Title:

Faecal Escherichia coli and Chlamydophila psittaci in the superb lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae: host sex and age effects

Subtitle:

Acta Ornithologica, vol. 39, no. 2 ; Wpływ wieku i płci na zarażenie bakteriami Escherichia coli i Chlamydophila psittaci u lirogona wspaniałego ; Faecal microbes of lyrebirds

Creator:

Milne, Rebecca J ; Polska Akademia Nauk. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii

Contributor:

Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Publisher:

Museum & Institute of Zoology

Place of publishing:

Warszawa

Date issued/created:

2004

Description:

Bibliogr. p. 119-120 ; P. [111]-120 : il. ; 27 cm ; Abstarct in Polish

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

Superb Lyrebird ; Menura novaehollandiae ; pathogens ; Escherichia coli ; bacteria ; Chlamydophila psittaci ; Chlamydia

Abstract:

The Superb Lyrebird is a sexually dimorphic passerine that although is not considered endangered, it has been declining in population size since the 1940s due primarily to urban development. Recent reports suggest that lyrebirds may be threatened by chlamydial infection. We studied levels of faecal infection by two microparasites in lyrebirds: Chlamydophila psittaci and Escherichia coli in the Sherbrooke Forest, south-eastern Australia. Fresh faecal samples were obtained from 33 lyrebirds (15 adult females, 13 adult males and 5 juveniles) — estimated of 27.5% of the population, all of them tested negative to Ch. psittaci. E. coli prevalence was compared between adult males and females and no difference was found. This result is expected, for instance, if E. coli is sexually transmitted and lyrebirds are promiscuous. Trends for juveniles to be more parasitized than adults were detected, but they were statistically not significant. Behavioural analyses of video footage indicate that E. coli infected birds did not allocate more or less time to any of the activities considered than did non infected birds. This might suggest that E. coli infection in lyrebirds is relatively benign, and behavioural effects may thus be subtle. No significant differences were found in specific measurements of foraging behaviour but non infected birds tended to scratch more frequently than infected birds.

Relation:

Acta Ornithologica

Volume:

39

Issue:

2

Start page:

111

End page:

120

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Journal

Format:

text/xml

Resource Identifier:

click here to follow the link

Source:

MiIZ PAN, call no. patrz sygn. czas. P.257-39-2 ; MiIZ PAN, call no. patrz sygn. czas. P.4568-39-2 ; click here to follow the link

Language:

eng

Rights:

Rights Reserved - Free Access

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. May be used within the limits of statutory user freedoms

Digitizing institution:

Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Library of the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Access:

Open