Avian malaria is absent in juvenile colonial herons (Ardeidae) but not Culex pipiens mosquitoes in the Camargue, Southern France

Apicomplexan blood parasites Plasmodium and Haemoproteus (together termed “Avian malaria”) and Leucocytozoon are widespread, diverse vector-transmitted blood parasites of birds, and conditions associated with colonial nesting in herons (Ardeidae) and other waterbirds appear perfect for their transmission. Despite studies in other locations reporting high prevalence of parasites in juvenile herons, juvenile Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) previously tested in the Camargue, Southern France, had a total absence of malaria parasites. This study tested the hypotheses that this absence was due to insufficient sensitivity of the tests of infection; an absence of infective vectors; or testing birds too early in their lives. Blood was sampled from juveniles of four species shortly before fledging: Little Egret (n = 40), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis; n = 40), Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax, n = 40), and Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides; n = 40). Sensitive nested-Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to test for the presence of parasites in both birds and host-seeking female mosquitoes captured around the colonies. No malaria infection was found of in any of the heron species. Four different lineages of Plasmodium were detected in pooled samples of female Culex pipiens mosquitoes, including two in potentially infective mosquitoes. These results confirm that the absence of malaria parasites previously demonstrated in Little Egret is not due to methodological limitations. Although the prevalence of infection in mosquitoes was low, conditions within the colonies were suitable for transmission of Plasmodium. These colonial heron species may have evolved strategies for resisting malaria infection through physiological or behavioral mechanisms

Brood patch temperature during provocation of incubating common eiders in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

In this short note we describe the behaviour and body changes of three incubating female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) during provocation made by humans approaching the nest. The study site was near the settlement of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. Temperture transmitters were implanted subcutaneously at the brood patch and data recorded using a VHF receiver. We found that the female experiment exhibited a passive defence response (“freezing”), accompanied by a significant drop in brood patch temperature (0.6 °C) during provocation; this temperature drop lasted for 5 minutes. These accord with other studies of the physiological changes which the passive defence response in birds and other animals

Qu’en est-il de l’état de santé des myes au Saguenay ? Un bilan d’études sur plus d’une décennie

Le fjord du Saguenay, reconnu pour sa faune diversifiée mais aussi pour la contamination reliée aux activités industrielles et anthropiques, a fait l’objet d’un vaste programme de suivi environnemental, entrepris par notre équipe et qui visait à répondre à la question fondamentale : L’état de santé des myes s’est-il modifié dans le fjord du Saguenay ? Dans cet article de synthèse, nous avons regroupé des résultats déjà publiés sur la condition physiologique de Mya arenaria ainsi que des résultats originaux pour extraire des tendances, de façon à répertorier les sites qui s’avèrent critiques pour le bien-être physiologique de la mye. Mya arenaria (LINNÉ, 1758) ou mye des sables, choisie comme espèce sentinelle, a été échantillonnée de 1994 à 2007, en période de maturité sexuelle, dans des sites situés à l’intérieur du fjord et à son embouchure. Les objectifs de cet article sont de comparer les résultats de différents indices de condition et de suivis hormonaux et de la gamétogenèse de chaque site et en fonction des sexes, pour identifier les sites moins favorables pour la croissance et la reproduction de la mye. Nous avons démontré que les myes de Baie‑Sainte-Catherine subissent des retards de gamétogenèse tandis que les niveaux d’hormones stéroïdiennes sont très bas à Tadoussac. Ces deux sites sont soumis à des influences portuaires et à la circulation navale. Le site de Baie‑Éternité, plus en amont, se caractérise par des influences portuaires (huiles et peintures antisalissures) et une forte contamination métallique de sources urbaines et terrigènes. Anse‑aux‑Érables est un site près des influences industrielles, tandis que Anse‑Saint‑Jean est fortement influencée par les effluents municipaux et domestiques. D’amont en aval sur la rivière Saguenay, les myes des sites Anse‑à‑la‑Croix, Anse‑aux‑Érables, Petit‑Saguenay, Anse‑à‑la‑Barque, Tadoussac et Pointe‑aux‑Alouettes ont montré une croissance moindre. Les sites de Baie‑Éternité, Anse‑aux‑Érables, Anse‑Saint‑Jean et Baie-Sainte-Catherine ont un indice de maturité sexuelle moindre qu’aux autres sites, les données regroupées démontrant que ce sont les sites les plus influencés dans le fjord du Saguenay, résultats corroborés par les résultats de phagocytose. Toutes ces données démontrent que l’état physiologique de la mye répond à différents facteurs, anthropiques, biotiques et abiotiques, et que les sources ponctuelles de contamination viennent renforcer les effets négatifs de paramètres abiotiques telles la température et les conditions trophiques.The Saguenay fjord has been submitted for many years to anthropogenic influences. We surveyed this ecosystem between 1994 and 2007 to assess if Mya arenaria health status was altered by the contamination present in this ecosystem. The physiological condition of clams was determined using grouped annual data from sites at the mouth and in the Saguenay fjord. The results were analyzed according to sex and sites for all the samplings done during the active gametogenesis. The aims of this paper are to compare results of condition signs, gametogenesis stages and hormonal levels between sites and according to sex, to finally identify which sites were less favorable for the growth and reproduction of clams. We have shown that clams from Baie-Sainte-Catherine had delayed gametogenesis while those from Tadoussac showed very low steroid hormonal levels. Portuary and naval circulation influences could explain these particular results that also correspond to those from phagocytosis. Upstream in Baie‑Éternité, portuary influences (oils, anti-fouling paints) and metallic inputs from urban and terrigenous sources were reported. In Anse-aux-Érables, metallic contamination comes from industrial sources, while Anse-Saint‑Jean is influenced by sewage discharges from domestic and urban origin. From upstream to downstream, clams from Anse‑à‑la‑Croix, Anse‑aux‑Érables, Petit‑Saguenay, Anse‑à‑la‑Barque, Tadoussac and Pointe‑aux‑Alouettes showed decreased growth. Baie‑Éternité, Anse‑aux‑Érables, Anse‑Saint‑Jean and Baie-Sainte-Catherine sites, with their lower sexual maturity index and decreased phagocytosis, were shown to be the more influenced by contamination. All these data show that physiological condition of Mya arenaria reflects the combined effects of abiotic factors such as contamination, trophic conditions and site characteristics

H9N2 avian influenza virus in a Mediterranean gull

International audienc

Ornamental colors reveal age in the king penguin

We investigated whether delayed plumage maturation occurred in king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Therefore we examined the relationships between age and sex on spectral properties and size of two colored plumage patches and a UV-reflective beak spot, using known-age cohorts. Unlike the colored patch on the breast, we found age differences in ear and beak coloration. These results suggest that head ornaments in king penguins could signal sexual maturity or social status. No sex differences were found in the intensity of colored ornaments, which can result from mutual mate choice or genetic correlation between sexes. Size of colored patches did not relate to age or sex

Maternal Antibody Transfer in Yellow-legged Gulls

International audienc

Avian malaria is absent in juvenile colonial herons (Ardeidae) but not Culex pipiens mosquitoes in the Camargue, Southern France

Apicomplexan blood parasites Plasmodium and Haemoproteus (together termed “Avian malaria”) and Leucocytozoon are widespread, diverse vector-transmitted blood parasites of birds, and conditions associated with colonial nesting in herons (Ardeidae) and other waterbirds appear perfect for their transmission. Despite studies in other locations reporting high prevalence of parasites in juvenile herons, juvenile Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) previously tested in the Camargue, Southern France, had a total absence of malaria parasites. This study tested the hypotheses that this absence was due to insufficient sensitivity of the tests of infection; an absence of infective vectors; or testing birds too early in their lives. Blood was sampled from juveniles of four species shortly before fledging: Little Egret (n = 40), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis; n = 40), Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax, n = 40), and Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides; n = 40). Sensitive nested-Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to test for the presence of parasites in both birds and host-seeking female mosquitoes captured around the colonies. No malaria infection was found of in any of the heron species. Four different lineages of Plasmodium were detected in pooled samples of female Culex pipiens mosquitoes, including two in potentially infective mosquitoes. These results confirm that the absence of malaria parasites previously demonstrated in Little Egret is not due to methodological limitations. Although the prevalence of infection in mosquitoes was low, conditions within the colonies were suitable for transmission of Plasmodium. These colonial heron species may have evolved strategies for resisting malaria infection through physiological or behavioral mechanisms

Dissemination of Escherichia coli with CTX-M Type ESBL between Humans and Yellow-Legged Gulls in the South of France

Extended Spectrum beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae started to appear in the 1980s, and have since emerged as some of the most significant hospital-acquired infections with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella being main players. More than 100 different ESBL types have been described, the most widespread being the CTX-M beta-lactamase enzymes (bla(CTX-M) genes). This study focuses on the zoonotic dissemination of ESBL bacteria, mainly CTX-M type, in the southern coastal region of France. We found that the level of general antibiotic resistance in single randomly selected E. coli isolates from wild Yellow-legged Gulls in France was high. Nearly half the isolates (47.1%) carried resistance to one or more antibiotics (in a panel of six antibiotics), and resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin and streptomycin was most widespread. In an ESBL selective screen, 9.4% of the gulls carried ESBL producing bacteria and notably, 6% of the gulls carried bacteria harboring CTX-M-1 group of ESBL enzymes, a recently introduced and yet the most common clinical CTX-M group in France. Multi locus sequence type and phylogenetic group designations were established for the ESBL isolates, revealing that birds and humans share E. coli populations. Several ESBL producing E. coli isolated from birds were identical to or clustered with isolates with human origin. Hence, wild birds pick up E. coli of human origin, and with human resistance traits, and may accordingly also act as an environmental reservoir and melting pot of bacterial resistance with a potential to re-infect human populations

Magpies as Hosts for West Nile Virus, Southern France

European magpies (Pica pica) from southern France were tested for antibodies to West Nile virus (WNV) and viral shedding in feces during spring–autumn 2005. Results suggest that this peridomestic species may be a suitable sentinel species and a relevant target for additional investigations on WNV ecology in Europe

Bird Migration Routes and Risk for Pathogen Dispersion into Western Mediterranean Wetlands

Migratory movements of wild birds likely spread zoonotic infectious agents, such as avian influenza and West Nile viruses