Health problems

[marika.solo]

2021

Presence of one ecto- and two endoparasite species of the black stork (Ciconia nigra) in Portuga

Abstract
Background:
The black stork (Ciconia nigra Linnaeus, 1758) is a recognized endangered species in Europe and most of the specimens from the Western Palearctic region breed in the Iberian Peninsula. Available works regarding parasites in black storks are scarce. This work reports the presence one ecto- and two endoparasite species from a black stork in Portugal.
Case presentation:
A black stork was found in southern Portugal after colliding against electric cables. The specimen did not survive its sustained injuries and a post-mortem exam was performed. During the procedure, several ecto- and endoparasite specimens were found. The collected parasites were lice (Neophilopterus tricolor), nematodes (Desportesius sagittatus) and trematodes (Cathaemasia hians).
Conclusions:
Three different species of parasites are reported from a black stork in Portugal. Ecto- and endoparasites of C. nigra have not frequently been described in the literature, and this case report is a contribution to the field. Additional studies will be important to better understand the impact that parasites can have on C. nigra health and survival.

Ramilo, D. W., Caetano, I., Brazio, E., Mira, M., Antunes, L., da Fonseca, I. P., & Cardoso, L. (2021). Presence of one ecto- and two endoparasite species of the black stork (Ciconia nigra) in Portugal. BMC veterinary research, 17(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02724-6
https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/cou ... 2724-6.pdf

Spatial and temporal trends in mercury (Hg) levels in the down of black stork chicks in central Europe

Graphical abstract

(big: https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1 ... x1_lrg.jpg)

- the first study of this species concerning Hg contamination
- Hg concentrations were investigated in the down of black stork chicks (N = 90) from breeding locations in central and southern Poland (Europe) between 2015 and 2017
- Hg levels in the down of black storks were rather low with the fluctuation between years and nest locations probably caused by parental exposure during wintering, migration, pre-breeding season and recent exposure through food provided by parents
- Such low Hg concentrations seemed not to affect the population from the region studied.

Kucharska, K., Binkowski, Ł. J., & Dudzik, K. (2021). Spatial and temporal trends in mercury levels in the down of black stork chicks in central Europe. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 274, 116571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116571
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... 9121001494

Assessing Mercury Pollution Using Black Stork Eggshells

Female birds whose bodies contain environmental contaminants produce eggs with shells that are likewise contaminated, making bird eggshells appropriate indicators for monitoring environmental toxins. Common contaminants include organic mercury compounds, especially methylmercury, which are known to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain. Black storks (Ciconia nigra) predominantly consume fish and are thus at risk for high mercury intake. In this study, we used eggshells of black storks as a proxy to reconstruct the concentration levels and distribution of mercury, a well-known toxic element, in various parts of Latvia. ...
... our results indicate some, although not very high, presence of mercury in the surrounding environment. ...Another possible source of contamination is connected with female choice of wintering locations and/or staging grounds on the way back to the breeding grounds. ...

Abola, A., Strazds, M., Gavare, Z., & Veilande, R. (2021). ASSESSING MERCURY POLLUTION USING BLACK STORK EGGSHELLS. ENVIRONMENT. TECHNOLOGIES. RESOURCES. Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference, 1, 12-16. https://doi.org/10.17770/etr2021vol1.6528

[marika.solo]

2022

Flying across Europe: the case of the spread of Chaunocephalus ferox on a black stork (Ciconia nigra)

Abstract
The annual migration of birds involves a very large number of inter-continental and intra-continental movements in which thousands of bird species participate. These migrations have been associated with the spread of pathogens worldwide, including bacteria, viruses and parasites. This study describes the case of a black stork (Ciconia nigra) that was ringed at the nest in Latvia and died five months later in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula. Post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was electrocution. In addition, a massive infection by the trematode Chaunocephalus ferox (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) causing severe granulomatous lesions throughout the small intestine was detected. This is the first report of C. ferox infection in a black stork in the Iberian Peninsula, a trematode that, due to the severe lesions it causes, can affect the health of C. ferox-infected wild birds, particularly in severely infected long-distance migrants. The dispersal of platyhelminths associated with migratory birds is discussed. After the ringing at the nest, the black stork was sighted in Central Europe one month before its capture, and the trematodes found by necropsy were mostly mature adults. Consequently, we estimate that this juvenile animal acquired the infection during its migration in a European area other than the Iberian Peninsula, evidencing a long-distance parasite spread through its migratory host. Our study highlights that bird ringing can be used to understand the epidemiological implications that bird migratory behaviour may have on the dispersal of parasites.

Gonzálvez, M., Muñoz-Hernández, C., Gómez de Ramón, A., Buendía, A., Escribano, F., & Martínez-Carrasco, C. (2022). Flying across Europe: the case of the spread of Chaunocephalus ferox on a black stork (Ciconia nigra). Journal of Helminthology, 96, e80. doi:10.1017/S0022149X22000700
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals ... 21F2E3D67B

[marika.solo]

2023

Temporal and spatial trends in lead (Pb) levels in the blood and down of Black Stork nestlings in central Europe

Graphical abstract

big: https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1 ... a1_lrg.jpg

Conclusion
This study is the first to report Pb concentrations in nestlings of the ecotoxicologically understudied Black Stork. We found that the overall concentrations in blood and down were generally low for waterbird species, were below the toxicity thresholds and did not influence condition and physiology. There was no significant linkage between Pb concentrations and nesting habitat parameters or distance to nearest emitters. They were probably related to maternal exposure during migration, on stopover and breeding grounds as well as with food provided by parents.

(Down Pb concentrations reflect a sum of several exposure routes, such as maternal from egg, local from water and air pollution, and from food provided by the parents.)

Kucharska, K., Binkowski, Ł. J., & Dudzik, K. (2021). Spatial and temporal trends in mercury levels in the down of black stork chicks in central Europe. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 274, 116571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116571
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... via%3Dihub

[marika.solo]

2024

reserved for publications published this year