Multiparasitism and repeated parasitism by the great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius on its main host, the magpie Pica pica: effects on reproductive success, nest desertion and nest predation

This work was supported by the research project PID2020-1159506BI00 financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. Permits - The research was conducted according to relevant Spanish national (Real Decreto 1201/2005, de 10 de Octubre) and regional guidelines. All necessary permits were obtained from the Consejeria de Medio Ambiente y Ordenacion del Territorio de la Junta de Andalucia (Spanish Regional Government). Field work was licensed by the Andalusian authority for wildlife protection (DGGMN; ref.: SGYB/FOA/AFR/CFS 15/03/2012).Brood parasites are expected to lay only one egg per parasitized nest, as the existence of several parasitic nestlings in a brood increases competition and can lead the starvation of some of them. However, multiparasitism (laying of two or more eggs by one or more parasitic females in a single host nest) is surprisingly frequent. Here, we study multiparasitism by different females or by the same female (repeated parasitism) in the great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius, a non-evictor brood parasite that mainly parasitizes the magpie Pica pica, and whose chicks may be raised together with host nestlings in the same nest. We used a total of 262 magpie nests found during four breeding seasons. Multiparasitism and repeated parasitism are very frequent because this brood parasite is less virulent than other cuckoo species and magpie hosts can successfully raise more than one parasitic nestling per nest. The total number of cuckoo chicks fledged was higher in multiparasitized nests than in single- or double-parasitized magpie nests. Magpie breeding success (i.e. the proportion of eggs that produce young that leave the nest) did not differ between single-, double-, and multiparasitized magpie nests. These results suggest that multiparasitism is an adaptation in the great spotted cuckoo. The intensity of parasitism (number of cuckoo eggs per nest), after controlling for the potential effect of year, did not affect nest desertion or nest predation rate, neither during the incubation nor the nestling periods. This implies that nest concealment does not affect the susceptibility of one nest being parasitized and predated, as nest predation rate was similar regardless of the intensity of parasitism. Predation rate during the nestling phase did not vary according to intensity of parasitism, which does not support either the 'mutualism' hypothesis or the 'predation cost of begging' hypothesis.MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 PID2020-1159506BI00Spanish national 1201/200

Functional explanation of extreme hatching asynchrony: Male Manipulation Hypothesis

Hatching asynchrony in birds is considered an adaptation to facilitate brood reduction because under conditions of food scarcity, the smallest nestling usually dies soon after hatching, thereby minimizing parental effort. However, in species with extreme hatching asynchrony, the last hatchlings paradoxically experience a very low probability of survival and death can take so long that it can hardly be considered an adaptation. Here, we propose and experimentally tested a new adaptive hypothesis explaining the brood reduction paradox, namely the “Male Manipulation Hypothesis”. Our hypothesis suggests that by inducing asynchronous hatching, females increase the feeding requirements of the brood, which will induce males to increase provisioning effort. In addition, females may extend the period of male manipulation by feeding the smallest nestling just enough to sustain life. Our study showed that male common blackbirds (Turdus merula) increased their effort (i.e., number of food items per hour) in experimental asynchronous broods compared to synchronous broods, while females reduced their contribution, as predicted by the hypothesis

Clinical and laboratory test in patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP): differences between symptomatic patients and asymptomatic carriers

Introducción: La polineuropatía amiloidótica familiar asociada a transtirretina (PAF-TTR) es una enfermedad causada por el depósito el depósito de amiloide en los tejidos, cuya proteína precursora es la transtirretina. La afectación clínica y las alteraciones analíticas dependen del estadio y del momento del diagnóstico de la enfermedad. Métodos: Estudio transversal, observacional donde se recogieron datos clínicos y analíticos de 10 pacientes sintomáticos y 10 portadores asintomáticos. Resultados: De un total de 20 casos: 14 mujeres (70%) con una mediana de edad de 47.5 años. Todos los portadores asintomáticos se diagnosticaron por cribado familiar y el 90% de los pacientes sintomáticos tenían déficit sensitivo al diagnóstico con electromiograma (EMG) patológico (p=0,016). Los pacientes sintomáticos tenían mayor variabilidad de presión arterial, sistólica (p=0,016), diastólica (p=0,045) y de frecuencia cardíaca (p<0,005). En las alteraciones analíticas destacan un descenso de T4 libre (p<0,005) y la elevación de cistatina C (p=0,046) en los pacientes sintomáticos. En cuanto a la comparación por edades en 9 (45%) casos se realizó un diagnóstico tardío (≥50 años) y en 11 (55%) diagnóstico precoz (<50 años), la edad media era de 38,55 vs 61,56 años (p<0,005). Los diagnosticados de forma tardía tenían proteínas totales bajas (p=0,008), elevación de BUN sérica (p<0,005) y cistatina C (p=0,04). Conclusiones: Los pacientes sintomáticos fueron diagnosticados por la presencia de síntomas neurológicos y disfunción autonómica. En cuanto a la comparación entre la edad al diagnóstico, los casos con diagnóstico precoz presentaban mayor implicación familiar, menor número de órganos afectados, escasa sintomatología neurológica y manifestaciones más leves.Background: Transthyretin-associated Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (TTR-PAF) is a disease caused by the deposit of abnormal transthyretin on the tissues, mainly on the nerves. The clinical affectation and laboratory test alterations depend on the clinical stage and the moment of disease diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was performed. Medical records and laboratory test information of 20 patients: 10 symptomatic patients and 10 asymptomatic carriers. Results: Out of a total of 20 patients: 14 women (70 %) with a median age of 47.5 years. All of asymptomatic carriers were diagnosed for family history and 90 % of the symptomatic patients had neurologic impairment demonstrated with pathological electroneurography (NC) (p=0.016). The symptomatic patients had higher variability of blood pressure both systolic (p=0.016) and diastolic (p=0.045) and of heart rate (p<0.005). Regarding laboratory test alterations this patients presented a decrease of free T4 (p<0.005) and an increase of cystatine C (p=0.046). As for the comparison by age-at-onset in 9 (45 %) cases the diagnosis was late-onset (≥50 years) and 11 (55 %) early-onset (<50 years). Mean age was 38.55 vs 61.56 years (p<0.005). The late-onset group had a decrease of total proteins (p=0.008) and an increase of BUN (p<0.005) and cystatine C (p=0.04). Conclusions: Symptomatic patients were diagnosed by the presence of neurologic symptoms and vegetative symptoms. As to the comparison of age-at-onset, the early-onset has greater family history, minor number of affected organs, low neurological involvement and mild symptoms

Composición florística y estructura de los árboles en el ejido Solteros de Juan de Rosas, Papantla, Veracruz

Se caracterizó la composición y estructura arbórea del sitio Solteros de Juan Rosas, Papantla, Ver. Para ello se establecieron siete transectos de 50m x 20m, distribuidos al azar, utilizando la metodología de Gentry (1982) contando individuos con un DAP mayor o igual a dos punto cinco centímetros, se registraron un total de 87 individuos, con una riqueza de 11 especies,  distribuidas en siete familias y 11 géneros. La diversidad alfa (α) estimada mediante el índice de Shannon Wiener dio un valor de H= 1.872, indicando la baja diversidad presente en este ecosistema. La diversidad verdadera para el transecto seis fue mayor comparada con los otros transectos, con un valor de 3.6840, siendo el más diverso

Caracterización de los residuos sólidos en el mercado “Héroes del 47” de Tuxpan, Veracruz

En el mercado “Héroes del 47” de Tuxpan se presenta una problemática en el manejo de los residuos sólidos. De tal manera que el objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar los residuos sólidos para el mercado. Primero se determinó el tamaño de la muestra, se seleccionaron los 36 locales por muestreo aleatorio por bloques, posteriormente se realizó la caracterización de los residuos sólidos, se llevó a cabo en dos muestreos en el mes de mayo y agosto de 2015, posteriormente se realizó un análisis estadístico con el Modelo Lineal Generalizado (GML) con el fin de evaluar las variables independientes días, muestreo y subproducto sobre el peso generado en Kg por día. La determinación de la composición física de los residuos se ejecutó con base en la NMX-AA-022-1985 y con apoyo de la NMX-AA-015-1985. El modelo lineal generalizado no mostró una diferencia en el peso total de los residuos sólidos entre los siete días muestreados de la semana (X2=8.89, g.l=6, P=0.17994), sin embargo, el peso total de los residuos entre los dos muestreos realizados en mayo y agosto, si presentaron diferencias significativas (X2=3.96, g.l=1, P=0.04665)

Relationships between egg-recognition and egg-ejection in a grasp-ejector species

Brood parasitism frequently leads to a total loss of host fitness, which selects for the evolution of defensive traits in host species. Experimental studies have demonstrated that recognition and rejection of the parasite egg is the most common and efficient defence used by host species. Egg-recognition experiments have advanced our knowledge of the evolutionary and coevolutionary implications of egg recognition and rejection. However, our understanding of the proximate mechanisms underlying both processes remains poor. Egg rejection is a complex behavioural process consisting of three stages: egg recognition, the decision whether or not to reject the putative parasitic egg and the act of ejection itself. We have used the blackbird (Turdus merula) as a model species to explore the relationship between egg recognition and the act of egg ejection. We have manipulated the two main characteristics of parasitic eggs affecting egg ejection in this grasp-ejector species: the degree of colour mimicry (mimetic and non-mimetic, which mainly affects the egg-recognition stage of the egg-rejection process) and egg size (small, medium and large, which affects the decision to eject), while maintaining a control group of non-parasitized nests. The behaviour of the female when confronted with an experimental egg was filmed using a video camera. Our results show that egg touching is an indication of egg recognition and demonstrate that blackbirds recognized (i.e., touched) non-mimetic experimental eggs significantly more than mimetic eggs. However, twenty per cent of the experimental eggs were touched but not subsequently ejected, which confirms that egg recognition does not necessarily mean egg ejection and that accepting parasitic eggs, at least sometimes, is the consequence of acceptance decisions. Regarding proximate mechanisms, our results show that the delay in egg ejection is not only due to recognition problems as usually suggested, given that experimental eggs are not touched significantly more often. Thus, the delay in egg ejection is mainly the consequence of a delay in the decision to eject, probably triggered by mechanical constraints imposed by eggs that are harder to eject (i.e. larger). Our results offer important information on the relationships between recognition and ejection and contribute to a better understanding of host defences against brood parasites.Financial support was provided by the Junta de Andalucía (research project CVI-6653). JDI is funded by a postdoctoral contract (TAHUB-104) from the “Andalucía Talent Hub” program (co-funded by the European's Union Seventh Framework Program Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (COFUND) and the regional Government of Andalucía)

Comprehensive description of clinical characteristics of a large systemic Lupus Erythematosus Cohort from the Spanish Rheumatology Society Lupus Registry (RELESSER) with emphasis on complete versus incomplete lupus differences

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiple organ involvement and pronounced racial and ethnic heterogeneity. The aims of the present work were (1) to describe the cumulative clinical characteristics of those patients included in the Spanish Rheumatology Society SLE Registry (RELESSER), focusing on the differences between patients who fulfilled the 1997 ACR-SLE criteria versus those with less than 4 criteria (hereafter designated as incomplete SLE (iSLE)) and (2) to compare SLE patient characteristics with those documented in other multicentric SLE registries. RELESSER is a multicenter hospital-based registry, with a collection of data from a large, representative sample of adult patients with SLE (1997 ACR criteria) seen at Spanish rheumatology departments. The registry includes demographic data, comprehensive descriptions of clinical manifestations, as well as information about disease activity and severity, cumulative damage, comorbidities, treatments and mortality, using variables with highly standardized definitions. A total of 4.024 SLE patients (91% with ≥4 ACR criteria) were included. Ninety percent were women with a mean age at diagnosis of 35.4 years and a median duration of disease of 11.0 years. As expected, most SLE manifestations were more frequent in SLE patients than in iSLE ones and every one of the ACR criteria was also associated with SLE condition; this was particularly true of malar rash, oral ulcers and renal disorder. The analysis-adjusted by gender, age at diagnosis, and disease duration-revealed that higher disease activity, damage and SLE severity index are associated with SLE [OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.08-1.20 (P < 0.001); 1.29; 95% CI: 1.15-1.44 (P < 0.001); and 2.10; 95% CI: 1.83-2.42 (P < 0.001), respectively]. These results support the hypothesis that iSLE behaves as a relative stable and mild disease. SLE patients from the RELESSER register do not appear to differ substantially from other Caucasian populations and although activity [median SELENA-SLEDA: 2 (IQ: 0-4)], damage [median SLICC/ACR/DI: 1 (IQ: 0-2)], and severity [median KATZ index: 2 (IQ: 1-3)] scores were low, 1 of every 4 deaths was due to SLE activity. RELESSER represents the largest European SLE registry established to date, providing comprehensive, reliable and updated information on SLE in the southern European population

Egg rejection in blackbirds Turdus merula: a by-product of conspecific parasitism or successful resistance against interspecific brood parasites?

Traditional theory assumes that egg recognition and rejection abilities arise as a response against interspecific brood parasitism (IBP). However, rejection also appears in some species that are currently not exploited by interspecific parasites, such as Turdus thrushes. Recent evidences suggest that rejection abilities evolved in these species as a response to conspecific brood parasitism (CBP). To test these two alternative hypotheses, we performed an experimental study by parasitizing nests of the common blackbird (Turdus merula) with conspecifics or heterospecific eggs under different risk of parasitism (presence of interspecific or conspecific parasites near the nest). Common blackbird is a potential host of the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) but suffers low levels of CBP too. Results: We found that blackbirds were able to recognize and eject heterospecific eggs at high rates whereas most of conspecifics eggs were not recognized and, therefore, accepted. Ejection rates of conspecific eggs did not exceed 13 %, even in situations of high risk of CBP (blackbird female placed near the nest), which contradict the main prediction derived from the CBP hypothesis. Conversely, ejection rates of experimental eggs simulating IBP were much higher (80–100 %). Furthermore, female blackbirds were more aggressive towards cuckoos than towards blackbird dummies. Conclusions: Our results considered together support the IBP hypothesis, indicating that recognition and rejection of parasitic eggs in blackbirds have probably evolved due to previous cuckoo parasitism. The current absence of IBP in blackbirds may be due to the highly efficient rejection abilities in this species. Thus, these abilities have been retained in absence of brood parasitism as a consequence of the low costs involved for blackbirds, resulting in a successful resistance against interspecific brood parasitism.Financial support has been provided by the Consejería Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo. Junta de Andalucia (research project CVI-6653)

Physiological stress responses to non-mimetic model brood parasite eggs: leukocyte 1 profiles and heat-shock protein Hsp70 levels

This research project was funded by MINECO (research project A-BIO-26-UGR20)Obligate avian brood parasites lay their eggs in the nest of other bird species, known as hosts. Brood parasitism often imposes severe fitness costs on hosts, selecting for the evolution of effective antiparasitic defences, such as recognition and rejection of brood parasite eggs. Glucocorticoids have been recently found to mediate host physiological and behavioral adjustments in response to brood parasite eggs; however, it remains unclear whether brood parasitism triggers a general response involving multiple physiological elements. In this study, we experimentally investigated whether a salient brood parasitic stimulus (the presence of a nonmimetic model egg in the nest) causes physiological adjustments in adult Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) at immune (leukocyte profiles) and cellular (heat-shock protein Hsp70 synthesis) level. Also, we explored whether these physiological changes are mediated by variations in corticosterone (CORT) levels. We found that experimental brood parasitism caused an increase in heterophils and a decrease in lymphocytes, leading to higher heterophils and lymphocytes ratios in parasitized birds. Nevertheless, we did not find tradeoffs between immune function and CORT levels. Hsp70 synthesis was not affected by our experimental manipulation. Our findings provide evidence that brood parasite eggs trigger a general stress response in egg-rejecter hosts, including changes in cellular immune profiles.MINECO (research project A-BIO-26-UGR20