Prevalence of parasites in selected captive bird species

Blood and fecal samples of chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), albino pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) and turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) were analyzed to check parasitic prevalence. To record parasites these five avian species were placed kept in separate cages at Avian Conservation and Research Center, Department of Wildlife an Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 100 fecal and 100 blood samples for each bird species were inspected to analyze internal parasites. During present study, 17 species of endoparasites 14 from fecal samples and three from blood were examined. Two species of ectoparasites i.e. mite Dermanyssus gallinae 42% and fowl ticks Args persicus 41%were studied. Blood parasites included Plasmodium juxtanucleare 50%, Leucoctoyzoon simond having parasitic prevalence 40%, and Aegyptinella pullorum having parasitic prevalence of 40%. Parasitic species recorded from fecal samples included 6 species of nematodes viz. Allodpa suctoria 2%. Syngamus trachea with parasitic prevalence of 60%, Capillaria annulata 37.5%, Ascardia galli 24%, Capillaria anatis 40% and Heterakis gallinarum 28.3%. Similarly, two species of trematodes viz. Prosthogonimus ovatus having parasitic prevalence of 50% and Prosthogonimus macrorchis 21% were also documented from fecal avian samples . Single cestode species Raillietina echinobothrida having parasitic prevalence of 72% and 3 protozoan species i.e. Eimeria maxima having parasitic prevalence of 21%, Giardia lamblia 41% and Histomonas meleagridis 18% were documented during corpological analysis. In our recommendation, proper sanitation, medication and vaccination of bird’s enclousres are suggested to avoid parasites.

Studies on parasitic prevalence in pet birds from Punjab, Pakistan

During this one year study, blood and fecal samples of doves (Zenaida asiatica), ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), pigeons (Columba livia), partridges (Alectoris chukar), turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and goose (Chen caerulescens) were collected to assess the parasitic prevalence in these birds. The birds were kept at Avian Conservation and Research Center, Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. All these avian species were kept in separate cages and their entire body was inspected on regularly basis to record external parasites. For internal parasites, 100 blood and 100 fecal samples for each species were analyzed. During present study, two species of ectoparasites i.e. fowl ticks (Args persicus) and mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) while 17 species of endoparasites; three from blood and 14 from fecal samples were identified. Prevalence of blood parasites was Plasmodium juxtanucleare 29.3%, Aegyptinella pullorum 15% and Leucoctoyzoon simond 13%. Parasitic species recorded from fecal samples included 6 species of nematodes viz. Syngamus trachea with parasitic prevalence of 50%, Capillaria anatis 40%, Capillaria annulata 37.5%, Heterakis gallinarum 28.3%, Ascardia galli 24% and Allodpa suctoria 2%. Similarly, two species of trematodes viz. Prosthogonimus ovatus having parasitic prevalence of 12.1% and Prosthogonimus macrorchis 9.1% were also recorded from fecal samples of the birds. Single cestode species Raillietina echinobothrida having parasitic prevalence of 27% and 3 protozoan species i.e. Eimeria maxima having prevalence 20.1%, Histomonas meleagridis 8% and Giardia lamblia 5.3% were recorded. In our recommendation, proper medication and sanitation of the bird’s houses and cages is recommended to avoid parasites.

Bill Variation of Captive and Wild Chukar Partridge Populations: Shape or Size

Traditionally, morphological characters are widely used to distinguish between interspecies and intraspecies. In addition to the size of morphological characters, shape has also been used as an indicator in the last decades. We evaluated the geometric morphometry and morphometric of the bill of Chukar Partridge, Alectoris chukar from captive and wild populations to determine the bill variation and population relationships. Although there was a size difference between the sexes, no shape difference was found. However, captive populations differed from wild populations in both size and shape. Although there was no difference in shape among wild populations, some differences were found in size. Moreover, bill sizes of captive populations were statistically longer than western, centre, and eastern wild populations. It was also shown that the western populations had the most significant variation among the wild populations. The results revealed that using the size and shape together was more effective in comparing populations.

Population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The field biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) was studied in Malakand division, which is an important range of its distribution in Pakistan. The abundance of the species at different altitudes was studied using both transect trails of various lengths and point counts at certain spots. The average monthly population density was estimated to be 1.448±0.466 birds/ha. The population density in August, September, and October 2020 was significantly (P<0.05) higher, as compared to the rest of the months. Chukar Partridge sightings were the lowest in December, with mean±SD = 0.996±0.147 birds/ha and the highest in October 2.333±0.202 birds/ hae in all the study sites. At each study site, maximum activity habitats were marked and selected for breeding ecology study. Data was collected on breeding time, nest site selection, nest size, incubation period, and hatching success. The breeding season in this species starts in February, with the peak months being March and April, when calls are frequently heard. The frequency of calls varied from 0.15 to 0.3 per minute. Throughout the breeding season, twelve nests were observed using binoculars and camera traps from a distance to avoid disturbance, wherever possible and without disrupting the species. Nesting sites were mostly on slopes under the eaves of Dodonea viscosa, Calotropis procera and Zizyphus oxyphylla. Dry leaves of Poa annua, Cynodon dactylon, Dichanthium annulatum, small twigs of bushes, and downy feathers were used as nesting materials. The average diameter of nest (n=12) was 25.43±3.4 (mean±SD) cm. Overall, the mean clutch size was 94.5±30.187 egg/nest with an incubation period of 22–24 days. The hatching success rate was 82% with 315 successfully hatched chicks, while the fledging rate was 83% (265 fledged out of 315 hatched in, n=42 nests).

Examining the Nutrient Exchange in All Incubation Periods in Chukar Partridges

Background: This study was conducted to examine the development of the embryo during incubation and the composition, amount and consumption of the egg nutrients among Chukars (Alectoris chukar). Methods: A total of 1210 eggs were carefully separated into their components (albumen, yolk, shell, amniotic-allantoic fluid and embryo) on day 0 (fresh), in the first (day 7), second (day 14) and third (day 21) weeks of incubation and on the hatching date. The moisture, crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, crude ash and energy level were determined in egg components. Result: The albumen, yolk, shell, fluid and embryo rates were calculated to be 53.62, 34.84, 11.53, 0.0 and 0.0% in fresh egg, 16.74, 33.49, 16.22, 31.76 and 2.06% in the first week of incubation, 15.65, 28.32, 15.58, 23.35 and 17.10% in the second week of incubation and 0.0, 23.33, 19.38, 0.0 and 57.29% in the third week of incubation, respectively. The hatching weight of the chick was 16.16 g. The nutrients of the yolk, albumen, fluid and shell proportionally varied significantly in different periods of incubation. According to the nutrient changes calculated based on the weight differences of egg components, carbohydrates were mostly used for nutrients during incubation. It was found that even though the nutrients in all the egg components were used in the different periods of incubation, egg yolk was an important source for the embryo throughout the incubation period.

Distribution And Population Of Chukar Partrigde (Alectoris chukar) In District Bajuar, KPK, Pakistan

The Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) is a wild bird of the Phasianidae family. In Pakistan, it occurs in a wide range of rugged, sloping and dry areas, rising to the interior of the Himalayas, the western Himalayas and plains, the higher piedmont valleys on the dry slopes of the Baluchistan provinces and Punjab and Sindh provinces. It is the "national bird" of Pakistan, however, little is known about its ecology and reproduction in the northern part of the country. This study investigated the existence, distribution and population of birds in the Bajaur region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province from December 2019 to August 2020. Usually in the early morning (5 to 78 AM) and evening (4 to 9 pm). The areas occupied by Alectoris chukar mainly include Mulberry, Ficus banyan, Gum arabic, Arabian acacia, Barberes lycium, Dilberia sisso, Melia azedarach, Ailanthus, Alalthus altissima, Zanthoxylum alatum, Olea europaea, Olea europaea, Ingres, Celtis eriocarpa and Pinus wallichiana. Habitat destruction (overgrazing, mowing and landslides) caused by hunting, shooting, capture, explosives, excavation, and road construction is the main threat to existing wildlife (including Alectoris chukar).