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- Title
Investigation into diseases in free-ranging ring-necked pheasants (<italic>Phasianus colchicus</italic>) in northwestern Germany during population decline with special reference to infectious pathogens.
- Authors
Curland, N.; Gethöffer, F.; van Neer, A.; Ziegler, L.; Heffels-Redmann, U.; Lierz, M.; Baumgärtner, W.; Wohlsein, P.; Völker, I.; Lapp, S.; Bello, A.; Pfankuche, V. M.; Braune, S.; Runge, M.; Moss, A.; Rautenschlein, S.; Jung, A.; Teske, L.; Strube, C.; Schulz, J.
- Abstract
The population of ring-necked pheasants (<italic>Phasianus colchicus</italic>) is decreasing all over Germany since the years 2008/2009. Besides impacts of habitat changes caused by current rates of land conversion, climatic influences or predators, a contribution of infectious pathogens needs also to be considered. Infectious and non-infectious diseases in free-living populations of ring-necked pheasants have been scarcely investigated so far. In the present study, carcasses of 258 deceased free-ranging pheasants of different age groups, predominantly adult pheasants, collected over a period of 4 years in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine–Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein, were examined pathomorphologically, parasitologically, virologically and bacteriologically, with a focus set on infectious pathogens. A periocular and perinasal dermatitis of unknown origin was present in 62.3% of the pheasants. Additional alterations included protozoal cysts in the skeletal musculature (19.0%), hepatitis (21.7%), enteritis (18.7%), gastritis (12.6%), and pneumonia (11.7%). In single cases, neoplasms (2.6%) and mycobacteriosis (1.7%) occurred. Further findings included identification of coronaviral DNA from trachea or caecal tonsils (16.8%), siadenoviral DNA (7.6%), avian metapneumoviral RNA (6.6%), and infectious bursal disease viral RNA (3.7%). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on herpesvirus, avian influenza virus (AIV), paramyxovirus type 1 (PMV-1), avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV), and chlamydia were negative. Based on the present results, there is no indication of a specific pathogen as a sole cause for population decline in adult pheasants. However, an infectious disease can still not be completely excluded as it may only affect reproduction effectivity or a certain age group of pheasants (e.g., chicks) which were not presented in the study.
- Subjects
RING-necked pheasant; BIRD disease diagnosis; BIRD declines; HABITATS; POLYMERASE chain reaction; DISEASES
- Publication
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2018, Vol 64, Issue 2, p0
- ISSN
1612-4642
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10344-018-1173-2