Simple techniques for making avian blood smears
01 May 1970-Canadian Journal of Zoology (NRC Research Press Ottawa, Canada)-Vol. 48, Iss: 3, pp 585-586
TL;DR: Simple equipment and techniques for improving the quality of avian blood smears obtained in field surveys are described.
Abstract: Simple equipment and techniques for improving the quality of avian blood smears obtained in field surveys are described.
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TL;DR: The influence of reproductive effort on host susceptibility to parasitism was examined in great tits, Parus major, by comparing the prevalence of haematozoan parasites with respect to clutch size in male and female parents.
Abstract: 1. The influence of reproductive effort on host susceptibility to parasitism was examined in great tits, Parus major, by comparing the prevalence of haematozoan parasites with respect to clutch size in male and female parents. 2. Observational and experimental studies were conducted. Observational studies documented the relationship between clutch size and parasite prevalence in males and females in unmanipulated nests. Reproductive effort was manipulated by exchanging complete clutches between pairs of nests during incubation. Parents experienced a maximum manipulation of ± 5 eggs. 3. Observational studies showed that the prevalence of parasites was higher in females than males. The prevalence of parasites in males increased with both increasing clutch size and increasing age
225 citations
TL;DR: Results suggest that urban tree lizards may have suppressed overall corticosterone concentrations possibly from down-regulation as a result of frequent exposure to stressors, or increased access to urban resources, and bolstered immunocompetence from increased immune challenges in the urban environment.
Abstract: The urban environment presents new and different challenges to wildlife, but also potential opportunities depending on the species. As urban encroachment onto native habitats continues, understanding the impact of this expansion on native species is vital to conservation. A key physiological indicator of environmental disturbance is the vertebrate stress response, involving increases in circulating glucocorticoids (i.e. corticosterone), which exert influence on numerous physiological parameters including energy storage, reproduction, and immunity. We examined how urbanization in Phoenix, Arizona influences corticosterone levels, blood parasitism, and innate immunity in populations of tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus) to determine whether urbanization may be detrimental or beneficial to this species. Both baseline and stress-induced corticosterone concentrations were significantly lower in urban lizards relative to the rural ones, however, the magnitude of the increase in corticosterone with stress did not differ across populations. Urban lizards also had a lower ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes, but elevated overall leukocyte count, as compared to lizards from the natural site. Urban and rural lizards did not differ in their prevalence of the blood parasite, Plasmodium mexicanum. Taken together, these results suggest that urban tree lizards may have suppressed overall corticosterone concentrations possibly from down-regulation as a result of frequent exposure to stressors, or increased access to urban resources. Also, urban lizards may have bolstered immunocompetence possibly from increased immune challenges, such as wounding, in the urban environment, or from greater energetic reserves being available as a result of access to urban resources.
169 citations
Cites methods from "Simple techniques for making avian ..."
...Thin blood smears were made in the Weld on glass microscope slides using about 5 l of the initial blood sample (Bennett 1970; Walberg 2001; Fokidis et al. 2008)....
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...Blood smears were Wxed for 10 min in absolute methanol within 3 days of collection and subsequently Giemsastained (Bennett 1970)....
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...Blood smears and analysis Blood smears were Wxed for 10 min in absolute methanol within 3 days of collection and subsequently Giemsastained (Bennett 1970)....
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TL;DR: Ass associations among parasite infections, secondary sexual traits and testosterone in male red-winged blackbirds sampled at the start of the breeding season are examined to determine whether there is a causal link between the immunosuppressive effects of testosterone and the mite infections, and between testosterone, epaulet length and male mating success.
Abstract: We examined associations among parasite infections, secondary sexual traits and testosterone in male red-winged blackbirds sampled at the start of the breeding season. Parasites quantified included ectoparasitic lice and mites and endoparasitic blood protozoans, nematodes, trematodes and cestodes. Secondary sexual traits that we quantified included body size, epaulet size and color, song repertoire size and song switching rate, and behavioral responses to male and female models. Overall we found few significant associations between parasites and secondary sexual traits, between secondary sexual traits and testosterone, or between parasites and testosterone. In addition, most parasite taxa appeared to infect birds independently, although the low prevalence (<50%) of many of the parasites meant that our sample sizes were too small to detect weak associations. Our most promising results were obtained for ectoparasitic mites, which tended to occur on birds uninfected with other parasites, on birds with longer epaulets, and on birds with higher levels of testosterone. Epaulet length and testosterone are both probable correlates of dominance in this species. Further research will be required to determine whether there is a causal link between the immunosuppressive effects of testosterone and the mite infections, and between testosterone, epaulet length and male mating success.
135 citations
Cites methods from "Simple techniques for making avian ..."
...At the time of this initial capture we collected a blood smear (Bennett 1970) for assessment of haematozoa....
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TL;DR: Return rates of female kestrels to the study area declined as the intensity of their Haemoproteus infections increased, suggesting that blood parasitism is associated with reduced survival or increased dispersal probability.
Abstract: We evaluated the relationship between blood parasites and body condition of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) during the breeding season. Females that were infected with at least one species of parasite were in poorer condition than those without parasites during incubation but not prior to egg laying. We suggest that the relationship between parasitism and condition was masked before laying because of large increases in body mass of females during egg formation. Reduced condition of males during incubation also was associated with higher intensity of infections by Haemoproteus in one of two years. The negative association between condition and intensity of infection suggests that blood parasites impose costs on kestrels owing to competition for nutrients or allocation of energy by hosts to immune function or tissue repair. Alternatively, kestrels in poor condition may be more likely to have relapses of chronic infections, or they may be less able to control new infections because of resource ...
131 citations
Cites methods from "Simple techniques for making avian ..."
...Blood collected from the brachial vein or the jugular vein was used to make blood smears (Bennett 1970)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors determined patterns of blood parasitism, body condition, and immune cell profiles in urban and rural populations of five adult male songbird species that vary in their relative abundance within urban areas.
Abstract: Many avian species are negatively impacted by urbanization, but other species survive and prosper in urbanized areas. One factor potentially contributing to the success of some species in urban areas is the reduced presence of predators or parasite vectors in urban compared to rural areas. In addition, urban areas may provide increased food and water resources, which can enhance immune capacity to resist infection and the ability to eliminate parasites. We determined patterns of blood parasitism, body condition, and immune cell profiles in urban and rural populations of five adult male songbird species that vary in their relative abundance within urban areas. Urban birds generally exhibited less blood parasitism than rural birds. This difference was particularly evident for the urban-adaptable Abert's towhee Pipilo aberti. In contrast, no difference in haemoparasitism was seen between urban and rural populations of the curve-billed thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre, a less-urban adaptable species. In two closely related species, the curve-billed thrasher and the northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos, urban birds had a higher leukocyte count and a higher heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, which is often associated with chronic stress or current infection, than rural birds. Urban northern mockingbirds were in better condition than rural counterparts, but no habitat-related differences in condition were detected for other species. Parasitic infection was correlated with body condition in only one species, the canyon towhee Pipilo fuscus. Parasitic infection in most species was correlated with changes in leukocyte abundance and profile. The findings suggest that interspecific differences in parasitic infection cannot be attributed entirely to differences in vector abundance or body condition. Interactions between immune function, parasite infection risk, and resource availability may contribute to determining the relative ability of certain species to adapt to cities.
126 citations
Cites methods from "Simple techniques for making avian ..."
...Approximately 5 ml of blood was used to prepare thin blood smears on glass microscope slides (Bennett 1970, Deviche et al. 2001, Walberg 2001)....
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...Blood smears were fixed for 10 min in absolute methanol within 5 days of collection and stained using the Giemsa method (Bennett 1970)....
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...Blood parasites and leucocyte profiles Blood smears were fixed for 10 min in absolute methanol within 5 days of collection and stained using the Giemsa method (Bennett 1970)....
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