Hematology of the Red-Capped Parrot (Pionopsitta pileata) and Vinaceous Amazon Parrot (Amazona vinacea) in Captivity

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Frugivory on Margaritaria nobilis L.f. (Euphorbiaceae): poor investment and mimetism.

Dehiscent fruits of Euphorbiaceae usually have two stages of seed dispersal, autochory followed by myrmecochory. Two stages of Margaritaria nobilis seed dispersal were described, the first stage autochoric followed by ornithocoric. Their dehiscent fruits are green and after they detached from the tree crown and fall on the ground, they open and expose blue metallic cocas. We studied the seed dispersal system of Margaritaria nobilis in a semi-deciduous forest in Brazil. In 80 h of focal observations, we recorded only 12 visits of frugivores, however the thrush Turdus leucomelas was the only frugivore that swallowed the fruits on the tree crown. Pitylus fuliginosus (Fringilidae) and Pionus maximiliani (Psittacidae) were mainly pulp eaters, dropping the seeds below the tree. on the forest floor, after fruits dehiscence, jays (Cyanocorax chrysops), guans (Penelope superciliaris), doves (Geotrygon montana) and collared-peccaries (Pecari tajacu) were observed eating the blue diaspores of M. nobilis. Experiments in captivity showed that scaly-headed parrots (Pionus maximiliani), toco toucans (Ramphastos toco), jays (Cyanochorax chrysops), and guans (Penelope superciliaris) consumed the fruits and did not prey on the seeds before consumption. The seeds collected from the feces did not germinate in spite of the high viability. The two stages of seed dispersal in M. nobilis resembles the dispersal strategies of some mimetic species. However M. nobilis seeds are associated with an endocarp, it showed low investment in nutrients, and consistent with this hypothesis, M. nobilis shared important characteristics with mimetic fruits, such as bright color display, long seed dormancy and protection by secondary compounds.

Factors affecting seed predation of Eriotheca gracipiles (Bombacaceae) by parakeets in a cerrado fragment

Psittacids are important pre-dispersal seed predators. However, little is known about the parameters that may determine seed predation rates by these birds, such as plants' characteristics and microhabitat. Eriotheca gracilipes (Bombacaceae) is a semi-deciduous tree widely distributed in the Brazilian cerrado. The fruits are dehiscent pods and the seeds are wind-dispersed. Some individuals lose their leaves during the fruiting season, getting very conspicuous. Here we tested the hypothesis that the absence of leaves in E. gracilipes during the fruiting season may increase pre-dispersal seed predation by psittacids. We also tested the hypotheses that (1) seed predation intensity increases with increasing plant size and (2) number of fruits, (3) seed predation decreases with the increasing number of conspecific plants in a range of 15 m, and (4) seed predation intensity is lower in plants with higher vegetation cover over their crowns. The small parakeet Brotogeris versicolurus was the only species observed preying upon the seeds of E. gracilipes. The percentage of fruits damaged by the parakeets ranged from 0 to 100% (66.98 +/- 43.11%, n = 72) among the different plants. Our data give weak support to the hypothesis that the absence of leaves may facilitate plants and/or fruits detection by the parakeets. However, seed predation intensity was significantly affected by crop size. The hypothesis that conspecific fruiting plants surrounding the studied individuals may reduce predation rate was not supported. Nevertheless, trees without higher vegetation cover over their crowns were significantly affected by increased seed predation. This suggests that seed predation by parakeets can be a potential selective factor influencing fruit crop sizes in E. gracilipes. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

KARYOTYPE STUDIES IN 22 SPECIES OF PARROTS (PSITTACIFORMES, AVES)

The karyotypes of 12 species of Psittaciformes new to cytology are described: Lorius hypoinochrous, L. lory and Phigys solitarius of the Loriidae, and Amazona autumnallis, Aratinga jandaya, Eclectus roratus, Pionus maximiliani, P. menstruus, P. senilis, P. seniloides, Poicephalus senegalus and Polytelis alexandrae of the Psittacidae. The karyotypes of Amazona ochrocephala, Ara ararauna, Ara macao, Psittacula krameri, Psittacus erithacus and Pyrrhura molinae of the Psittacidae have been previously described. For reasons of comparison the karyotypes of Aratinga aurea, Forpus xanthopterygius, Brotogeris sanctithomae and B. versicolorus of the Psittacidae are also described. These karyotypes are compared to those in the literature and the karyological relationships in the Psittaciformes are briefly discussed. Microchromosome fusions and translocations and pericentric inversions probably are responsible for the heterogeneity of karyotypes in the Psittaciformes.

B-mode ultrasonography biometry of the Amazon Parrot (Amazona aestiva) eye

PurposeUltrasonographic evaluation of the eye is a relatively recent addition to routine ophthalmic diagnostics in small animal ophthalmology. Some parameters for ophthalmic biometry have been established. There are few studies in clinical avian ophthalmology that describe ultrasound images of eye in some nocturnal avian species and in other birds that do not belong to the Brazilian fauna, but the psittacine family is not represented. The purpose of this study was to describe the following measurements: the distances between cornea and anterior lens capsule (D1) between the anterior and posterior lens capsule (D2), between posterior lens capsule and optic papilla (D3) and the axial length.MethodSixty four transpalpebral ocular ultrasound examinations were performed on 32 Blue fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) with no history of previous ophthalmic disease.Result and DiscussionThe measurements were taken in sagital planes using a 10 MHz linear probe without a standoff pad. The mean values for the left eye were; D1 0.17 +/- 0.03 cm, D2 0.35 +/- 0.02 cm, D3 0.73 +/- 0.04 cm and the axial length 1.26 +/- 0.06 cm. In the right eye D1 0.17 +/- 0.02 cm, D2 0.34 +/- 0.02 cm, D3 0.74 +/- 0.03 cm and the axial length 1.25 +/- 0.05 cm. No significant statistical difference was observed among the birds or between the left and right eye. The description of these parameters will allow the veterinary practitioner to evaluate the structural changes that specific diseases may cause in these animals.

Birds at Eucalyptus and other flowers in Southern Brazil: A review

In southern Brazil, I recorded 14 species of hummingbirds, one woodpecker, three Psittacidae, four Tyrannidae, one mockingbird, and 31 tanagers and relatives at eucalyptus flowers. Others have registered 3 different hummingbirds, another parrotlet, four more tyrannids, a peppershrike, a thrush, and 5 tanagers and related birds, for a total of 69 species. However, commercial plantations rarely flower, so use is local or undependable. Understory Phaethorninae are not recorded at eucalyptus, rarely at other tall and hence multiflowered trees. Bromelias and other flowers are noted in various studies, which add 89 species of flower feeders, including 14 Psittacidae, 17 Trochilidae, and 37 tanagers and relatives. Isolated low flowers and epiphytes are mostly visited by hummingbirds (some by Coereba), but some tall trees (Chorisia) also. As two times as many tanager species visit flowers as hummingbirds, researchers will have to get up early and patiently study treetop and nonpatchy habitats. However, tree plantations can attract artificially, like feeders. Bunch-flowering extrafloral nectar (Mabea, Combretum) is preferred by wandering mixed-flock treetop or edge tanagers and relatives, which often crawl over bunched flowers like parrots or woodpeckers (or marsupials and other mammals) rather than hover at separate flowers like nonflocking Trochilidae or peck from nearby like Nectariniidae and Coereba. Clamberers and petal-pullers, even nectar robbers, can cause evolution of umbels and other bunched flowers, for the bird, mammal or insect receives pollen from nearby flowers. Psittacidae, saltators and others mostly eat flowers, but can pollinate if they touch nearby flowers. Multiflowered trees can also attract hawks, causing waves of tanagers, parrots and others that move on to pollinate trees via fear and nectarivory. Certain groups, notably thrushes and tyrannids, seem to use nectar little, the latter often catching insects.

An outbreak of chlamydiosis in captive blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) in Brazil

Fifty-eight blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) nestlings, recovered from the illegal trade, became ill at a wildlife rehabilitation center in São Paulo State, Brazil. Clinical signs observed were nonspecific, and the mortality rate was 96.5% despite initial treatment with norfloxacin. Postmortem examinations were performed on 10 birds. Liver and spleen smears showed structures suggestive of Chlamydophila psittaci in four cases. Diagnosis was confirmed by seminested polymerase chain reaction on tissue samples. Other birds from the same location showed no clinical signs of the disease, although high complement fixation titers to C. psittaci were found in 10 adult psittacines. All birds in the facility were treated with doxycycline. The two surviving nestlings did not recover after two doxycycline treatments and were euthanatized. The high mortality rate observed in this outbreak was attributed to poor conditions of husbandry and delays in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. After diagnosis, improved control measures for chlamydiosis were instituted.

Distribuição e tamanho populacional do papagaio-de-cara-roxa Amazona brasiliensis no estado de São Paulo

The Red-tailed Amazon Amazona brasiliensis is one of most threatened psitacid in the world. In the state of São Paulo, SE Brazil, it is restricted to a narrow coastal zone. The total population of A. brasiliensis has been estimated to be around 4,000 birds, but no detailed information is known for São Paulo. We studied the population status and mapped the distribution of A. brasiliensis in the state of São Paulo. Simultaneous censuses were carried out in three main islands (Cananéia, Ilha do Cardoso and Ilha Comprida) with A. brasiliensis populations in 2003 and 2004. We searched the parrots in an area of 1413.28 km2 and visited 69 sites. Amazona brasiliensis were recorded in 55 localities and 12 sleeping roosts. Our census estimated a population of at least 1,221 parrots in the stronghold of their distribution in the state of São Paulo. The highest number of parrots were recorded outside the main protected areas in the region (64% of the population), which may threaten the future of this population. Urban growing is the main threat for the population of São Paulo, and the creation of protected areas in Cananéia and Comprida island is critical for the future of the A. brasiliensis in the area.

Clinical and immunological aspects of newcastle disease vaccination in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Presence of a human diarrheagenic escherichia coli clone in captivity kept psittacidaes

Bacterial cultures of cloaca swabs from 86 captivity kept psittacidaes revealed 17 Escherichia coli bearing birds sharing strains which, on the basis of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR analysis, proved to be genetically similar. Further, triplex PCR specific for the genetic markers chuA, yjaA, and TSPE4.C2 was used to assign the strains to the E. coli reference collection (EcoR) B2 group. One strain of each, from the enteropathogenic (EPEC), enteroaggregative (EAEC) and Shiga toxin (STEC) E. coli pathovars were found among these isolates. © Marietto-Gonçalves et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

Relevance of lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis Selby, 1836) in experimental epidemiology of Newcastle disease

Studies were made to clarify the role that was played by the lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) in the epidemiological plan, under the perspective of its being a potential source of infection of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). The study used Specific-Pathogen-Free chicks (SPF) that were housed with lovebirds inoculated with a pathogenic strain (velogenic viscerotropic) of NDV pathogenic to chickens, by the ocular-nasal via. Each group was composed of six SPF chicks and four lovebirds. After five days of the inoculation of the lovebirds with NDV, SPF chicks were put together with each group of lovebirds. Cloacae swabs were collected after 9, 14 and 21 days post-challenge in both species (lovebirds and SPF chicks) for genome viral excretion by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Lovebirds did not demonstrate any clinical signs of NDV. They were refractory to the clinical disease with the NDV. However, NDV genome was detected 9 and 21 days after challenge. This study shows that lovebirds can be carriers NDV. Moreover, 100% of SPF chicks allocated with the infected lovebirds demonstrated clinical signs and lesions suggestive of NDV. In these birds, NDV genome was detected 9, 14 and 21 days after challenge. Thus, the transmission of the pathogenic virus from the lovebirds to SPF chicks that were housed together was evident until 21 days of the experimental infection. This study reveals the importance of lovebirds from the epidemiological point of view as potential source of infection of the NDV to other avian species that could be raised near this species. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2012.

Variação diária da excreção urofecal de metabólitos de glicocorticoides em papagaio verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Identificação do sexo de psitacídeos (Amazona aestiva) por meio da avaliação gonadal, utilizando a tomografia computadorizada (TC)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Sexagem molecular em aves: contribuições à conservação biológica e á divulgação científica

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Genética) - IBB

Effects of palm heart harvesting on avian frugivores in the Atlantic rain forest of Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)