Morphological comparison of the chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) and Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) syrinx

Syrinx is a voice device and shows structural and functional differences between bird species. This study aimed to investigate morphological and histological structures of the syrinx in chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) and Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). In the present study, 12 male chukar partridges and 12 male Japanese quail were used. The syrinx tissues were photographed by digital camera and fixed in formaldehyde solution. Five syrinxes were stained with methylene blue to make the syrinx rings distinct. After anatomical examination, tissues were passed through alcohol series, cleaned in xylene, and embedded in paraffin blocks. The blocks were cut and obtained sections were stained with Crossman modified triple staining and examined under camera attached light microscope. The syrinx of chukar partridges and Japanese quail consisted of cartilaginous tracheasyngeales and bronchosyngeales in the region of bifurcatio trachea and at the level of basis cordis. The tracheal rings constituting syrinx were counted three in chukar partridge and four in Japanese quail. The bronchial rings comprising syrinx counted nine in chukar partridge and eight in Japanese quail. In the histological examination, the pesullus structure was hyaline cartilage and calcificated with increasing ages being covered by pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The results of the study suggested that chukar partridge and Japanese quail syrinxes have some morphological differences compared to the other bird species; but, anatomically and histologically similarities to many bird species.

New Parasitic Records of Aves: Phasianidae (Alectoris Chukar) in Malakand Division Northern, Pakistan

More than 24,000 species of helminth parasitize wild birds worldwide, and this number is expanding as interest in wildlife parasitology increases. The objective of the current study was to update the baseline of helminthological surveys conducted on chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) in northern Pakistan. After reviewing the available literature, a parasite-host association checklist was developed. Nematodes (53.8 %) were the most commonly reported parasite, followed by cestodes (15.3 %) and trematodes (15.3 %) respectively. Seventy (70) chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) distributed across the Malakand division of northern Pakistan were screened for parasitosis during the period from October 2020 to the end of December 2021. Blood samples of all the specimens were screened for haemoprotozoa, the digestive tract was examined for protozoans and helminths. The examined birds were infected with nine different helminth parasite species identified as cestodes (4 species), trematodes (2 species) and 3 species of nematodes. 29 out of 70 birds were infected, with the male and female infection rates being 36 % and 52.1 %, respectively, with a total prevalence of 41.3 %. Among the infected birds 10 (34.4 %) contained cestodes, 2 (6.8 %) contained trematodes and 17 (58.6 %) contained nematodes. Of which Ascaridia galli and Capillaria phasianina recorded the highest prevalence (10 %). While Amoebotaenia cuneate, Choanotaenia infundibulum, Hypoderaeum conoideum, Lyperosomum longicauda recorded the least (1.4 %) respectively. Reporting of Raillietina echinobothrida, Amoebotaenia cuneate and Lyperosomum longicauda constitute new host records. A. cuneate is a new record in the parasitological list in the country. In terms of host's sexuality, the overall figures show no significant changes in infection indices.

chukar) eggs during different conditions (time, turning and position) of storage

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of storage length, turning frequency and egg position on internal quality traits of chukar eggs obtained from 56-week-old chukar partridges under the same nutrition and management conditions. A total of 720 eggs were collected and assigned to 36 subgroups according to storage length (7, 14, 21, and 28 d), turning frequency (0, 1, and 24 per day) and egg position (pointed end up, blunt end up and horizontal). As a result of the study, almost all the internal quality traits of chukar eggs were negatively affected by lengthening of storage period especially 21 days and longer (p < 0.001). Internal egg quality traits weren't statistically affected by turning frequency except yolk index (p < 0.01). An improvement was observed in Haugh unit, albumen index and heigh of eggs stored with pointed end up (p < 0.001). Some significant interactions occurred among all internal egg quality traits which were mostly dependent on the eggs stored horizontally, extended storage time more than 21 days and egg turning during storage. The results and interactions showed that internal quality traits would be preserved well for the eggs stored less than 21 days with the position of pointed end up independent of turning. If the storage period was to exceed 21 days, the eggs should be positioned horizontally and turning should be applied to preserve the quality of chukar eggs.

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous meloxicam, ketoprofen and tolfenamic acid in chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar)

1. The aim of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of meloxicam (MLX, 1 mg/kg body weight (BW)), ketoprofen (KETO, 2 mg/kg BW), and tolfenamic acid (TA, 2 mg/kg BW) in chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) following intravenous (IV) administration.2. Twenty-four healthy chukar partridges were randomly divided into three equal groups (n = 8) as MLX, KETO and TA. Plasma concentrations of MLX, KETO and TA were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection and analysed using non-compartmental analysis.3. No adverse effects were determined in chukar partridges after IV administration of MLX, KETO and TA. MLX, KETO and TA were detected in plasma up to 10, 12 and 12 h, respectively. The terminal elimination half-life of MLX, KETO and TA was 1.22, 1.77 and 1.95 h, respectively. MLX, KETO and TA exhibited volumes of distribution at a steady-state of 0.03, 0.23 and 0.41 l/kg BW, respectively. The total plasma clearance of MLX, KETO and TA was 0.02, 0.11 and 0.15 l/h/kg, respectively. The extraction ratios for MLX, KETO and TA were calculated as 0.002, 0.011 and 0.016, respectively.4. MLX, KETO and TA offer treatment in chukar partridges for various conditions with an absence of adverse reactions and properties such as short elimination half-life and low volume of distribution. However, there is a need to establish the safety and adverse effects of repeated administration, pharmacokinetics of other administration routes and pharmacological efficacy of MLX, KETO and TA in chukar partridges.

In vitro and in vivo activity of cinnamaldehyde against Eimeria kofoidi in chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar)

One hundred and twenty one-day-old chukar partridges were randomly divided into eight groups which received diets with different supplementations. There were four unchallenged groups. One group received salinomycin (50 ppm), two groups received cinnamaldehyde (CINN) (100 and 200 mg/kg of diet), and another one received only the basal diet from the 1st to the 31st day. There were also four corresponding groups orally challenged by 3 × 10⁵Eimeria kofoidi sporulated oocysts at the 21st day. Three samplings were done at the 24th, 26th, and 31st days of rearing for pathological and biochemical assessments. Fecal samples were daily taken to check the pattern of oocyst shedding from the 26th to 31st day. The body weight of birds was measured at 21st and 31st days. Along with the in vivo experiment, an in vitro sporulation inhibition test was carried out. The in vitro results showed that CINN decreased sporulation rate at 1 and 0.5 mg/ml. In vivo, it was found that CINN did not prevent the oocyst shedding. Furthermore, the histopathological findings revealed that CINN and salinomycin had no effect on infection establishment. However, our findings showed that CINN (200 mg/kg of diet) could enhance the body weight and improve antioxidant status. Although our results did not support the in vivo anticoccidial activity of CINN, it had a promising potential to improve antioxidant status and body weight in the chukar partridge.

A histomorphometric study on age-related changes in selected lymphoid structures of Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar)

BACKGROUND

Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) is raised for its highly nutritional and relatively expensive meat.

AIMS

This study evaluates selected lymphoid organs of juvenile and peripubertal Chukar partridges using a histomorphometric approach.

METHODS

Thirty one-day-old male and female Chukar partridges were included in the study. Samples were taken from cloacal bursa, thymus, spleen and the caecal tonsil (CT) as well as oesophageal and pyloric tonsils at 80, 100, and 120 days (peripuberty) of age. Ten transverse sections were then taken from each sample of each bird and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) in order to measure plicae height and follicular width as well as thickness of follicular cortex and medulla in cloacal bursa, villus height and nodular unit (ND) width and height in CT, lobular width as well as lobular cortex and medullar width in thymus, white pulp width in spleen and follicular width in oesophageal and pyloric tonsils, a linear graticule was used, the number of follicles in each plicae in cloacal bursa and the number of follicles in each ND in CT were determined under a light microscope.

RESULTS

Drastic changes in histomorphometrical parameters of lymphoid tissues were observed in peripuberty, prominently in cloacal bursa and thymus as demonstrated by the significant decrease in all assayed parameters. Involutionary changes were also observed in oesophageal and pyloric tonsils.

CONCLUSION

Involution occurs in bursa and thymus of partridges around puberty rather than their juvenile stages. These changes are also appreciable in CT, oesophageal and pyloric tonsils, whereas the spleen keeps the same histological features before and around puberty.