The potential use of birds as bioindicators of suspended atmospheric microplastics and artificial fibers.

Microplastics (MPs) and artificial fibers (AFs) have been detected suspended tens of meters above ground level in the atmosphere, yet empirical data on them remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the presence of MPs and AFs in the digestive and respiratory systems of two abundant bird species, the Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum) and the Common Swift (Apus apus), within the Community of Madrid, Spain. Given that these birds spend the majority of their lives airborne, engaging in activities such as mating and sleeping during flight, the research sought to assess the potential of using these bird species as bioindicators for suspended atmospheric MPs and AFs. Samples were obtained from necropsies of birds (N = 24) collected primarily between spring and summer from 2021 to 2023. Only individuals that died within the initial 24-hour period and had not been fed were selected for examination to avoid contamination. MPs and AFS were identified by micro-FTIR, characterized and quantified. Results revealed that 75 % of the sampled birds exhibited at least one MPs in their respiratory and/or digestive system. All identified MPs were fibers, with polyester (PES) being the most predominant (48 %), followed by acrylic fibers (ACR; 28 %), and polyethylene (PE; 18 %). The average concentrations in the respiratory system were 1.12 ± 0.45 MPs/specimen and 2.78 ± 1.04 AFs/specimen for Common Swift and 0.75 ± 0.30 MPs/specimen and 0.75 ± 0.36 AFs/specimen for House Martin. In the digestive system, these were 1.92 ± 0.72 MPs/specimen and 3.42 ± 0.69 AFs/specimen for Common Swift, and 1.34 ± 0.50 MPs/specimen and 1.39 ± 0.47 AFs/specimen for House Martin. Birds collected areas with high population density located in the direction of the prevailing winds showed a concentration of MPs significantly higher in the digestive system. Taken together, these findings confirmed the potential use of these birds as bioindicators for monitoring of suspended atmospheric MPs and AFs.

West Nile Virus Seroprevalence in Wild Birds and Equines in Madrid Province, Spain.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a re-emerging flavivirus, primarily circulating among avian hosts and mosquito vectors, causing periodic outbreaks in humans and horses, often leading to neuroinvasive disease and mortality. Spain has reported several outbreaks, most notably in 2020 with seventy-seven human cases and eight fatalities. WNV has been serologically detected in horses in the Community of Madrid, but to our knowledge, it has never been reported from wild birds in this region. To estimate the seroprevalence of WNV in wild birds and horses in the Community of Madrid, 159 wild birds at a wildlife rescue center and 25 privately owned equines were sampled. Serum from thirteen birds (8.2%) and one equine (4.0%) tested positive with a WNV competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) designed for WNV antibody detection but sensitive to cross-reacting antibodies to other flaviviruses. Virus-neutralization test (VNT) confirmed WNV antibodies in four bird samples (2.5%), and antibodies to undetermined flavivirus in four additional samples. One equine sample (4.0%) tested positive for WNV by VNT, although this horse previously resided in a WN-endemic area. ELISA-positive birds included both migratory and resident species, juveniles and adults. Two seropositive juvenile birds suggest local flavivirus transmission within the Community of Madrid, while WNV seropositive adult birds may have been infected outside Madrid. The potential circulation of flaviviruses, including WNV, in birds in the Madrid Community raises concerns, although further surveillance of mosquitoes, wild birds, and horses in Madrid is necessary to establish the extent of transmission and the principal species involved.

Accumulation of microplastics in predatory birds near a densely populated urban area.

The pollution due to plastic and other anthropogenic particles has steadily increased over the last few decades, presenting a significant threat to the environment and organisms, including avian species. This research aimed to investigate the occurrence of anthropogenic pollutants in the digestive and respiratory systems of four birds of prey: Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), and Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). The results revealed widespread contamination in all species with microplastics (MPs) and cellulosic anthropogenic fibers (AFs), with an average of 7.9 MPs and 9.2 AFs per specimen. Every digestive system contained at least one MP, while 65 % of specimens exhibited MPs in their respiratory systems. This is the work reporting a high incidence of MPs in the respiratory system of birds, clearly indicating inhalation as a pathway for exposure to plastic pollution. The content of MPs and AFs varied significantly when comparing specimens collected from central Madrid with those recovered from other parts of the region, including rural environments, suburban areas, or less populated cities. This result aligns with the assumption that anthropogenic particles disperse from urban centers to surrounding areas. Additionally, the dominant particle shape consisted of small-sized fibers (> 98 %), primarily composed of polyester, polyethylene, acrylic materials, and cellulose fibers exhibiting indicators of industrial treatment. These findings emphasize the necessity for further research on the impact of plastic and other anthropogenic material contamination in avian species, calling for effective strategies to mitigate plastic pollution.

Patterns and practices of parenting transgender children: A brief Comparative study.

The practices of parents raising children with trans* life experiences influence their subsequent social adjustment. The aim of the study was to identify potential differences in parenting patterns and practices between two groups, one comprising families with transgender children and the other group comprising families with cisgender children. Twenty-eight adults and 15 children and adolescents from Bogotá, Colombia, participated. We performed descriptive, nonparametric comparative, and Bayesian comparative analyses for independent samples. We used a frequentist inferential comparative method with the Mann-Whitney U test with an effect size based on rank-biserial correlation, which revealed no statistically significant difference values. Bayesian comparisons showed minimal evidence in favor of the null hypothesis in all comparisons performed, except for the Behavioral Control or Regulation variable. The main finding of this study suggests that parents of children with trans* life experiences may not be addressing their specific needs, which could lead to a lack of understanding of their situation and support in their transition process.

Innovative knee surgery: arthroscopic double bundle U-DOS reverse Technique for PCL tears.

The Double Bundle U-DOS Reverse Technique for posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears is a novel arthroscopic technique that combines two well-known procedures: the mono-tunnel approach and the medial-portal approach, provides better posterior stability, improved functional outcomes, and a reduced risk of posterior tibial subluxation. This technique allows for the simultaneous treatment of anterolateral and posteromedial bundles and has been successfully performed on 16 patients, with follow-up showing sufficient support and resistance to posterior tibial subluxation or excessive displacement, resulting in a stable knee joint.

Adaptation of the classical end-point ITS-PCR for the diagnosis of avian trichomonosis to a real-time PCR reveals Bonelli's eagle as a new host for Trichomonas gypaetinii.

Avian trichomonosis is a parasitic disease caused mainly by Trichomonas gallinae and other Trichomonas species. It can be asymptomatic, or it can produce a necrotic lesion in the upper digestive tract and spread to other organs, causing the death of the infected birds. In this study, we aimed to evaluate an adapted real-time PCR method for the diagnosis of different genotypes and species of avian oropharyngeal trichomonads. Fifty-six samples from the oropharynx of Bonelli's eagles (Aquila fasciata) obtained between 2018 and 2019 were analyzed using the real-time PCR and the end-point PCR, both targeting trichomonads ITS, and the results were compared by a coefficient of agreement. All positive samples were sequenced. The analysis showed a higher percentage of detection of real-time PCR ITS compared with end-point PCR ITS (64.3 vs 55.4%), and good agreement value (Kappa = 0.816). Melting temperature value for resulting amplicons of real-time PCR for avian trichomonads was 83.45 ± 0.72 °C. Genotypes A, D, and III were found among the sequences. Moreover, Trichomonas gypaetinii, a common species in scavenger birds, is reported for the first time in Bonelli's eagles.

Oropharyngeal Trichomonosis Due to Trichomonas gypaetinii in a Cinereous Vulture ( Aegypius monachus) Fledgling in Spain.

A juvenile Cinereous Vulture ( Aegypius monachus) fledgling was found disorientated on the roof of a building in Madrid City, Spain, in October 2016. A veterinary examination revealed multiple plaques distributed throughout the oropharyngeal cavity. Lesions were located under the tongue and at the choanal slit, hard palate, and esophagus opening and ranged from 2 to 7 mm, coalescing in areas up to 2 cm, with a yellowish color of the surface. Motile trichomonad trophozoites were detected in fresh wet mount smears from the lesions. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1/5.8S/ITS2 and small subunit ribosomal RNA confirmed that Trichomonas gypaetinii was the etiologic agent. Microbiologic cultures did not reveal any pathogenic bacteria or fungi. The animal recovered successfully after treatment with metronidazole and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and was later released in a suitable habitat. Avian trichomonosis lesions caused by T. gypaetinii have not been reported.

Colonization with Enterobacteriaceae-Producing ESBLs, AmpCs, and OXA-48 in Wild Avian Species, Spain 2015-2016.

Antibiotic resistance is a global threat of complex and changeable epidemiology. The role of wild birds in the dissemination of antibacterial resistance might be underestimated. We studied the cloacal colonization by cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in 668 wild birds in Spain. Eighty-eight wild birds (13.2%) of 28 species carried cefotaxime-resistant isolates; 58 of them (8.7%) carried extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs) and 15 (2.5%) plasmid-mediated AmpCs of the blaCIT family. The 58 ESBLs belonged to the CTX-M-1 group (63.9%), CTX-M-9 group (23%), and SHV-group (13.1%). Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of the Escherichia coli isolates revealed a high degree of genetic diversity since 44 different PFGE patterns were observed among the 54 cefotaxime-resistant isolates analyzed. Two clusters were detected with a genetic linkage >90%: Cluster 1 included nine CTX-M-15-producing isolates of ST23, and Cluster 2 included four isolates producing plasmid mediated AmpC of the CIT family of ST744. In addition, five birds were colonized by OXA-48- and CTX-M-15-producing isolates: three Klebsiella pneumoniae (isolated from Eurasian eagle-owl, lesser kestrel, and common buzzard), one E. coli (common buzzard), and one Enterobacter cloacae (cattle egret). Also, an mcr-1-positive and CIT-producing E. coli isolate colonized a black vulture. By multilocus sequence typing, the three OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to the high-risk human clones ST11 (two) and ST15 (one); the OXA-48-producing E. coli belonged to ST23, and the mcr-1-positive E. coli belonged to ST162. The diversity of eating patterns and migratory habits of the multiple avian species, capable of carrying multiresistant bacteria as observed in this study, may contribute to their global dissemination from human sources.