Over-shadowed by eye-catching vocal and visual signals, chemical communication has long been overlooked in birds. This study aimed at exploring whether volatile composition of the uropygial gland secretion （UGS） of ...Over-shadowed by eye-catching vocal and visual signals, chemical communication has long been overlooked in birds. This study aimed at exploring whether volatile composition of the uropygial gland secretion （UGS） of birds was associated with the information about sex, individual and species. By using dichloromethane extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）, we analyzed the UGS volatiles of domesticated Bengalese finches （ Lonchura striata, Estrildiea） which is also known as white-rumped munias. We characterized 16 volatile molecules from the UGS, including eight n-alkanols, five diesters, an ester, an aldehyde and a fatty acid, and quantified them in terms of GC peak area percentages （relative abundances） . Among these compounds, hexadecanol and octadecanol were major components in both sexes. The former was richer in males than in females and the latter richer in females than in males, suggesting that they might be male and female pheromone candidates, respectively. The high inter-individual variations, in relative abundance, of the UGS volatiles implied that these compounds might carry information about individuality. The similarity between GC profiles of the UGS and wing feather from same individuals indicates that the birds might preen the secretion to their feathers to transmit chemical cues. Additionally, by comparing with three sympatric passerine species, i. e., zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata, yellow-bowed buntings Emberiza chrysophrys and rooks Corvus frugilegus, we found that the composition of C13 - C18 alkanols in the UGS might code for information about species. Our study also showed that quantitative differences （degree） of same UGS volatiles might be the key for the Bengalese finch to code for information about sex and individuality whereas both the kind and degree of UGS constituents could be utilized to code for information about species [ Current Zoology 55 （5）： 357-365, 2009].展开更多
Background: Wild birds are considered to be reservoirs of human enteric pathogens and vectors of antimicrobial resistance dissemination in the environment.During their annual migration,they play a potential role in th...Background: Wild birds are considered to be reservoirs of human enteric pathogens and vectors of antimicrobial resistance dissemination in the environment.During their annual migration,they play a potential role in the epidemiology of human associated zoonoses.The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of microorganisms found in the cloaca of common European passerines.Methods: One hundred and twenty-one cloacal swabs were collected during a monitoring program of migratory birds in the Forest Reserve for Protection "Metaponto"(Basilicata,Italy).All samples were cultured using standard bacteriological methods and antibiotic susceptibility testing(agar disk diffusion test) of isolated strains was performed.Results: The bacteriological analysis produced 122 strains belonging to 18 different species.The most commonly isolated species were Enterobacter cloacae and Providencia rettgeri(21 strains,17.2%).Potentially pathogenic species including Klebsiella pneumoniae,Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas spp.have also been identified.Isolates showed significant frequencies of antimicrobial resistance.The highest frequency of resistance was observed against amoxicillin(n = 79,64.8%);ampicillin(n = 77,63.1%);rifampicin(n Thirty-one strains(25.4%) showed resistance to imipenem a= 75,61.5%);amoxicillin–clavulanic acid(n nd 8(6.6%) to meropenem.= 66,54.1%).Conclusions: Migratory birds play an important role in the ecology,circulation and dissemination of potentially pathogenic antimicrobial resistant organisms.They can therefore be considered sentinel species and environmental health indicators.Our results suggest that the integration of epidemiological surveillance networks during ringing campaigns of wild species can be an effective tool to study this phenomenon.展开更多
基金supported by grants from Chinese NSF(No.30870297to J.X.ZNo.30370196to M.X.Z.)International Partnership Project of CAS(CXTD2005-4to L.S and J.X.Z)
文摘Over-shadowed by eye-catching vocal and visual signals, chemical communication has long been overlooked in birds. This study aimed at exploring whether volatile composition of the uropygial gland secretion （UGS） of birds was associated with the information about sex, individual and species. By using dichloromethane extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）, we analyzed the UGS volatiles of domesticated Bengalese finches （ Lonchura striata, Estrildiea） which is also known as white-rumped munias. We characterized 16 volatile molecules from the UGS, including eight n-alkanols, five diesters, an ester, an aldehyde and a fatty acid, and quantified them in terms of GC peak area percentages （relative abundances） . Among these compounds, hexadecanol and octadecanol were major components in both sexes. The former was richer in males than in females and the latter richer in females than in males, suggesting that they might be male and female pheromone candidates, respectively. The high inter-individual variations, in relative abundance, of the UGS volatiles implied that these compounds might carry information about individuality. The similarity between GC profiles of the UGS and wing feather from same individuals indicates that the birds might preen the secretion to their feathers to transmit chemical cues. Additionally, by comparing with three sympatric passerine species, i. e., zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata, yellow-bowed buntings Emberiza chrysophrys and rooks Corvus frugilegus, we found that the composition of C13 - C18 alkanols in the UGS might code for information about species. Our study also showed that quantitative differences （degree） of same UGS volatiles might be the key for the Bengalese finch to code for information about sex and individuality whereas both the kind and degree of UGS constituents could be utilized to code for information about species [ Current Zoology 55 （5）： 357-365, 2009].
文摘Background: Wild birds are considered to be reservoirs of human enteric pathogens and vectors of antimicrobial resistance dissemination in the environment.During their annual migration,they play a potential role in the epidemiology of human associated zoonoses.The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of microorganisms found in the cloaca of common European passerines.Methods: One hundred and twenty-one cloacal swabs were collected during a monitoring program of migratory birds in the Forest Reserve for Protection "Metaponto"(Basilicata,Italy).All samples were cultured using standard bacteriological methods and antibiotic susceptibility testing(agar disk diffusion test) of isolated strains was performed.Results: The bacteriological analysis produced 122 strains belonging to 18 different species.The most commonly isolated species were Enterobacter cloacae and Providencia rettgeri(21 strains,17.2%).Potentially pathogenic species including Klebsiella pneumoniae,Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas spp.have also been identified.Isolates showed significant frequencies of antimicrobial resistance.The highest frequency of resistance was observed against amoxicillin(n = 79,64.8%);ampicillin(n = 77,63.1%);rifampicin(n Thirty-one strains(25.4%) showed resistance to imipenem a= 75,61.5%);amoxicillin–clavulanic acid(n nd 8(6.6%) to meropenem.= 66,54.1%).Conclusions: Migratory birds play an important role in the ecology,circulation and dissemination of potentially pathogenic antimicrobial resistant organisms.They can therefore be considered sentinel species and environmental health indicators.Our results suggest that the integration of epidemiological surveillance networks during ringing campaigns of wild species can be an effective tool to study this phenomenon.
