Sharing waters: the impact of recreational kayaking on moulting mute swans Cygnus olor

During recent years the attention towards the effects of xenobiotic substances on wild nature has been steadily increasing. Literature reviews have revealed that active hormone-disintegrating substances might affect the reproduction of some wild animal species. Research shows anomalies of reproduction and development in various animal groups such as birds, fish, invertebrates and reptiles. Species inhabiting water and its surroundings cause the highest concern. Due to insufficient baseline information it is difficult to determine the extent of the problem in these wild populations on an ecological scale. The research described in this article is the first attempt to analyse xenobiotic substances and evaluate possible accumulation of pharmaceuticals in animals higher up in the food chain in Lithuania. This research tests new methods for to analyse for xenobiotics substances, which might be used in the future. Blood samples of 7 swans were examined using liquid chromatography, however, no xenobiotics were detected. Negative results do not eliminate the necessity for further investigate of larger samples, other species or to search for non-pharmaceutical xenobiotics.

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Biosurveillance of Selected Pathogens with Zoonotic Potential in a Zoo

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10040428 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 428

Author(s):

Pavel Kvapil ◽

Joško Račnik ◽

Marjan Kastelic ◽

Jiřina Marková ◽

Jean-Benjamin Murat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Infections ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Field Mouse ◽

Wild Rodents ◽

Cygnus Olor ◽

Multiplex Pcr Assay ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Zoo Animals ◽

Mute Swans

Monitoring of infectious diseases is one of the most important pillars of preventive medicine in zoos. Screening for parasitic and bacterial infections is important to keep animals and equipment safe from pathogens that may pose a risk to animal and human health. Zoos usually contain many different animal species living in proximity with people and wild animals. As an epidemiological probe, 188 animals (122 mammals, 65 birds, and one reptile) from a zoo in Slovenia were examined for selected pathogens. Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum were detected by ELISA in 38% (46/122) and 3% (4/122) of mammals, and in 0% (0/64) and 2% (1/57) of birds, respectively; the reptile (0/1) was negative. A statistically significant difference in T. gondii prevalence was found in Carnivora compared to Cetartiodactyla and primate antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi were detected by IFAT in 44% (52/118) of mammals and 20% (11/56) of birds, respectively; the reptile (0/1) was negative. Herbivores had a higher chance of being infected with E. cuniculi compared to omnivores. Antibodies to Chlamydia abortus and Coxiella burnetii were not detected in any of the 74 tested zoo animals. The sera of 39 wild rodents found in the zoo were also examined; they were negative for all three parasites. The parasite T. gondii was detected by PCR in the tissue of two mute swans (Cygnus olor), three eastern house mice (Mus musculus), one yellow-necked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), and one striped field mouse (A. agrarius). Positive samples were genotyped by a single multiplex PCR assay using 15 microsatellite markers; one sample from a mute swan was characterized as type II. This micro-epidemiological study offers a better understanding of pathogens in zoo animals and an understanding of the role of zoos in biosurveillance.

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Biochemical and haematological values for mute swans (cygnus olor): Effects of acute lead poisoning

Avian Pathology ◽

10.1080/03079458808436484 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 667-678 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

J. O'halloran ◽

P.F. Duggan ◽

A.A. Myers

Keyword(s):

Lead Poisoning ◽

Cygnus Olor ◽

Haematological Values ◽

Mute Swans

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Resources and reproductive performance in Mute swans Cygnus olor

Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1111/j.1469-7998.1983.tb02814.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 200 (4) ◽

pp. 539-547 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

D. K. Scott ◽

M. E. Birkhead

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Performance ◽

Cygnus Olor ◽

Mute Swans

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Colonial breeding in Mute swans (Cygnus olor) associated with an allozyme of lactate dehydrogenase

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1111/j.1095-8312.1987.tb00297.x ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 193-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

P. J. Bacon ◽

P. Andersen-Harild

Keyword(s):

Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽

Cygnus Olor ◽

Colonial Breeding ◽

Mute Swans

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Avian schistosomes in French aquatic birds: a molecular approach

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x09311712 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 83 (2) ◽

pp. 181-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

D. Jouet ◽

H. Ferté ◽

C. Hologne ◽

M.L. Kaltenbach ◽

J. Depaquit

Keyword(s):

First Record ◽

Aquatic Birds ◽

Anser Anser ◽

Anas Crecca ◽

Cygnus Olor ◽

Natural Hosts ◽

Anas Clypeata ◽

Grus Grus ◽

Second Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe prevalence of human cercarial dermatitis (HCD) caused by bird schistosomes appears to be increasing in France, in light of the impact of tourism combined with high densities of wild aquatic hosts in freshwater areas. The present work expands our knowledge of schistosome systematics by including samples of bird schistosomes collected from their natural hosts in France. Heads (318) and viscera (81) of aquatic birds belonging to 16 species from five orders, collecting during the hunting seasons or found dead, were autopsied for nasal and visceral schistosomes. Eggs and/or adults were analysed by molecular methods using the D2 domain and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) region of rDNA to determine species. Even if nasal eggs were polymorphic according to the host, all haplotypes were similar to that of Trichobilharzia regenti. Marked diversity of visceral species was observed. Final hosts under natural conditions were reported. For the first time, Trichobilharzia franki is reported in its natural bird hosts, Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca, Aythya fuligula and Cygnus olor. We also identified T. szidati in A. crecca and Anas clypeata. Bilharziella polonica was found in six species of aquatic birds, including Grus grus. This finding is the first record of bird schistosomes in this aquatic bird. Three new taxa of visceral schistosomes in Anser anser are strongly suspected according to their haplotypes. Futhermore, a new haplotype of visceral schistosomes isolated in Cygnus olor and similar to Allobilharzia visceralis was identified.

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