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An approximately 26-year-old, suspected female, red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) was presented with a history of chronic ocular changes of the left eye likely secondary to blunt trauma resulting in blindness and phthisis bulbi. Ophthalmic evaluation of OS revealed a large intraocular mass, 3+ aqueous flare indicating anterior uveitis, and severely decreased intraocular pressure measuring 5 mmHg. Ocular ultrasound revealed an abnormal, spherical shaped and hyperechoic lens, as well as hyperechoic material or a mass lesion in the posterior segment. An enucleation procedure was performed, and histopathology of the eye revealed no signs of neoplasia but instead intraocular osseous metaplasia with bone marrow and adipose tissue replacing the lens. Similar mass lesions were found in the retina and choroid. Multiple fractures in the scleral ossicle and cartilage correlated the intraocular lesions with a blunt traumatic event. A bioresorbable disk of porcine small intestine submucosa (BioSIS Vetrix®) was incorporated to relieve tension during closure. The graft sloughed during healing process, revealing a healed wound underneath. The BioSIS was not incorporated into the wound as designed but may have facilitated healing. This is the first report of intraocular osseous metaplasia in a raptor and the use of BioSIS Vetrix® with enucleation in an avian species.
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OBJECTIVE: To develop an ultrasound (US)-guided ventral approach to the brachial plexus (BP) and evaluate nerve anatomy and staining in barred owl cadavers. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, cadaveric study. ANIMALS: Eleven adult male and female barred owl cadavers with a body mass of 0.43-0.98 kg. METHODS: Eleven frozen cadavers were thawed for 48 hours, weighed and assigned a body condition score. Ten cadavers were placed in dorsal recumbency with wings abducted. US-guided visualization of the BP was achieved by placing a 13-6 MHz linear probe over the ventral aspect of the scapulohumeral joint, parallel to the sternum. A 22 gauge, 50 mm insulated needle was advanced in-plane in a caudal-to-cranial direction. In each owl, injection targeting one BP was performed with 0.4 mL kg-1 of a 1:1 0.5% ropivacaine and 1% methylene blue solution. Dissection was performed 15 minutes postinjection. Nerve staining was deemed successful if ≥ 1 cm of circumferential staining was achieved. The eleventh owl cadaver was injected with a 1:1 solution of 1% methylene blue and 74% ioversol contrast into both wings, and computed tomography (CT) was performed just before and 15 minutes after injection. RESULTS: The BP was clearly identified ultrasonographically in cadavers weighing > 0.5 kg. An injectate volume of 0.4 mL kg-1 provided complete staining of the BP branches in all cadavers. CT scan revealed no contrast within the coelomic cavity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The US-guided BP injection using a ventral approach was easily performed in barred owl cadavers weighing > 0.5 kg. The injection of 0.4 mL kg-1 of a ropivacaine-dye solution resulted in complete staining of the BP branches in all wings, suggesting that this technique could provide analgesia for structures distal to the scapulohumeral joint. Clinical studies are necessary to confirm the safety and efficacy of this technique in barred owls and other bird species.
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Understanding how human activities affect wildlife is fundamental for global biodiversity conservation. Ongoing land use change and human-induced climate change, compel species to adapt their behaviour in response to shifts in their natural environments. Such responses include changes to a species' diet or trophic ecology, with implications for the wider ecosystem. This is particularly the case for predatory species or those that occupy high positions within trophic webs, such as raptors. Between 2002 and 2019, we observed 1578 feeding events of the globally near threatened and understudied, Red-necked Falcon (Falco chicquera) in Bangladesh. We explored the effects of mean monthly temperature, precipitation, temperature differences, and urban land cover on (a) mean prey weights and (b) dietary composition of 15 falcon pairs. Falcons hunted smaller prey items during months with increased temperatures and precipitation, and in more urban areas. However, during months with increased temperature differences, falcons tended to prey on larger prey items. Being specialist aerial hunters, these dietary patterns were largely driven by the probabilities of bats and birds in the diet. Falcons were more likely to prey on bats during warmer and wetter months. Furthermore, urban pairs tended to prey on bats, whereas more rural pairs tended to prey on birds. Mean monthly temperature difference, i.e., a proxy for climate change, was better at explaining the probability of bats in the falcon diet than mean monthly temperature alone. Anthropogenic dietary shifts can have deleterious effects on species with declining populations or those of conservation concern. The effects of urbanisation and human-induced climate change are expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Therefore, our findings represent a cornerstone in our understanding of how falcons respond to an increasingly human-dominated world.
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Migratory connectivity describes the linkage between breeding and nonbreeding sites, having major ecological implications in birds: 1 season influence the success of an individual or a population in the following season. Most studies on migratory connectivity have used large-scale approaches, often considering regional populations, but fine-scale studies are also necessary to understand colony connectivity. The lesser kestrel Falco naumanni, an insectivorous migratory raptor which form colonies during the breeding period, was considered to have strong connectivity based on regional populations. However, no small-scale studies on migratory connectivity have been conducted. Therefore, we GPS (Global Positioning System)-tracked 40 adult lesser kestrels from 15 different Spanish breeding colonies, estimating the overlap index between home ranges and the distance between their centroids. It was found that lesser kestrels from the same breeding colony placed their nonbreeding areas at 347 ± 281 km (mean ± standard deviation) away from each other (range = 23-990), and their home ranges overlapped by 38.4 ± 23.6%. No differences between intra-colony and inter-colony metrics were found, which suggests that lesser kestrels from the same breeding cluster do not overwinter together, but they spread out and mixed independently of the colony belonging throughout the nonbreeding range of the species. Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of performing connectivity studies using fine-scale approaches.
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After a massive decline, the Griffon Vulture (Gypsfulvus) population in Bulgaria has now stabilised as a result of the hard work of conservation programmes, although it is still listed as an Endangered species (EN) in the country's Red Data Book. Due to a series of unfortunate events, another species - the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypiusmonachus) became extinct in Bulgaria and recovered only recently due to systematic re-introduction efforts. Along with the poor living conditions, a predisposing factor for the decreasing population of the vultures is the fact they hatch only a single egg; two may be laid on exceptions. The survival rate of the young is from medium to low. In that order, a method of double clutching has been applied in the hope of preserving and retrieving both of the vultures. This article aims to introduce the double clutching method in detail, as well as to show the results of its implementation into the breeding programme of the Cinereous Vulture and the Griffon Vulture at the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre of Green Balkans - Stara Zagora NGO. This research studies the time period 2019-2023. The purpose of this study is to compare the results of natural copulation and hatching and those of the double clutching method. The data taken are used for studies for both the Cinereous and the Griffon Vulture's reproduction in correlation with their feeding programme and living conditions. The results of the study will be summarised into the following text for the purposes of shedding light on the positives of the double clutching method.
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At the top of many ecosystems, raptors, also known as birds of prey, hold major influence. They shape their surroundings through their powerful hunting skills and complex interactions with their environment. This study investigates the beak morphology of four prominent raptor species, Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Common buzzard (Buteo buteo), Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), found in Türkiye. By employing geometric morphometric methods, we investigate shape variations in the beaks of these species to unravel the adaptive significance of their cranial structures. This analysis reveals distinct beak morphologies among the studied raptors, reflecting adaptations to their feeding habits, hunting techniques and ecological niches. The results from Principal component analysis and Canonical variate analysis demonstrate significant differences in beak morphology between the Falconiformes and Accipitriformes clades, as well as among all three groups. The overall mean beak shapes of Golden Eagles are quite similar to Common Buzzards, with both species having longer beaks. In contrast, Falcons exhibit a distinctly different beak morphology, characterized by wider and shorter beaks. Changes in beak shape can lead to changes depending on the skull. It is thought that skull shape variations among predator families may have an impact on beak shape. These findings highlight the importance of integrating morphometric analyses with ecological insights to enhance our understanding of the evolutionary processes shaping raptor beak morphology.
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Pico , Falconiformes , Animales , Pico/anatomía & histología , Falconiformes/anatomía & histología , Falconiformes/fisiología , Rapaces/anatomía & histología , Cráneo/anatomía & histología , Análisis de Componente Principal , Águilas/anatomía & histología , Águilas/fisiología , Conducta Predatoria/fisiología , Especificidad de la EspecieRESUMEN
Members of the genus Scaphanocephalus mature in accipitrids, particularly osprey, Pandion haliaetus, with metacercaria causing Black Spot Syndrome in reef fishes. In most of the world, only the type species, Scaphanocephalus expansus (Creplin, 1842) has been reported. Recent molecular studies in the Western Atlantic, Mediterranean and Persian Gulf reveal multiple species of Scaphanocephalus, but have relied on 28S rDNA, mainly from metacercariae, which limits both morphological identification and resolution of closely related species. Here we combine nuclear rDNA with mitochondrial sequences from adult worms collected in osprey across North America and the Caribbean to describe species and elucidate life cycles in Scaphanocephalus. A new species described herein can be distinguished from S. expansus based on overall body shape and size. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole mitochondrial genome of Scaphanocephalus indicates a close relationship with Cryptocotyle. We conclude that at least 3 species of Scaphanocephalus are present in the Americas and 2 others are in the Old World. Specimens in the Americas have similar or identical 28S to those in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, but amphi-Atlantic species are unlikely in light of divergence in cytochrome c oxidase I and the lack of amphi-Atlantic avian and fish hosts. Our results provide insight into the geographic distribution and taxonomy of a little-studied trematode recently linked to an emerging pathology in ecologically important reef fishes.
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AIMS: Proper arteriogenesis after tissue ischaemia is necessary to rebuild stable blood circulation; nevertheless, this process is impaired in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Raptor is a scaffold protein and a component of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). However, the role of the endothelial Raptor in arteriogenesis under the conditions of T2DM remains unknown. This study investigated the role of endothelial Raptor in ischaemia-induced arteriogenesis during T2DM. METHODS AND RESULTS: Although endothelial mTORC1 is hyperactive in T2DM, we observed a marked reduction in the expression of endothelial Raptor in two mouse models and in human vessels. Inducible endothelial-specific Raptor knockout severely exacerbated impaired hindlimb perfusion and arteriogenesis after hindlimb ischaemic injury in 12-week high-fat diet fed mice. Additionally, we found that Raptor deficiency dampened vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signalling in endothelial cells (ECs) and inhibited VEGF-induced cell migration and tube formation in a PTP1B-dependent manner. Furthermore, mass spectrometry analysis indicated that Raptor interacts with neuropilin 1 (NRP1), the co-receptor of VEGFR2, and mediates VEGFR2 trafficking by facilitating the interaction between NRP1 and Synectin. Finally, we found that EC-specific overexpression of the Raptor mutant (loss of mTOR binding) reversed impaired hindlimb perfusion and arteriogenesis induced by endothelial Raptor knockout in high-fat diet fed mice. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our study demonstrated the crucial role of endothelial Raptor in promoting ischaemia-induced arteriogenesis in T2DM by mediating VEGFR2 signalling. Thus, endothelial Raptor is a novel therapeutic target for promoting arteriogenesis and ameliorating perfusion in T2DM.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Células Endoteliales , Isquemia , Proteína Reguladora Asociada a mTOR , Transducción de Señal , Animales , Humanos , Masculino , Ratones , Movimiento Celular , Células Cultivadas , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/genética , Angiopatías Diabéticas/metabolismo , Angiopatías Diabéticas/fisiopatología , Angiopatías Diabéticas/genética , Angiopatías Diabéticas/etiología , Angiopatías Diabéticas/patología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Células Endoteliales/metabolismo , Células Endoteliales/patología , Miembro Posterior/irrigación sanguínea , Células Endoteliales de la Vena Umbilical Humana/metabolismo , Isquemia/metabolismo , Isquemia/fisiopatología , Isquemia/genética , Isquemia/patología , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Noqueados , Músculo Esquelético/irrigación sanguínea , Músculo Esquelético/metabolismo , Neovascularización Fisiológica , Flujo Sanguíneo Regional , Proteína Reguladora Asociada a mTOR/metabolismo , Proteína Reguladora Asociada a mTOR/genética , Proteína Reguladora Asociada a mTOR/deficiencia , Receptor 2 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismo , Receptor 2 de Factores de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/genéticaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has been implicated in promoting epileptogenesis in animal models of acquired epilepsy, such as posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) following traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the specific anatomical regions and neuronal populations mediating mTOR's role in epileptogenesis are not well defined. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that mTOR activation in dentate gyrus granule cells promotes neuronal death, mossy fiber sprouting, and PTE in the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI. METHODS: An adeno-associated virus (AAV)-Cre viral vector was injected into the hippocampus of Rptorflox/flox (regulatory-associated protein of mTOR) mutant mice to inhibit mTOR activation in dentate gyrus granule cells. Four weeks after AAV-Cre or AAV-vehicle injection, mice underwent CCI injury and were subsequently assessed for mTOR pathway activation by Western blotting, neuronal death, and mossy fiber sprouting by immunopathological analysis, and posttraumatic seizures by video-electroencephalographic monitoring. RESULTS: AAV-Cre injection primarily affected the dentate gyrus and inhibited hippocampal mTOR activation following CCI injury. AAV-Cre-injected mice had reduced neuronal death in dentate gyrus detected by Fluoro-Jade B staining and decreased mossy fiber sprouting by ZnT3 immunostaining. Finally, AAV-Cre-injected mice exhibited a decrease in incidence of PTE. SIGNIFICANCE: mTOR pathway activation in dentate gyrus granule cells may at least partly mediate pathological abnormalities and epileptogenesis in models of TBI and PTE. Targeted modulation of mTOR activity in this hippocampal network may represent a focused therapeutic approach for antiepileptogenesis and prevention of PTE.
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Giro Dentado , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Epilepsia Postraumática , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR , Animales , Giro Dentado/metabolismo , Giro Dentado/patología , Ratones , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/metabolismo , Epilepsia Postraumática/etiología , Fibras Musgosas del Hipocampo/efectos de los fármacos , Masculino , Lesiones Traumáticas del Encéfalo/complicaciones , Lesiones Traumáticas del Encéfalo/metabolismo , Lesiones Traumáticas del Encéfalo/patología , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Neuronas/patología , Neuronas/metabolismo , Electroencefalografía , Ratones TransgénicosRESUMEN
In human and veterinary medicine, the treatment of synovial cysts involves medical or surgical approach. When medical treatment is chosen, triamcinolone acetonide is one of the most used drugs. In this case, intracystic triamcinolone was administered for the treatment of a non-infectious elbow synovial cyst in a subadult female Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), unable to fly. The bird was brought to a wildlife rescue center after an aerial fight with a conspecific. After the treatment, no clinically detectable adverse effects were noted and there was no recurrence within two weeks. Given the improvement of the clinical conditions and the recovery of flight ability, the animal was released back into the wild 17 days after administration of the drug.
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Enfermedades de las Aves , Águilas , Quiste Sinovial , Triamcinolona Acetonida , Animales , Femenino , Triamcinolona Acetonida/uso terapéutico , Triamcinolona Acetonida/administración & dosificación , Enfermedades de las Aves/tratamiento farmacológico , Quiste Sinovial/veterinaria , Quiste Sinovial/tratamiento farmacológico , Antiinflamatorios/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Recent experiments with gliding raptors reveal a perplexing dichotomy: remarkably resilient gust rejection, but, at the same time, an exceptionally high degree of longitudinal instability. To resolve this incompatibility, a multiple degree of freedom model is developed with minimal requisite complexity to examine the hypothesis that the bird shoulder joint may embed essential stabilizing and preflexive mechanisms for rejecting rapid perturbations while simplifying and reducing control effort. Thus, the formulation herein is centrally premised upon distinct wing pitch and body pitch angles coupled via a Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic shoulder joint. The model accurately exhibits empirical gust response of an unstable gliding raptor, generates biologically plausible equilibrium configurations, and the viscoelastic shoulder coupling is shown to drastically alleviate the high degree of instability predicted by conventional linear flight dynamics models. In fact, stability analysis of the model predicts a critical system timescale (the time to double amplitude of a pitch divergence mode) that is commensurate within vivomeasured latency of barn owls (Tyto alba). Active gust mitigation is studied by presupposing the owl behaves as an optimal controller. The system is under-actuated and the feedback control law is resolved in the controllable subspace using a Kalman decomposition. Importantly, control-theoretic analysis precisely identifies what discrete gust frequencies may be rapidly and passively rejected versus disturbances requiring feedback control intervention.
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Vuelo Animal , Modelos Biológicos , Animales , Vuelo Animal/fisiología , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Alas de Animales/fisiología , Viscosidad , Rapaces/fisiología , Elasticidad , Biomimética/métodos , Simulación por Computador , Estrigiformes/fisiología , Articulación del Hombro/fisiología , Articulación del Hombro/fisiopatologíaRESUMEN
Human activities have led to the contamination of all environmental compartments worldwide, including bird species. In birds, both the environment and maternal transfer lead to high inter-brood variability in contamination levels of pollutants, whereas intra-brood variability is generally low. However, most existing studies focused on heavy metals or persistent compounds and none, to our knowledge, addressed the variability in contamination levels of multiple pesticides and the factors influencing it. In this study, the number of pesticides detected (of 104 compounds searched) and the sum of their concentrations in the blood of 55 Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) nestlings from 22 nests sampled in 2021 were used as metrics of contamination levels. We investigated the effect of organic farming at the size of male's home range (i.e., 14 km2) and chicks' sex and hatching order on contamination levels. We did not find a difference between inter-brood and intra-brood variability in pesticide contamination levels, suggesting a different exposure of siblings through food items. While chicks' sex or rank did not affect their contamination level, we found that the percentage of organic farming around the nests significantly decreased the number of pesticides detected, although it did not decrease the total concentrations. This finding highlights the potential role of organic farming in reducing the exposure of birds to a pesticide cocktail.
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Monitoreo del Ambiente , Contaminantes Ambientales , Agricultura Orgánica , Plaguicidas , Animales , Agricultura Orgánica/métodos , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Falconiformes , Masculino , FemeninoRESUMEN
Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans, stand as formidable pests with a global impact, inflicting significant economic losses on the livestock sector. Larval development occurs in diverse substrates, including decomposing plant material and manure, while emerged adults pose a threat through blood-feeding on both animals and humans. Conventional chemical control methods, predominantly reliant on insecticides, not only pose environmental risks but also face challenges of resistance among stable fly populations. To address this pressing issue, we propose an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy for stable fly control. This approach involved a combination of sanitary-cultural practices, animal protection, the release of natural enemies targeting immature stages, and a specialized trapping system for adults. The Stomoxycc® trap, designed for mass trapping of adult Stomoxys, was employed alongside the release of the predatory mite Macrocheles robustulus and two wasp parasitoids, Spalangia cameroni and Muscidifurax raptor (under the commercial brands Biomite® and Biowasp®) on animal bedding as a key component of this IPM strategy. The implementation of this initiative has been undertaken at a significant sanctuary for donkeys and mules in western Spain. In this publication, we present the application and results of the IPM strategy utilized and provide insights into its use as a sustainable and environmentally friendly option for controlling stable fly populations.
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Plastic ingestion presents many potential avenues of risk for wildlife. Understanding which species and environments are most exposed to plastic pollution is a critical first step in investigating the One Health implications of plastic exposure. The objectives of this study were the following: 1) Utilize necropsy as part of ongoing passive disease surveillance to investigate ingested mesoplastics in birds collected in Ontario and Nunavut, and examine the relationships between bird-level factors and ingested debris; 2) evaluate microplastic ingestion compared to ingested mesodebris in raptors; and 3) identify potential sentinel species for plastic pollution monitoring in understudied freshwater and terrestrial (inland) environments. Between 2020 and 2022, 457 free-ranging birds across 52 species were received for postmortem examination. The upper gastrointestinal tracts were examined for mesoplastics and other debris (>2 mm) using standard techniques. Twenty-four individuals (5.3%) retained mesodebris and prevalence varied across species, with foraging technique, food type, and foraging substrate all associated with different metrics of debris ingestion. The odds of ingesting any type of anthropogenic mesodebris was nine times higher for non-raptorial species than for raptors. For a subset of raptors (N = 54) across 14 species, the terminal portion of the distal intestinal tract was digested with potassium hydroxide and microparticles were assessed using stereo-microscopy. Although only one of 54 (1.9%) raptors included in both analyses retained mesodebris in the upper gastrointestinal tract, 24 (44.4%) contained microparticles in the distal intestine. This study demonstrates that a variety of Canadian bird species ingest anthropogenic debris in inland systems, and suggests that life history and behaviour are associated with ingestion risk. For raptors, the mechanisms governing exposure and ingestion of mesoplastics appear to be different than those that govern microplastics. Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) are proposed as ideal sentinels for plastic pollution monitoring in inland systems.
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Charadriiformes , Plásticos , Animales , Aves , Ingestión de Alimentos , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Agua Dulce , Microplásticos , Ontario , Plásticos/análisisRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) is an essential regulator of fundamental biological processes. mTOR forms 2 distinct complexes, mTORC1 (mTOR complex 1) when it binds with RAPTOR (Regulatory-associated Protein of mTOR) and mTORC2 (mTOR complex 2) when it associates with RICTOR (Rapamycin-insesitive companion of mTOR). Due to the previous link between the mTOR pathway, aldosterone, and blood pressure (BP), we anticipated that variants in the mTOR complex might be associated with salt-sensitive BP. METHODS: BP and other parameters were assessed after a one-week liberal Na+ (200 mmol/d) and a one-week restricted Na+ (10 mmol/d) diet in 608 White subjects from the Hypertensive Pathotype cohort, single-nucleotide variants in MTOR, RPTOR, and RICTOR genes were obtained for candidate genes analyses. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a significant association between a single nucleotide variants within the RPTOR gene and BP. Individuals carrying the RPTOR rs9901846 homozygous risk allele (AA) and heterozygous risk allele (GA) exhibited a 5 mm Hg increase in systolic BP on a liberal diet compared with nonrisk allele individuals (GG), but only in women. This single nucleotide variants effect was more pronounced on the restricted diet and present in both sexes, with AA carriers having a 9 mm Hg increase and GA carriers having a 5 mm Hg increase in systolic BP compared with GG. Interestingly, there were no significant associations between MTOR or RICTOR gene variants and BP. CONCLUSIONS: The RPTOR gene variation is associated with elevated BP in White participants, regardless of salt intake, specifically in females.
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Presión Sanguínea , Hipertensión , Proteína Reguladora Asociada a mTOR , Cloruro de Sodio Dietético , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Proteínas Portadoras/genética , Hipertensión/genética , Diana Mecanicista del Complejo 1 de la Rapamicina/metabolismo , Diana Mecanicista del Complejo 2 de la Rapamicina/metabolismo , Nucleótidos/metabolismo , Proteína Asociada al mTOR Insensible a la Rapamicina/metabolismo , Proteína Reguladora Asociada a mTOR/genética , Proteína Reguladora Asociada a mTOR/metabolismo , Sirolimus , Cloruro de Sodio Dietético/metabolismo , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/metabolismo , Población BlancaRESUMEN
Early-life experiences can drive subsequent variation in social behaviours, but how differences among individuals emerge remains unknown. We combined experimental manipulations with GPS-tracking to investigate the pathways through which developmental conditions affect social network position during the early dispersal of wild red kites (Milvus milvus). Across 211 juveniles from 140 broods, last-hatched chicks-the least competitive-had the fewest number of peer encounters after fledging. However, when food supplemented, they had more encounters than all others. Using 4425 bird-days of GPS data, we revealed that this was driven by differential responses to competition, with less competitive individuals naturally spreading out into marginal areas, and clustering in central foraging areas when food supplemented. Our results suggest that early-life adversities can cause significant natal legacies on individual behaviour beyond independence, with potentially far-reaching consequences on the social and spatial structure of animal populations.
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Aves , Conducta Social , Humanos , Animales , AlimentosRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Blunt bowel and/or mesenteric injury requiring surgery presents a diagnostic challenge. Although computed tomography (CT) imaging is standard following blunt trauma, findings can be nonspecific. Most studies have focused on the diagnostic value of CT findings in identifying significant bowel and/or mesenteric injury (sBMI). Some studies have described scoring systems to assist with diagnosis. Little attention, has been given to radiologist interpretation of CT scans. This study compared the discriminative ability of scoring systems (BIPS and RAPTOR) with radiologist interpretation in identifying sBMI. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of trauma patients with suspected sBMI. CT images were reviewed in a blinded fashion to calculate BIPS and RAPTOR scores. Sensitivity and specificity were compared between BIPS, RAPTOR, and the admission CT report with respect to identifying sBMI. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two patients were identified, 72 (44%) underwent laparotomy and 43 (26.5%) had sBMI. Sensitivity and specificity were: BIPS 49% and 87%, AUC 0.75 (0.67-0.81), P < 0.001; RAPTOR 46% and 82%, AUC 0.72 (0.64-0.79), P < 0.001; radiologist impression 81% and 71%, AUC 0.82(0.75-0.87), P < 0.001. The discriminative ability of the radiologist impression was higher than RAPTOR (P = 0.04) but not BIPS (P = 0.13). There was not a difference between RAPTOR vs. BIPS (P = 0.55). CONCLUSION: Radiologist interpretation of the admission CT scan was discriminative of sBMI. Although surgical vigilance, including evaluation of the CT images and patient, remains fundamental to early diagnosis, the radiologist's impression of the CT scan can be used in clinical practice to simplify the approach to patients with abdominal trauma.
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Traumatismos Abdominales , Heridas no Penetrantes , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Intestino Delgado/diagnóstico por imagen , Intestino Delgado/lesiones , Intestinos/lesiones , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X/métodos , Traumatismos Abdominales/diagnóstico por imagen , Traumatismos Abdominales/cirugía , Heridas no Penetrantes/diagnóstico por imagen , Heridas no Penetrantes/cirugíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Natal dispersal, the distance between site of birth and site of first breeding, has a fundamental role in population dynamics and species' responses to environmental changes. Population density is considered a key driver of natal dispersal. However, few studies have been able to examine densities at both the natal and the settlement site, which is critical for understanding the role of density in dispersal. Additionally, the role of density on natal dispersal remains poorly understood in long-lived and slowly reproducing species, due to their prolonged dispersal periods and often elusive nature. We studied the natal dispersal of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in response to local breeder densities. We investigated the effects of the number of active territories around the natal site on (a) natal dispersal distance and (b) the difference between natal and settlement site breeder density. We were interested in whether eagles showed tendencies of conspecific attraction (positive density-dependence) or intraspecific competition (negative density-dependence) and how this related to settlement site breeder density. METHODS: We used a combination of long-term visual and genotypic identification to match individuals from their breeding site to their natal nest. We identified natal dispersal events for 355 individuals hatched between 1984 and 2015 in the Baltic Sea coast and Arctic areas of Finland. Of those, 251 were identified by their genotype. RESULTS: Individuals born in high-density areas dispersed shorter distances than those born in low-density areas, but settled at lower density breeding sites in comparison to their natal site. Eagles born in low natal area densities dispersed farther but settled in higher density breeding sites compared to their natal site. CONCLUSIONS: We show that eagles might be attracted by conspecifics (positive density-dependence) to identify high-quality habitats or find mates, but do not settle in the most densely populated areas. This indicates that natal dispersal is affected by an interplay of conspecific attraction and intraspecific competition, which has implications for population dynamics of white-tailed eagles, but also other top predators. Furthermore, our study demonstrates the value of long-term collection of both nestling and (non-invasive) adult DNA samples, and thereafter using genotype matching to identify individuals in long-lived and elusive species.
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This report describes the diagnosis and treatment of a benign renal cyst in an adult, female golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) presented for unilateral leg lameness. A cyst at the cranial division of the left kidney was diagnosed by computed tomography and was suspected of compressing the lumbosacral nerve plexus, resulting in limb lameness. The renal cyst was incompletely excised because the cyst wall was closely adhered to the kidney parenchyma and local blood supply. Fluid analysis and surgical biopsy of the cyst and left kidney confirmed the diagnosis of a benign renal cyst. No evidence of an infectious, inflammatory, or neoplastic etiology was noted. Postoperatively, the eagle's lameness resolved and the bird was ultimately released following recovery. During treatment for the renal cyst, the eagle was concurrently found to have increased serum titers on elementary body agglutination for Chlamydia psittaci and a positive titer for Aspergillus species antibody testing. The bird was administered doxycycline, azithromycin, and voriconazole for treatment of these potential pathogens prior to release. Unfortunately, the eagle was found dead 86 days postrelease due to an unknown cause. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a golden eagle with a benign solitary renal cyst causing unilateral lameness secondary to nerve compression that was resolved with surgical excision.
Asunto(s)
Quistes , Águilas , Enfermedades Renales Quísticas , Propilaminas , Sulfuros , Animales , Femenino , Cojera Animal , Quistes/diagnóstico , Quistes/cirugía , Quistes/veterinaria , Enfermedades Renales Quísticas/veterinariaRESUMEN
Ataxin-2 (Atx2) is a polyglutamine (polyQ) protein, in which abnormal expansion of the polyQ tract can trigger protein aggregation and consequently cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), but the mechanism underlying how Atx2 aggregation leads to proteinopathy remains elusive. Here, we investigate the molecular mechanism and cellular consequences of Atx2 aggregation by molecular cell biology approaches. We have revealed that either normal or polyQ-expanded Atx2 can sequester Raptor, a component of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), into aggregates based on their specific interaction. Further research indicates that the polyQ tract and the N-terminal region (residues 1-784) of Atx2 are responsible for the specific sequestration. Moreover, this sequestration leads to suppression of the mTORC1 activity as represented by down-regulation of phosphorylated P70S6K, which can be reversed by overexpression of Raptor. As mTORC1 is a key regulator of autophagy, Atx2 aggregation and sequestration also induces autophagy by upregulating LC3-II and reducing phosphorylated ULK1 levels. This study proposes that Atx2 sequesters Raptor into aggregates, thereby impairing cellular mTORC1 signaling and inducing autophagy, and will be beneficial for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of SCA2 and other polyQ diseases.