, represents a major challenge for many organisms. anthropogenic habitats can have opposing effects on different fitness components, for example, by decreasing starvation risk but also health status. assessment of the net fitness effect of anthropogenic habitats is therefore difficult. telomere length is associated with phenotypic quality and mortality rate in many species, and the rate of telomere shortening is considered ...201829563283
use of copper intrauterine device is not associated with higher bacterial vaginosis prevalence in thai hiv-positive women.the study assessed and compared bacterial vaginosis (bv) prevalence in thai women in reproductive age in four study groups - group 1, hiv-positive with copper intrauterine device (cu-iud); group 2, hiv-positive without cu-iud; group 3, hiv-negative with cu-iud; and group 4, hiv-negative without cu-iud. we conducted a cross-sectional study. bv prevalence was assessed by nugent score and amsel criteria. descriptive statistics was used to present baseline characteristics; kwallis rank test - to com ...201829548268
a hidden cost of migration? innate immune function versus antioxidant defense.migration is energetically demanding and physiologically challenging. migrating birds, for example, need to boost their antioxidant defenses to defeat the pro-oxidants produced during high energetic activity. the enhanced antioxidant defense possibly withdraws limited resources (e.g., energy or micronutrients) from other physiological functions, such as immune defense. such a trade-off might not occur outside the migration seasons or in resident individuals. here, we investigate whether there is ...201829531689
vaginitis: diagnosis and treatment.vaginitis is defined as any condition with symptoms of abnormal vaginal discharge, odor, irritation, itching, or burning. the most common causes of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. bacterial vaginosis is implicated in 40% to 50% of cases when a cause is identified, with vulvovaginal candidiasis accounting for 20% to 25% and trichomoniasis for 15% to 20% of cases. noninfectious causes, including atrophic, irritant, allergic, and inflammatory vaginit ...201829671516
cues, corticosterone and departure decisions in a partial migrant.most migrating birds make multiple stopovers to fuel and/or rest. the decision to resume migration from stopover is based on various cues, such as time within the season and wind conditions. there are hints that the strength of these departure cues shapes corticosterone level, which in its turn appears to regulate the timing of departure. we here provide results that very strongly indicate that indeed departure cues jointly shape corticosterone level of migrants at stopover. we compared corticos ...201829397064
a preclinical animal study of a novel, simple, and secure duct and vessel occluder for laparoscopic surgery.secure occlusion of large blood vessels and ductal structures is critical to all surgeries and remains a challenge in many minimally invasive procedures. this study compares in vivo use of the amsel occluder (ao) for secure laparoscopic blood vessel and duct closure, with one of the many commercially available hemoclips (ligaclip®), in the porcine model.201829340822
[diagnosis of vaginal discharge].changes in vaginal discharge are often caused by imbalance in the vaginal microflora, and laboratory testing is usually of little use, as most microbes detected are commensals. in-office diagnosis in general practice using wet mount microscopy and amsel criteria is helpful and often sufficient to ensure correct diagnosis and treatment. laboratory testing of vaginal discharge should only be performed, if sexually transmitted disease is suspected, if there is treatment failure or inconclusive wet ...201829336298
combined oral and topical antimicrobial therapy for male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis: acceptability, tolerability and impact on the genital microbiota of couples - a pilot study.recurrence following recommended treatment for bacterial vaginosis is unacceptably high. while the pathogenesis of recurrence is not well understood, recent evidence indicates re-infection from sexual partners is likely to play a role. the aim of this study was to assess the acceptability and tolerability of topical and oral antimicrobial therapy in male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis (bv), and to investigate the impact of dual-partner treatment on the vaginal and penile microbiota.201829293559
prevalence of avian metapneumovirus subtype b in live bird market in gilan province, iran.avian metapneumovirus (ampv), also known as avian pneumovirus or turkey rhinotracheitis virus, is the causative agent of turkey rhinotracheitis and swollen head syndrome in chickens. four ampv subgroups (a-d) have been reported previously based on their genetic and antigenic differences. evidence suggests that the live bird markets (lbms) play an important role in the epidemiology of the avian viral diseases. a total number of 450 oropharyngeal samples from eight different species of birds (migr ...201829719670
evaluating the risk for usutu virus circulation in europe: comparison of environmental niche models and epidemiological models.usutu virus (usuv) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, reported in many countries of africa and europe, with an increasing spatial distribution and host range. recent outbreaks leading to regional declines of european common blackbird (turdus merula) populations and a rising number of human cases emphasize the need for increased awareness and spatial risk assessment.201830314528
assessment of vector competence of uk mosquitoes for usutu virus of african origin.usutu virus (usuv) is an emerging zoonotic virus originally from sub-saharan africa. it has been introduced into europe on multiple occasions, causing substantial mortality within the eurasian blackbird (turdus merula) population. it is transmitted by the mosquito species culex pipiens in europe and africa. vector competence studies indicate that european strains of usuv are readily transmitted by indigenous cx. pipiens. however, there is limited information on the ability of an african strain t ...201829970149
usutu virus epizootic and plasmodium coinfection in eurasian blackbirds ( turdus merula) in flanders, belgium.at the end of the summer of 2016, unusually high levels of mortality were detected in passeriformes and strigiformes in flanders, belgium, mainly in eurasian blackbirds ( turdus merula). a passive surveillance program demonstrated a widespread usutu virus outbreak and revealed a coinfection with plasmodium in 99% of the dead passerine birds that were necropsied.201829889004
experimental infection by microparasites affects the oxidative balance in their avian reservoir host the blackbird turdus merula.by draining resources, microparasites can negatively affect the host fitness, which in turn can result in reduced transmission when virulence leads to reductions in host population size. therefore, for a microparasite to persist in nature, the level of harm it can do to its host is expected to be limited. we tested this hypothesis for tick-borne borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) infections in the blackbird turdus merula, one of the most important avian reservoir hosts in europe. experimenta ...201829478884
complete coding sequence of a novel picorna-like virus in a blackbird infected with usutu virus.using random high-throughput rna sequencing, the complete coding sequence of a novel picorna-like virus (a 9,228-nt contig containing 212,202 reads) was determined from a blackbird (turdus merula) infected with usutu virus. this sequence shares only 36% amino acid sequence identity with its closest homolog, arivirus 1, (an unclassified member of the order picornavirales), and shares its dicistronic genome arrangement. the new virus was therefore tentatively named "blackbird arilivirus" (ari-like ...201829442227
distribution of usutu virus in germany and its effect on breeding bird populations.usutu virus (usuv) is an emerging mosquitoborne flavivirus with an increasing number of reports from several countries in europe, where usuv infection has caused high avian mortality rates. however, 20 years after the first observed outbreak of usuv in europe, there is still no reliable assessment of the large-scale impact of usuv outbreaks on bird populations. in this study, we identified the areas suitable for usuv circulation in germany and analyzed the effects of usuv on breeding bird popula ...201729148399
characterization of a de novo assembled transcriptome of the common blackbird (turdus merula).in recent years, next generation high throughput sequencing technologies have proven to be useful tools for investigations concerning the genomics or transcriptomics also of non-model species. consequently, ornithologists have adopted these technologies and the respective bioinformatics tools to survey the genomes and transcriptomes of a few avian non-model species. the common blackbird is one of the most common bird species living in european cities, which has successfully colonized urban areas ...201729255646
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