Pigeons

RESUMEN Analizamos la presencia y abundancia de palomas tropicales residentes en la Reserva de la Biosfera Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, México durante las épocas reproductivas de 2010 y 2011. Se emplearon distintos métodos de con‐ teo para maximizar el registro del mayor número de especies y superar las dificultades del terreno y la vegetación. Muestreamos principalmente a través de transectos y puntos de conteo en bosque tropical perennifolio, bosque mesófilo de montaña, bosque de pino‐encino y áreas agropecuarias, y registramos 512 individuos de 12 de las 17 especies reportadas históricamente. Las especies registradas en el presente fueron: Patagioenas cayennensis, P. spe‐ ciosa, P. flavirostris, P. nigrirostris, Columbina inca, C. talpacoti, Claravis pretiosa, Geotrygon montana, Leptotila ver‐ reauxi, L. plumbeiceps, Zentrygon carrikeri (endémica) y Zenaida asiatica. La mayor riqueza se observó en el bosque tropical perennifolio, en donde la especie más abundante fue L. verreauxi. La abundancia varió significativamente entre tipos de vegetación para L. verreauxi, L. plumbeiceps y Z. carrikeri, posiblemente debido a los diferentes niveles de tolerancia a la perturbación. El bosque mesófilo de montaña fue el hábitat utilizado en mayor proporción a lo espe‐ rado para la mayoría de las especies examinadas como: P. flavirostris, C. pretiosa, L. verreauxi, L. plumbeiceps y Z. carrikeri. Las preferencias de hábitat más amplias correspondieron a P. flavirostris, C. pretiosa y L. verreauxi. Tres especies fueron exclusivas a un tipo de vegetación (P. cayennensis y P. nigrirostris en bosque tropical perennifolio; P. speciosa en bosque mesófilo de montaña). El volcán San Martín Pajapan, una de las áreas núcleo de la Reserva de la Biósfera fue muestreada por primera vez, y registramos a L. verreauxi, L. plumbeiceps, al igual que a una importante población de Z. carrikeri, especie endémica cuyas poblaciones conocidas están limitadas a otras tres áreas montaño‐ sas de la región. Las poblaciones de palomas que habitan en interior de bosque se encuentran ubicadas en fragmentos de bosque primario aislados, por lo que deben establecerse corredores para evitar el aislamiento de las poblaciones remanentes de especies de palomas en riesgo. ABSTRACT • Ecology and status of pigeons and doves (Columbidae) in Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz, Mexico We analyzed the presence and abundance of tropical resident pigeons and doves (Columbidae) in Los Tuxtlas Bio‐ sphere Reserve, Veracruz, Mexico, during the breeding seasons of 2010 and 2011. We used different survey methods to maximize the detection of different species and overcome terrain and vegetation limitations. We surveyed the area mostly through transects and point counts in evergreen tropical forest, cloud forest, pine‐oak forest, and agricultural areas, including the Reserve core areas, recording 512 individuals of 12 out of 17 columbid species reported histori‐ cally for the area. We were able to confirm Patagioenas cayennensis, P. speciosa, P. flavirostris, P. nigrirostris, Colum‐ bina inca, C. talpacoti, Claravis pretiosa, Geotrygon montana, Leptotila verreauxi, L. plumbeiceps, Zentrygon carrikeri (endemic), and Zenaida asiatica. The tropical evergreen forest is the vegetation type with the highest species richness, and the most abundant species was L. verreauxi. Abundance varied significantly among vegetation types for L. ver‐ reauxi, L. plumbeiceps, and Zentrygon carrikeri, possibly due to differences in their tolerance to disturbance. Cloud forest stood out as the most important habitat as it was used more than expected by species such as P. flavirostris, C. pretiosa, L. verreauxi, L. plumbeiceps, and Z. carrikeri. The species with the broadest habitat preferences were P. flavi‐ rostris, C. pretiosa, and L. verreauxi. Three species were exclusive to a single vegetation type (P. cayennensis and P. nigrirostris to evergreen tropical forest; P. speciosa to cloud forest). The volcán San Martín Pajapan, one of the Bio‐

This study describes the results of a retrospective evaluation (8 years: 2005-2012) of the efficacy of the anti-fertility drug, Ovistop® nicarbazin (800 ppm) added to corn kernels used to feed non-migratory feral pigeon colonies, Columba livia var. domestica, in the city of Genoa, Italy. The observation interested 4 non-migratory feral pigeon colonies located into well‑defined areas of the city of Genoa, Italy. Three of these colonies were treated for 12 months, with 10 g of drug (Ovistop®) provided per bird per day for 5 days each week; the other colony was treated in the same way but with a placebo (control station). Each colony and the relative area where the colony was located were both monitored with the same daily examination. Statistical analysis techniques were applied to the findings recorded - both descriptive (indices of central and dispersion trends) and comparative (one-way variance analysis). In the colonies treated with the drug, following an initial increase in the population ('magnet effect'), a reduction was observed over the following 4 years (-35%>x> -45%) and a further decrease (-65%>x> -70%) was observed over the subsequent 4 years (statistically significant one-way ANOVA p<0.01). This phenomenon was recorded across the board in the 3 treated stations, compared to the overall unstable trend observed for the control station. As no external or exceptional anthropic or natural factors were observed, it can be stated that, given the results observed, the drug seemed effective in reducing the treated bird populations.

Background and Aim: Pigeon rearing has been gaining popularity for recent years. They are reared remarkably very close to the house of the owner. This activity, therefore, may pose potential threats for humans as well as other animals as pigeons may carry and spread different pathogens including drug-resistant bacteria. This study was conducted to explore the prevalence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. as well as their antibiogram profile along with an association analysis.

Materials and Methods: Forty swab samples were collected from 20 pigeons during the study. E. coli and Salmonella spp. were isolated and identified on various types of agars, including MacConkey, Eosin methylene blue, Brilliant green, and Salmonella-Shigella agar. Biochemical tests such as the carbohydrate fermentation test, the triple sugar iron agar slant reaction, the indole test, the methyl red test, the catalase test, as well as the Voges–Proskauer test were also performed. Besides, the presence of E. coli was further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Moreover, antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates was performed against nine antibiotics from seven classes on the Mueller-Hinton agar based on the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method.

Results: The overall prevalence of E. coli and Salmonella spp. was 52.5 and 27.5%, respectively. The prevalence of the pathogenic E. coli was 61.90%. The antibiogram profile of 21 E. coli as well as 11 Salmonella spp. revealed that all isolates, except one, were resistant to one to six antibiotics. Around 61.90%, 71.43%, 23.81%, 61.90%, 23.81%, 19.05%, and 52.38% of E. coli showed resistance against amoxicillin, ampicillin, azithromycin, erythromycin, nalidixic acid, gentamicin, and tetracycline, respectively. Furthermore, E. coli resistance was not observed in case of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Similarly, around 36.36%, 27.27%, 27.27%, 45.45%, 81.82%, 100%, and 18.18% of the Salmonella spp. showed resistance against amoxicillin, ampicillin, azithromycin, erythromycin, nalidixic acid, tetracycline, and levofloxacin, respectively. However, all Salmonella spp. (100%) were found to show sensitivity against ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli (23.80%) and Salmonella spp. (54.54%) were also isolated. Furthermore, both positive (odds ratio [OR] >1) and negative (OR <1) drug resistance associations, with a higher frequency of positive associations, were found in E. coli. A significant positive association was observed between ampicillin and amoxicillin (OR: 81.67, 95% confidence interval: 2.73-2447.57, p=0.01).

Conclusion: Pigeon carrying MDR E. coli and Salmonella spp. may contribute to the transmission and spread of these microorganisms. Therefore, strict hygienic measures should be taken during the farming of pigeons to decrease the potential transmission of E. coli and Salmonella spp. from pigeon to humans as well as other animals. So far, this is the first report of the PCR-based identification of pathogenic E. coli from pigeons in Bangladesh.