Diseases in gamebirds: an update

Welchman, D. de B.

doi:10.1136/inp.i1487

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…As humans continuously alter landscapes and ecological communities, the knowledge of how parasites and their hosts respond to these changes and the implications and consequences for the transmission and distribution of infectious agents are of paramount importance [10][11][12]. We found a quite high prevalence of avian malaria parasites in redlegged partridges in central Spain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…There is now a large body of literature showing remarkable large-scale responses in some animal populations affected by human disturbance [1][2][3]. Among these perturbations, common practices used today such as the relocation and introduction of animals have played a significant role on the emergence and spread of several diseases [4][5][6][7][8][9][10], with significant consequences for wildlife, domestic animals, and humans [11,12]. The human-based spread of infectious agents over new areas jeopardizes wild animal populations by exposure to exotic pathogens [13][14][15][16], some of which may be parasites harboured by introduced animals [17][18][19][20][21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk of Infection, Local Prevalence and Seasonal Changes in an Avian Malaria Community Associated with Game Bird Releases

et al. 2021

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Anthropogenic activities, such as the translocation or introduction of animals, may cause a parallel movement of exotic parasites harboured by displaced animals. Although introduction and/or relocation of animals for hunting purposes is an increasingly common management technique, the effects of gamebird release as a major vehicle for the introduction of parasites into new geographic regions have rarely been reported. We examined the prevalence and distribution of avian malaria parasites infecting resident avian hosts (red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa) at a local scale, with a particular emphasis on the effects of releasing farm-reared birds for hunting on the spatial and temporal structure of the parasite community. We collected blood samples from adult partridges from two game estates with partridge releases and two sites without releases over two periods (spring and autumn). We tested the probability of infection and differences in the parasite community in relation to the management model (releases vs. non releases) and sampling period, comparing autumn (when farm-reared birds are released) and spring (after hunting season, when mostly wild birds can be found in the population). We found a high prevalence (54%) of Plasmodium spp., and substantial differences in the spatial and temporal distribution of parasite lineages among the populations studied. Some parasite lineages occurred at high frequencies in game estates without introduction of farm-reared partridges, while other lineages were more abundant in game estates with releases than in those without releases. Overall, the prevalence of avian malaria was similar between spring and autumn at non-release sites, whereas in sites with releases, it was higher in autumn than in spring—probably due to artificial restocking with infected farm-reared birds at the onset of the hunting season. In short, humans may be an important agent driving the alteration of the spatial structure of local parasite fauna via the introduction of exotic parasites by gamebird release, which could cause avian malaria outbreaks with severe repercussions for native avifauna.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk of Infection, Local Prevalence and Seasonal Changes in an Avian Malaria Community Associated with Game Bird Releases

et al. 2021

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“…Some clinicians have claimed success at reducing the incidence of infectious sinusitis in pheasant flocks following the use of inactivated chicken-licensed commercial or autogenous MG vaccines. However, in the absence of published data their efficacy remains unproven [42]. The use of live chicken-licensed commercial MG vaccines is discouraged by the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) due to uncertainty regarding their efficacy and possible spread to non-target birds [39].…”

Section: Vaccinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ring-Necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Industry within the United Kingdom and the Threat Posed by Mycoplasma gallisepticum: A Review

Balfour

2022

Veterinary Sciences

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In ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection is frequently associated with infectious sinusitis. This condition causes swelling of the infraorbital sinuses, upper respiratory distress, depression and variable levels of mortality, and is considered one of the most important clinical and economic diseases of pheasants. This review provides a brief overview of the structure of the UK pheasant industry, with reference to the various stages within the supply chain, common diseases and challenges facing the industry. The current understanding of MG transmission, prevalence, clinical expression, diagnosis and control strategies in pheasants is subsequently summarised. In addition, this review aims to assess the current gaps in knowledge relating specifically to MG in pheasants, with reference and extrapolation where appropriate to data gathered from other species.

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“…However, little is known about the sources of variation of circulating carotenoids in females or in wild individuals, which have higher levels of blood carotenoids and redder ornaments that captive ones (García‐de Blas et al., 2013; the authors, unpublished data). In addition, knowledge on malaria parasites of this species is limited to a handful of studies (Encinas, 1982; García et al., 2021; Höfle et al., 2022; Millán et al., 2002; Tizzani et al., 2020) and is missing from recent disease reviews (see Díaz‐Sánchez et al., 2022; Welchman, 2016). Furthermore, nothing is known about occurrence and intensity of haemoparasite infections, and their possible relationships with physical condition, sex or carotenoid levels, albeit these parasites are known to occur with relatively high prevalence in this species (García et al., 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual differences in blood parasite infections, circulating carotenoids and body condition in free‐living red‐legged partridges

et al. 2023

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A central issue in avian ecology deals with the trade‐off between investment life‐history components, such as reproductive effort, and parasite and disease resistance. During reproduction, differences in the particular needs of males and females may further affect the outcome of such trade‐off. However, most studies performed to date on avian species have focused on males, while less is known about this subject in females. We investigated haemoparasite infections (genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon) in relation to sex, year, body condition and plasma concentrations of carotenoids in wild‐breeding Red‐legged partridges (Alectoris rufa). Our aim was to examine whether there are differences in infections between sexes and how parasite infections relate to carotenoid levels, physical condition and breeding parameters in non‐passerine wild birds. Males captured early in the breeding season were in better body condition than females, indicating a marked sexual difference in this trait in wild Red‐legged partridges. The prevalence of blood parasites in males was higher than in females. However, we found that females infected by blood parasites had lower plasma carotenoid concentrations than uninfected females, whereas no association between infection and carotenoid levels was found in males. This suggests sex‐related differences in the use of carotenoids to fight infections or for parasite resistance. A possible explanation of this contrasting pattern between sexes is that reproduction may not have to involve the same costs for males and females. We suggest that males would be under strong sexual selection and would trade health for signalling, which could simultaneously explain highest parasite prevalence being found in males and the contrasting patterns in blood carotenoid levels between males and females. Females in contrast, that were in worst body condition during early breeding season, were more sensitive to infections, diverting carotenoids to immune function more than males.

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Diseases in gamebirds: an update

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

Risk of Infection, Local Prevalence and Seasonal Changes in an Avian Malaria Community Associated with Game Bird Releases

Risk of Infection, Local Prevalence and Seasonal Changes in an Avian Malaria Community Associated with Game Bird Releases

The Ring-Necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Industry within the United Kingdom and the Threat Posed by Mycoplasma gallisepticum: A Review

Sexual differences in blood parasite infections, circulating carotenoids and body condition in free‐living red‐legged partridges

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