NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS AND CHLAMYDIA PSITTACI IN FREE-LIVING RAPTORS FROM EASTERN GERMANY

The illegal capture and trade of wild birds have long been threats to biodiversity. The rehabilitation and release of confiscated animals may be a useful conservation tool in species management. However, differences between populations regarding health (e.g., different pathogens) and adaptation (e.g., local adaptation) must be taken into account, since both can negatively impact the recipient population. In this pilot study, we used two of the most illegally trafficked Brazilian wild passerine species, namely the red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata) and green-winged saltator (Saltator similis) as case studies and assessed some of the health threats that the release of confiscated passerines may pose to free-living birds. We also investigated the level of difference in mitochondrial genetic structure among populations living in different ecoregions. Blood, feces, and oropharyngeal swabs from confiscated (n = 115) and free-living (n = 120) passerines from the release sites were tested for the Newcastle disease virus, Salmonella spp., and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. These are considered major avian diseases by the Brazilian National Avian Health Program. We analyzed mtDNA to study the difference in genetic structure between populations using samples from 127 free-living passerines. We found no evidence of the Newcastle disease virus or Salmonella spp. in confiscated or free-living passerines from either species. However, the levels of infection with M. galissepticum detected in our study for red-crested cardinals and green-winged saltators calls for a high degree of caution in captive release programs. The difference in genetic structure between populations occurring in different regions was low, and was not significant between those from the Pampa/Subtropical Grasslands region. These results suggest that it may be possible to establish a cost-effective and sensitive protocol for releasing confiscated songbirds, provided that further genome-wide studies indicate that the functional genetic diversity among (at least some of the) populations is also low.

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Assessment of Potential Health and Genetic Impacts in Releasing Confiscated Paroaria coronata and Saltator similis

10.1101/2020.03.10.985473 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Cláudio E. F. Cruz ◽

Gustavo R. Funkler ◽

André L. S. Zani ◽

Paulo G. C. Wagner ◽

Luciano N. Segura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Newcastle Disease Virus ◽

Disease Virus ◽

Newcastle Disease ◽

Bird Species ◽

Free Living ◽

Potential Health ◽

In The Wild ◽

Significant Genetic Structure ◽

Free Ranging

AbstractIllegal capture and trade of wild birds has long been a threat to biodiversity. Translocation—the release of individuals from one location into another—is a useful conservation tool in the management of species. However, both health (such as different pathogens) and adaptive (such as local adaptation), differences among populations must be taken into account, as both can impact the recipient population negatively. Here, we provide health and genetic information to support release planning for two of the most trafficked Brazilian wild bird species (Paroaria coronata and Saltator similis). We focused on two fundamental questions: Are there significant differences in pathogen load between wild and captive populations? Is there significant genetic structure among populations? In total, 223 free-living birds were captured, sampled, and released at the same site. Devices and live decoys characteristics were top factors influencing captures. We tested blood, feces, and oropharyngeal swabs from free-ranging (n=101) and confiscated (n=92) birds for Newcastle disease virus, Salmonella spp., and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Genetic structure among populations was investigated using mtDNA in a subsample of these birds. We found no evidence for Newcastle disease virus and Salmonella spp. in seized and free-living birds from both species. However, seized P. coronata and S. similis may be potential sources of M. gallisepticum. We found significant but low genetic structure among populations occurring in different Biomes (ΦCT=0.26 for P. coronata; ΦCT=0.13 for S. similis) and no significant structure among populations occurring in the Pampa Biome. These results suggest that while it may be important to screen seized birds for avian pathogens, genetic structure among populations seems to be of lesser concern when planning the release of seized songbirds in the wild.

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