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Non‐native species have been translocated from their native to new geographic ranges through the pet trade. Consequently, some become threatened with extinction, while some establish and become invasive. We surveyed 117 physical pet stores across South Africa between September 2018 and September 2019 to determine avian species composition, availability, price and IUCN status. We reviewed the literature to determine which avian species have established populations outside captivity, including their impacts and clutch sizes. We recorded 169 avian species from 26 families, of which 147 were non‐natives. Psittacidae (23%) and Estrildidae (20%) were the most available families. The budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus, zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata, and Fischer's lovebird Agapornis fischeri were the most available species recorded in all the provinces. Most species were listed as least concern (78%) and sold at lower prices, while threatened species were rarely available and sold at higher prices. Only 14 avian species have established populations outside captivity, with most associated with agricultural impact. In addition, six of these 14 species were among the top 20 most traded and have been observed outside captivity in South Africa. Assessing the trade of avian species is essential for conservation and invasive species management. The results from this study may help improve early surveillance for detecting the establishment of potential invasive avian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Ecological functions and processes in urban ecosystems are governed by various human activities. City-adapted and city-exploiting animal species are expected to present certain specific behavioral and physiological traits in comparison to city-avoiders or conspecific individual frequenting less urbanized or rural environments. A trait of high importance, the plumage color polymorphism has been selected as the main study model and was correlated with different morphological and physiological parameters to highlight its importance in determining the possible health status of urban Feral Pigeons (Columba livia) in North African urban habitats. Methods Different body morphometrics, hematological and hemoparasitic parameters were quantified on free-living Feral Pigeons in urban environments of northern Algeria. Moreover, plumage melanin-based coloration (MBC) was measured and the data collected at the individual scale was correlated with the previous parameters using linear and non-linear modeling approaches. Results Plumage MBC scores of the sampled Feral Pigeons ranged between 0.3% and 74.8%. Among the 12 morphological traits measured, body weight, tail length and total length were deemed to be positively correlated with MBC. Darker morphs appeared to have more hemoparasites compared to lighter pigeons. Quite the same observation goes with the immunity but with non-linear trends. The number of monocytes and granulocytes increased with the increase in MBC levels in lighter morphs, while pigeons with high MBC scores exhibited negative relationships between MBC levels and the number of white blood cells. Conclusions Despite the existence of a number of studies demonstrating phenotypic directional selection, further studies are undoubtedly necessary to understand in detail the underlying mechanisms in species life-history strategies between differently colored individuals. Findings of this correlative study open exciting perspectives revealing that MBC can be considered a good indicator of and health status and adaptation strategies to changes in urban environments.

In recent days there has been a remarkable increase in the wild bird population closer to intensive poultry rearing area in Namakkal district. Newcastle Disease (ND) has been reported in more than two hundred species of birds. Among the feral birds, Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) and Cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) are thickly populated in Namakkal district, the second-largest egg-producing belt in India. A total of 62 fecal samples from peafowls and 40 fecal samples from cattle egrets were collected in and around Namakkal district adjacent to poultry farms and bodies of water. Samples were processed and inoculated into 9-day-old embryonated chicken eggs through the allantoic sac for virus isolation. Positive samples which demonstrated hemagglutination activity were subjected to the neutralization of haemagglutination using standard Newcastle disease serum and confirmation by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Out of 62 samples collected from peafowls, none were found to be positive for NDV, and two isolates, namely Cattle Egret/ India/TN-01/2020 and Cattle Egret/India/TN-02/2020, were recovered from 40 samples collected from egrets. The fusion protein gene (F gene) was sequenced, and alignment analysis was performed between the two isolates and 59 other published NDVs of different genotypes. The phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide sequence including F gene cleavage site exactly positioned the isolates in Genotype II of NDV. Deduced amino acids revealed the pattern 112 G-R-Q-G-R-L 117 at the cleavage site of the fusion protein. Thus, egrets harbor genotype II virus, which could have been derived from the lentogenic strain used to vaccinate commercial poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ecological functions and processes in urban ecosystems are governed by various human activities. City-adapted and city-exploiting animal species are expected to present certain specific behavioral and physiological traits in comparison to city-avoiders or conspecific individual frequenting less urbanized or rural environments. A trait of high importance, the plumage color polymorphism has been selected as the main study model and was correlated with different morphological and physiological parameters to highlight its importance in determining the possible health status of urban Feral Pigeons (Columba livia) in North African urban habitats. Methods: Different body morphometrics, hematological and hemoparasitic parameters were quantified on free-living Feral Pigeons in urban environments of northern Algeria. Moreover, plumage melanin-based coloration (MBC) was measured and the data collected at the individual scale was correlated with the previous parameters using linear and non-linear modeling approaches. Results: Plumage MBC scores of the sampled Feral Pigeons ranged between 0.3% and 74.8%. Among the 12 morphological traits measured, body weight, tail length and total length were deemed to be positively correlated with MBC. Darker morphs appeared to have more hemoparasites compared to lighter pigeons. Quite the same observation goes with the immunity but with non-linear trends. The number of monocytes and granulocytes increased with the increase in MBC levels in lighter morphs, while pigeons with high MBC scores exhibited negative relationships between MBC levels and the number of white blood cells. Conclusions: Despite the existence of a number of studies demonstrating phenotypic directional selection, further studies are undoubtedly necessary to understand in detail the underlying mechanisms in species life-history strategies between differently colored individuals. Findings of this correlative study open exciting perspectives revealing that MBC can be considered a good indicator of and health status and adaptation strategies to changes in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Properties of paramyxovirus-isolates of 5 different feral bird species As a result of a surveillance programme in North-Germany, paramyxovirus-isolates of sero-group 1 with different pathogenicity were isolated from different species of feral birds (Black-headed gull, mallard, tawny owl, tree sparrow, mute swan). In chick embryo fibroblast monolayers these isolates produced plaques exhibiting different plaque morphology. After cloning the isolates, further physicochemical, serological and pathogenicity testings were performed. On the basis of mean death time and intracerebral pathogenicity index, two of the isolates were found to be avirulent (lentogenic), whereas the others proved to be virulent (velogenic). SDS-Polyacrylamidgel-electrophoresis showed polypeptide patterns similar to that of the PMV-1 reference strains. Summarizing all relevant findings of these investigations under consideration of the suggestions for the virological description of avian PMV (A lexander, 1987; A lexander et al., 1987; W ho-E xpert-C omittee, 1980), including the recently established serotyping by means of monoclonal antibodies, the following designations of the PMV isolates tested herein are proposed: Zusammenfassung Im Rahmen einer Reihenuntersuchung im Raum Niedersachsen konnten aus verschiedenen Wildvogelspezies (Lachmöwe, Stockente, Waldkauz, Feldsperling, Höckerschwan) Paramyxovirus-Isolate der Serogruppe 1 mit unterschiedlicher Pathogenität gewonnen werden. Diese Isolate induzierten in Hühnerembryofibroblasten-Zellkulturen die Bildung von Plaques mit unterschiedlicher Morphologie. Nach Plaquereinigung wurden mit diesen Isolaten weitere physikalisch-chemische und serologische Untersuchungen sowie Pathogenitätstests an SPF-Küken durchgeführt. Aufgrund der Mean death time und des intracerebralen Pathogenitätsindex ließen sich zwei der Isolate als avirulent (lentogen), die drei anderen als virulent (velogen) einstufen. In der SDS-Polyacrylamidgel-Elektrophorese zeigten die Isolate ähnliche Polypeptidprofile wie die untersuchten PMV-1 -Referenzstämme. Das Proteinbandenmuster bestand unter reduzierenden und nicht reduzierenden Bedingungen aus 7-8 Polypeptiden. Unter Berücksichtigung aller für die Benennung aviärer Paramyxoviren relevanter Befunde (A lexander, 1987; A lexander u. Mitarb., 1987; WHO-Expert Comittee, 1980) einschließlich der kürzlich etablierten Serotypisierung mit Hilfe monoklonaler Antikörper ergeben sich für die untersuchten Isolate folgende Designationen: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occurrence of Paramyxovirus in Game-Birds: Epizootiological Aspects, Characteristics in vivo and in vitro The precent review is based on recent literature on the epizootiology and on properties of avian paramyxoviruses in vivo and in vitro. Paramyxoviruses are classified according to their pathogenicity (especially serotype 1), in addition to serotyping by means of hemagglutination-inhibition tests and by monoclonal antibody binding assays. Also, neuraminidase-inhibition tests, double-immunodiffusion tests can be performed. Growth properties of the different paramyxovirus-serotypes are accessory techniques to classify paramyxoviruses parallel to the determination of the pathogenicity. Structural polypeptides can be demonstrated in polyacrylamidgel-electrophoresis, thus leading to a distinction of the different serotypes. Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Studie wird auf der Grundlage jüngerer Literaturberichte über die Epizootiologie sowie über Eigenschaften aviärer Paramyxoviren in vivo und in vitro referiert. Die Einteilung der Paramyxoviren, insbesondere der Paramyxoviren vom Serotyp 1, erfolgt aufgrund der Pathogenität, zusätzlich zur Serotypisierung mittels Hämagglutinations-Hemmungstest und mit Hilfe monoklonaler Antikörper. Zusätzlich kann der Neuraminidase-Hemmungstest, der Immunodoppeldiffusionstest vorgenommen werden. Auch das Verhalten der jeweiligen Paramyxovirus-Serotypen in der Zellkultur ermöglicht orientierende Zuordnungen hinsichtlich der Pathogenität. Die Darstellung struktureller Polypeptide in der Polyacrylamidgel-Elektrophorese ermöglicht ebenfalls die Unter-scheidung der verschiedenen Paramyxovirus-Serotypen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]