Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced by metabolism and immune defenses can cause extensive damage to biomolecules. To counteract this damage, organisms rely on exogenous and endogenous antioxidants, although their relative importance in maintaining redox balance is unclear. We supplemented captive greenfinches with dietary antioxidants--carotenoids and vitamin E--and injected them with...

Fluctuations in plasma testosterone concentration during the testicular cycle of adult captive redwinged blackbirds were measured by radioimmunoassay. A peak in testosterone (range: 24.8-27.4 ng/lO ml) was associated with small testes that weighed less than 100 mg in the photosensitive stage. In the regressive stage, testosterone concentration was uniformly low (mean * SEM: 6.6 &0.6 ng/lO ml) o...

From 1901 through 1932 arteriosclerosis was found in less than 3 per cent of autopsies on mammals and birds at the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, but thereafter its frequency has increased to about 20 per cent. This study has attempted to identify factors that may be associated with this change in frequency. A CONSIDERABLE volume of clinical and experimental evidence supports the opinion that ...

Falcon adenovirus is a newly recognized member of the family Aviadenoviridae and includes 2 closely related strains that are pathogenic to several species of falcons. Peregrine falcons appear to be one of the primary reservoirs, but recent outbreaks suggest that other carrier species probably exist. To allow screening of captive birds for virus shedding and investigations of disease outbreaks, ...

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a widespread phenomenon in nature. Although the mechanisms of action of EDCs are actively studied, the consequences of endocrine disruption (ED) at the population level and the adaptations evolved to cope with chronic EDC exposure have been overlooked. Birds probably represent the animal taxon most successfully adapted to synanthropic life. H...

BACKGROUND Bumblefoot, referring to bed-sore-like foot lesions, is one of the most important clinical complications in captive birds and has a multifactorial etiology. Photodynamic therapy has been proposed as an alternative treatment for localized infections in response to the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in a group of captive Sphen...

In recent years there has been an increased interest in studies related to the welfare of avian species commonly kept as companion animals, specifically those in the order Psittaciformes, commonly referred to as ‘parrots’. During this time the biology and behaviour of wild parrots has also become better understood, aiding the assessment of welfare in captive environments. The impact of the pet ...

Previous studies on wild moulting waterfowl have demonstrated that flight and leg muscles experience periods of hypertrophy and atrophy. This is thought to be in response to the change in use of the locomotor muscles as described in the use/disuse hypothesis. We tested this hypothesis using captive barnacle geese. Forty geese were dissected before, during and after wing moult, to determine the ...

BACKGROUND Illegal trade in rare wildlife species is a major threat to many parrot species around the world. Wildlife forensics plays an important role in the preservation of endangered or threatened wildlife species. Identification of illegally harvested or traded animals through DNA techniques is one of the many methods used during forensic investigations. Natural populations of the South Afr...

Both the study of Brazilian wild mammal fauna and the conditions that foster the preservation of endangered species, such as Brazilian Maned-wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), in wild life are of extreme importance. In order to study the resistance profile of microbiota bacterial colonizing Brazilian Maned-wolf, this work investigated samples from eight male captive and free roaming animals originat...