Body condition and colonization by fungi of House SparrowsPasser domesticusin the urban and rural environment

Abstract

Mycoses of wild birds are rarely addressed in scientific research. We tested the hypothesis that urban populations of House Sparrow Passer domesticus, which in many cities showed downward trends in their number and are characterized by lower body mass and poorer body condition, would be more frequently colonized by fungi. To evaluate the degree of bird colonization by fungi, swabs were taken from the beak cavity and cloaca of birds from urban and rural populations in the breeding season. A high degree of bird colonization by fungi was determined in both types of habitats (urban: 86% of population; rural: 92% of population). In total, 26 species of fungi were isolated (urban: 15 species; rural: 22 species). No significant differences were determined between the number of fungi species identified in birds from urban and rural habitats and between the degree of colonization of the two ontocenoses (beak cavity and cloaca). In both environments, Candida krusei turned out to be the prevalent fungus, with a clear predominance in the urban population. The extent of ontocenoses colonization was higher in adult than in juvenile birds, which indicated that the colonization of ontocenoses progresses with age. A significant correlation was found between the presence of fungi, lower values body condition parameters from the urban population (F -degree of fat score, logBM -body mass logarithm, logT -tarsus length logarithm, BM/WL -body mass/wing length, logBM/logWL, BM/TL -body mass/tail length), physiological condition, and age of birds, which may suggest that adults birds with worse condition, and higher haemoglobin level were more often colonized by fungi. No important differences in the fungal colonization were detected between urban and rural areas, thus, the hypothesis that fungal infection may be the cause of decline of sparrows in urban habitats is still to be demonstrated.

Using point‐of‐care devices to examine covariation among blood nutritional‐physiological parameters and their relationships with poxvirus infection, habitat urbanization, and male plumage coloration in house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus)

“…Previous studies found that POC‐measured blood parameters in one or several bird species were also comparable to traditional laboratory assays, even though POC testing devices had slightly higher values compared with the laboratory tests (Beattie et al, 2022; Morales et al, 2020). Our results had similar value ranges (Supporting Information S1: Table 2) compared with many other studies of different passerine species (Beattie et al, 2022; Dulisz et al, 2021; Gadau et al, 2019; Glądalski et al, 2018; Kaliński et al, 2014, 2022; Lieske et al, 2002; McGraw et al, 2020; Morales et al, 2020), which makes POC devices affordable and accessible tools that could be used to study life‐history and blood nutritional physiological parameters in other wild animals. We note that POC devices can measure other hematological variables, such as cholesterol, electrolytes, and hemoglobin concentrations (Livingston et al, 2022; Morales et al, 2020; Sahoo et al, 2022), and we encourage other studies to investigate these additional blood parameters to understand the full efficacy and utility of POC devices with wildlife species.…”

“…In our analysis examining various biological predictors of levels of each nutritional‐physiological metric, we found that urban house finches in this winter (pre‐breeding) study had higher glucose concentrations than did suburban birds. Previous studies in great tits ( P. major ; Glądalski et al, 2018), blue tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus ; Kaliński et al, 2014), and house sparrows ( P. domesticus ; Dulisz et al, 2021; Gadau et al, 2019) also found a higher concentration of blood glucose in urban birds. These results suggest that food sources in urban locations (e.g., bird feeders) might be more readily available compared with suburban locations, as well as a lower usage of carbohydrates for shorter‐distance flights to forage for energy‐rich resources (Rothe et al, 1987).…”

Search for Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii Complexes and Related Genera (Filobasidium, Holtermanniella, Naganishia, Papiliotrema, Solicoccozyma, Vishniacozyma) spp. Biotope: Two Years Surveillance of Wild Avian Fauna in Southern France

“…N. albida was isolated from a number of wild ducks and teals [ 63 ]. P. laurentii was also isolated from a very limited number of migratory birds, Canadian goose feces, a bird of prey, and a house sparrow [ 64 , 65 , 66 ]. N. globosa was isolated from a bird belonging to the Charadriiforme order [ 67 ].…”

“…When performed in cats and koalas, age was not a determinant of carriage [ 40 , 75 ]. It has been, however, shown that colonization with other fungi (mainly Candida krusei and Candida albicans ) increases with age in house sparrows [ 66 ], suggesting a cumulative risk of carriage with age. Our data seem to be in accordance with the latter result.…”

“…, were found in this study, even in Columbiformes (pigeons and doves) that are known reservoirs for this pathogen. Isolation of C. neoformans has been documented in the literature in a limited number of other birds than pigeons, such as Anas crecca , A. platyrhinchos [ 52 , 63 ], Falco tinnunculus [ 64 ], and various passerine birds [ 66 , 84 ]. However, the positive samples obtained in these studies came in fact from dead birds, birds in an aviary, or birds captured on buildings in an urban area or in villages.…”