Avian perching deterrents on ultrasonic sensors at airport wind-shear alert systems

Preventing birds from perching on the sensor units of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Low Level Wind-shear Alert System (LLWAS) is crucial to its successful operation. In this study we evaluated, under controlled conditions, responses of brownheaded cowbirds (Molothrus ater), fish crows (Corvus ossifragus), great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), barred owls (Strix varia), and black vultures (Coragyps atratus) to several anti-perching devices. No device was totally successful against every species. Of the 5 original test devices, the most effective perching deterrent was a set of 17 stout spikes (“AgSpikes”) secured to the central portion of the sensor unit that point up 0o to 30o from the vertical. The central spikes were subsequently redesigned and combined with 9 metal bushings (3 for each arm of the sensor unit) that fit loosely on the sensor arms and that were armed with 5 sharp spikes each. This “AgSpikes and SpikedSpinner” combination unit was as effective as the original AgSpikes for all birds except owls, which were able to place their feet within the open spaces of the redesigned AgSpike portion of the device and perch on the 3 horizontal spikes. The combination units should adequately discourage most large and small birds from perching on LLWAS sensors. The availability of alternate perches in the field will likely enhance the effectiveness of the deterrent. Monitoring performance of the combination units deployed in the field is recommended to verify that they are working as expected

Responses of Captive Birds to Candidate Perching Deterrents on FAA LLWAS Units

Successful operation of the FAA’s Low-Level Windshear Alert System (LLWAS) depends largely on birds not perching on the wind-sensing units which are installed atop poles 40-45 m tall. Because new LLWAS units will be erected at airports throughout North America, anti- perching devices must deter numerous avian species ranging widely in body size and behavioral pattern. To determine the most promising devices, we conducted pen trials with brown-headed cowbirds, fish crows, barred owls, great horned-owls and black vultures. Birds were given free access to an unmodified sensor unit mounted on a tripod for 24 hours, during which the only alternative perch was a tree branch at ground level. This was followed by 24 h with a perching deterrent installed on the sensor unit. Trials were video-taped 10 hours daily and the sensors were connected to a computer so that failures in acquisition of wind data due to perching activity were continuously recorded. Smaller birds (cowbirds, crows) tended to perch on the 3 arms of the sensor units and were mostly deterred by “Bird Spinners”, metal bushings slipped onto the sensor arms that turned freely and prevented the birds from obtaining a stable perch. Owls and vultures were not affected by “Bird Spinners”, but “AgSpikes” (sharp, stout spikes emanating from a central base) reduced perching 95-98%. With the “AgSpikes” or “AgCone” (a smooth, solid aluminum cone) installed, owls and vultures attempted to perch but departed when they were not able to obtain a comfortable, stable grip. Commercial bird spikes and a monofilament web attached to the sensor arms were each ineffective regardless of species. It appears that a single perch deterrent device will not suffice for all birds, but a combination of “Bird Spinners” with “AgSpikes” or “AgCone” should be appropriate for most situations. Verification of these findings with field testing is needed

Wolbachia, doxycycline and macrocyclic lactones: New prospects in the treatment of canine heartworm disease

Abstract Melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide®, Merial) is the only approved adulticidal drug for the treatment of canine heartworm disease (HWD). However, in cases where arsenical therapy is not possible or is contraindicated, a monthly heartworm preventive along with doxycycline for a 4-week period, which targets the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia, might be considered. There are published reports on the efficacy of ivermectin and doxycycline in both experimentally and naturally infected dogs, but no data on the use of other macrocyclic lactones (MLs) with a similar treatment regime. Preliminary results of studies in dogs show that a topical formulation of moxidectin, the only ML currently registered as a microfilaricide, is also adulticidal when combined with doxycycline. It is not yet known if the efficacy of these combination therapies is due to pharmacokinetic synergism. A recent study showed that serum levels of doxycycline in dogs treated with the combination protocol were not statistically different compared to dogs treated with doxycycline alone. However, lungs from dogs treated with the combination therapy showed a marked reduction in T regulatory cells, indicating that treatment efficacy may be due to a heightened immune response against the parasite. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome of combination protocols and to establish the most efficient treatment for HWD in dogs

First autochthonous Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856) infection in a dog in Hungary

AbstractA 4 year-old, male Hungarian Vizsla dog which had never been abroad was referred with poor general condition, decrease in body weight, haematemesis and jaundice to the Central Clinic of Veterinary Science University, Budapest. After symptomatic treatment abdominal ultrasonography and diagnostic laparatomy were carried out. The dog was humanely euthanized two days later following owner's consent because of sudden worsening of clinical conditions. Two adult heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) were found in the right ventricle partially coiling around the tricuspid valve. PCR on blood was positive for both D. immitis and Dirofilaria repens while only D. repens microfilariae were found by modified Knott's test and the serological test was negative for D. immitis antigens. This is the first, confirmed report of autochthonous canine heartworm infection in Hungary

Differential ABC transporter gene expression in adult Dirofilaria immitis males and females following in vitro treatment with ivermectin, doxycycline or a combination of both

BACKGROUND: Combination doxycycline/macrocyclic lactone (ML) protocols have been shown to provide a more rapid adulticidal and microfilaricidal effect than either MLs or doxycycline alone, although female worms were reported to have a higher tolerance to treatments compared to male worms. The present study aimed to evaluate how ABC transporters may be involved in the synergic effect of the combination treatment. Adult worms of D. immitis were treated in vitro for 24 hours with doxycycline (DOXY), ivermectin (IVM) and a combination of both, and changes in the modulation of ABC transporter genes were measured. Levels of doxycycline inside different treatment media, post-treatment, were determined through HPLC analysis. RESULTS: Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed the presence of changes in the modulation of ABC transporter genes evaluated in this study. In particular, in female worms, the combination treatment induced a substantial increase in gene expressions, especially of Dim-pgp-10 and Dim-haf-4; whereas in male worms, the greatest increase in gene expression was observed for Dim-pgp-10 and Dim-pgp-11 when treated with DMSO\u2009+\u2009IVM and DMSO\u2009+\u2009DOXY/IVM. HPLC analysis of the DOXY concentrations in the media after in vitro treatments of male worms showed a slight difference between the DMSO\u2009+\u2009DOXY samples and the combination (DMSO\u2009+\u2009DOXY\u2009+\u2009IVM), while no difference was observed among females. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are required to explain whether the modulation of cellular efflux plays a role, even partially, in the adulticide effect of doxycycline/macrocyclic lactone combinations in heartworm-infected dogs. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate P-gp expression in adult D. immitis

Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic test for the detection of low burden Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) in dogs and cats

The performance of a rapid immunochromatographic test for the detection of Dirofilaria immitis antigens (Speed Diro (TM); BVT-Virbac, France) was assessed in 49 experimentally infected dogs and in 244 naturally infected animals; 142 dogs and 102 cats. In experimentally infected dogs, Speed Diro (TM) showed a sensitivity of 90.9% in dogs infected with one adult female worm and 100% in dogs infected with more than one female worm. Specificity was 100%. For naturally infected dogs, the Knott test and PetChek(A (R)) HTWM PF served as reference methods for microfilaremia and antigenemia, respectively. All microfilaemic dogs (55/142) were positive with Speed Diro (TM). Importantly, none of the 21 dogs infected with D. repens were positive. The results of Speed Diro (TM) for the detection of antigenemia were compared with two in-house tests, SNAP(A (R)) HTWM and Witness(A (R)) Dirofilaria, and all three tests were 100% specific and sensitive in comparison to PetChek(A (R)) HTWM PF. For the evaluation of feline samples, 102 cats were examined by echocardiography. Sera from 87 heartworm-infected cats were tested by Speed Diro (TM) and SNAP(A (R)) HTWM. The results of Speed Diro (TM) were equivalent to SNAP(A (R)) HTWM, with a sensitivity of 98.9% and a specificity of 100%

Dog filariosis in the Lazio region (Central Italy): first report on the presence of Dirofilaria repens

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological investigations were carried out in the Lazio Region to assess the status of canine filariosis and to evaluate the actual risk for veterinary and medical public health. METHODS: Since August 2001 to June 2003, a total of 972 canine blood samples, collected in public kennels and from private owners animals of the 5 Provinces of the Region, were tested. The presence of filarial parasites was evaluated by microscopy and bio-molecular techniques; the species identification was performed by means of the same diagnostic tools. RESULTS: A total of 17/972 (1.75%; 95%CI 1.06%–2.85%) blood samples were parasitized by D. repens,13 out them drawn by dogs resident in the Province of Roma, and 4 in the other provinces. Multivariate analysis was performed in order to evaluate the association between filariosis and risk factors. The origin from coastal territories seems to be a significant risk factor to acquire the infection. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of canine filariosis in the Lazio Region, where D. repens was before reported only in foxes. The risk of human zoonotic infection is stressed, and the absence of other filarial species is discusse

detection of hepatitis c virus rna in saliva from chronically hcv infected patients

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