Hunters in Europe gather non-survey game species population estimates to inform wildlife management, however, the quality of such estimates remains unclear. We compared estimates of game density, realized annual intrinsic growth rates, and period mean growth rates between hunter obtained data and data obtained by targeted survey methods for four species in Poland from 1960 to 2014. Raw hunter estimates were strongly positively correlated to spotlight counts of red fox (18 years of monitoring), strip counts of brown hare (21 years) and grey partridge (25 years), male call counts of partridge (24 years), and complete counts of roe deer (49 years), and not related to spotlight counts of brown hare (15 years). Realized annual intrinsic growth rates derived from hunter estimates were strongly positively related to annual intrinsic growth rates derived from strip counts of grey partridge and complete counts of roe deer, but only weakly or not related to strip counts of brown hare, spotlight counts of red fox and brown hare, and male call counts of grey partridge. The period length at which the period mean growth rates derived from hunter estimates and estimates from other methods were strongly correlated was largely variable among methods and species. In the roe deer, correlation between these variables was strong across all years, while in smaller game species the period mean growth rates based on hunter estimates and other methods had the strongest association in period lengths of 6 to 11 years. We conclude that raw hunter estimates convey largely similar information to that provided by other targeted survey methods. Hunter estimates provide a source of population data for both the retrospective and prospective analysis of game population development when more robust estimates are unavailable.

• MeSH
• Meat MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Deer * MeSH
• Hares MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Age-related dynamics of protozoan and helminth infections in the red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa, were studied in an intensive breeding aviary in the Czech Republic before releasing birds for hunting purposes. Pooled fecal samples (n = 900) were examined over 3 rearing seasons (2012-2014). A total of 4 protozoan species, Cryptosporidium baileyi, Cryptosporidium meleagridis, Eimeria kofoidi, and Eimeria legionensis, and 4 helminths, Capillaria phasianina, Eucoleus perforans, Heterakis gallinarum, and Syngamus trachea, was found. The most common parasite was S. trachea (prevalence 20-26%) in dead birds (n = 99), which represents a high risk for breeders. Co-occurrence of protozoans and helminths indicated similarities in infection dynamics throughout the 3 breeding seasons. Mixed infections of Cryptosporidium baileyi and C. meleagridis with other parasitic species are reported for the first time. Our findings provide new insights into breeding of A. rufa and may help to improve the efficacy of disease control strategies and prevention, especially with the potential for spreading of parasitic infections to wildlife through released birds into open areas.

• MeSH
• Capillaria classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Helminths classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Cryptosporidium classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Eimeria classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Feces parasitology   MeSH
• Galliformes parasitology   MeSH
• Helminthiasis, Animal epidemiology   parasitology   transmission   MeSH
• Nematoda classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Bird Diseases epidemiology   parasitology   transmission   MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Protozoan Infections, Animal epidemiology   parasitology   transmission   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Spirurida classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Strongyloidea classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Age Factors MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

• MeSH
• Internal Medicine MeSH
• Publication type
• Textbook MeSH

• Conspectus
• Lékařské vědy. Lékařství
• NML Fields
• vnitřní lékařství
• NML Publication type
• kolektivní monografie

• MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Epilepsy MeSH
• Nervous System Neoplasms MeSH
• Nervous System Diseases MeSH
• Neurology MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Pediatrics MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Publication type
• Monograph MeSH

• Conspectus
• Lékařské vědy. Lékařství
• NML Fields
• pediatrie
• neurologie

To investigate the effect of two insect meals (from Hermetia illucens, HI and Tenebrio molitor, TM larvae) on productive performance and blood profiles of Barbary partridge, ninety, seven days old partridges were divided into 5 groups (6 replicates, 3 partridges/replicate). Up to 64d, the groups fed 5 isoproteic and isoenergetic diets: the control fed a corn-soybean meal diet (SBM group); in TM25 and TM50 groups the 25 and 50% of SBM proteins were substituted by the protein from TM, respectively; in HI25 and HI50 groups the 25 and 50% of SBM were substituted by the protein from HI, respectively. The birds fed TM25 and both the HI levels reached a higher (P<0.01) live weight at 64d than the control. Considering the entire experimental period the TM groups had a more favorable FCR than SBM. The carcass weights of all the insect groups were higher (P<0.01) than the control. The weight of the full digestive tract in SBM group was the highest (P<0.01). The caecal weight, the intestinal and caecal length were the highest (P<0.01) in the SBM group. The SBM group the highest value of albumin/globulin (P<0.01) and creatinine (P<0.05). TM seems to be more effective than HI in improving FCR. The reduced albumin/globulin ratio in the insect meal fed groups could be ascribed to the chitin content and this result was not affected by the amount of chitin intake, suggesting that also the lowest values are able to express their potential effects in partridges.

• MeSH
• Diet veterinary   MeSH
• Diptera * MeSH
• Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena MeSH
• Galliformes blood   growth & development   MeSH
• Glycine max MeSH
• Quail MeSH
• Animal Feed analysis   MeSH
• Larva MeSH
• Body Composition MeSH
• Tenebrio * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Controlled Clinical Trial MeSH

• MeSH
• Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms MeSH
• Information Literacy MeSH
• Information Science education   MeSH
• Online Systems MeSH
• Computer Literacy MeSH
• Publication type
• Abstracts MeSH
• Congress MeSH
• Collected Work MeSH

• Conspectus
• Knihovnictví. Informatika
• NML Fields
• knihovnictví, informační věda a muzeologie

The complete mitochondrial genome of Eimeria innocua KR strain (Eimeriidae, Coccidia, Apicomplexa) was sequenced. This coccidium infects turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), Bobwhite quails (Colinus virginianus), and Grey partridges (Perdix perdix). Genome organization and gene contents were comparable with other Eimeria spp. infecting galliform birds. The circular-mapping mt genome of E. innocua is 6247 bp in length with three protein-coding genes (cox1, cox3, and cytb), 19 gene fragments encoding large subunit (LSU) rRNA and 14 gene fragments encoding small subunit (SSU) rRNA. Like other Apicomplexa, no tRNA was encoded. The mitochondrial genome of E. innocua confirms its close phylogenetic affinities to Eimeria dispersa.

• MeSH
• Eimeria classification   genetics   MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Galliformes parasitology   MeSH
• Genome, Mitochondrial genetics   MeSH
• Genome, Protozoan genetics   MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal genetics   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The present study was conducted with the objective of identifying the species of Eimeria present in a cynegetic farm. A new coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species is described from Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara, from the Canary Islands. Experimental infections were carried out in order to determine the prepatent period, sporulation time, site of infection, and morphology of endogenous stages. One species is described as new. Eimeria barbarae n. sp. has ellipsoidal oocysts, 20.0 × 14.4 (16-23 × 13-16) μm, with a shape-index (SI) of 1.39. Sporocysts are almond-shaped, 9.0 × 5.4 (6.5-11 × 4.5-6) μm, SI = 1.56. The endogenous development takes place along the intestine. The present study showed that E. barbarae causes severe pathologies in A. barbara chickens, with impact on their health condition. Control strategies needs to be implemented to reduce the loss due to coccidiosis at studied farm.

• MeSH
• Eimeria classification   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Feces parasitology   MeSH
• Coccidiosis parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• Chickens parasitology   MeSH
• Poultry Diseases parasitology   MeSH
• Oocysts ultrastructure   MeSH
• Sporozoites ultrastructure   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Spain MeSH

This paper represents the first report of spontaneous infection with Cryptosporidium baileyi and Cryptosporidium meleagridis in the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa), as well as the percentage of positive samples and age-associated dynamics of cryptosporidial infections in an aviary in the Czech Republic. The entire infection process was monitored over two semesters (July-December 2012 and 2013) until release of birds for hunting purposes. Coprological examination of 663 pooled fecal samples and 89 post-mortem examinations of red-legged partridges were carried out. Our results indicated that infections with C. baileyi only occurred in 5-7 week-old birds during 2013 (percentage of positivity, 1%) and those with C. meleagridis in 18-22 week (17%) and 17-21 week-old birds (24%) during 2012 and 2013, respectively. Molecular characterization of isolates of C. baileyi and C. meleagridis heat shock protein 70 and actin genes were analyzed in order to support our coprological results. DNA sequence analysis of the 60kDa glycoprotein gene was used to subtype C. meleagridis. Our findings extend the host range for C. baileyi.

• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium classification   genetics   MeSH
• Galliformes parasitology   MeSH
• Host Specificity MeSH
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide MeSH
• Cryptosporidiosis epidemiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
• Poultry Diseases epidemiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Protozoan Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation MeSH
• Amino Acid Sequence MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a cornerstone of vertebrate innate immunity. In this study, we identified orthologues of TLR4, TLR5 and TLR7 (representing both bacterial- and viral-sensing TLRs) in the grey partridge (Perdix perdix), a European Galliform game bird species. The phylogeny of all three TLR genes follows the known phylogeny of Galloanserae birds, placing grey partridge TLRs (PePeTLRs) in close proximity to their turkey and pheasant orthologues. The predicted proteins encoded by the PePeTLR genes were 843, 862-863 and 1,047 amino acids long, respectively, and clearly showed all TLR structural features. To verify functionality in these genes we mapped their tissue-expression profiles, revealing generally high PePeTLR4 and PePeTLR5 expression in the thymus and absence of PePeTLR4 and PePeTLR7 expression in the brain. Using 454 next-generation sequencing, we then assessed genetic variation within these genes for a wild grey partridge population in the Czech Republic, EU. We identified 11 nucleotide substitutions in PePeTLR4, eight in PePeTLR5 and six in PePeTLR7, resulting in four, four and three amino acid replacements, respectively. Given their locations and chemical features, most of these non-synonymous substitutions probably have a minor functional impact. As the intraspecific genetic variation of the three TLR genes was low, we assume that either negative selection or a bottleneck may have reduced TLR population variability in this species.

• MeSH
• Gene Expression MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Galliformes classification   genetics   MeSH
• Genetic Variation * MeSH
• Protein Conformation MeSH
• Evolution, Molecular MeSH
• Models, Molecular MeSH
• Organ Specificity MeSH
• Toll-Like Receptor 4 chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Toll-Like Receptor 5 chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Toll-Like Receptor 7 chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH