Academic literature on the topic 'Feather plucking'

The most common feather sampling method for feather corticosterone measurement is by plucking the feathers from the bird’s skin. This procedure performed on living, restrained birds is qualified as an animal experiment according to German/European legislation, which has to be applied for from the competent authorities. The Directive 2010/63/EU requires the full implementation of the 3-R Principle of Russel and Burch in animal experiments, which means not only to replace the use of animals, but also to reduce the number of animals used and to refine procedures whenever possible. In response to this issue, the aim of this study was to validate an alternative, less invasive sampling method by cutting feathers close to the skin in comparison to the gold standard of plucking them. For this proof-of-principle study, a conventional poultry husbandry with trial groups of geese (Anser anser domesticus) and ducks (Anas sterilis) was selected. All birds were kept under the same living conditions to standardize the influencing factors regarding husbandry, and thus, their stress levels. Feather samples were collected between the shoulders from 46 geese and 51 ducks, both by cutting as well as by plucking, directly after slaughter for meat production. Feather corticosterone levels were measured with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results were compared using Bland–Altman plots and concordance correlation coefficients (CCC). It could be seen that concordance between corticosterone levels in cut and plucked feathers was rather poor: 0.38 for Anser, and 0.57 for Anas. However, comparing the mean corticosterone values in pg/mm of each species with their respective standard deviations, the differences between the methods were negligible. As the results showed that the differences between the individuals were markedly greater than the differences between the methods, the determination of corticosterone levels in cut feathers is valid compared to using plucked feathers. The validation tests of ELISA showed only acceptable repeatability and reliability. Hence, the results should be verified in further studies. In conclusion, it is recommended for future research to use cut instead of plucked feathers for corticosterone measurement.

Every year billion kilograms of unused feathers result from the poultry industry worldwide, which in effect impose a difficult disposal process to the environment. Chicken feathers are considered as a valuable and renewable keratin protein source, which could be used advantageously in a number of applications as alternatives to feather meal and feather disposal. Although the potential applications of keratin derived from chicken feathers have been investigated, the initial purification phase has not been fully described in the literature. Original chicken feathers contain many biological organisms along with other contaminants after plucking. Unprocessed chicken feathers are considered as potentially hazardous biological materials due to the presence of blood borne pathogens; therefore, the decontamination process is very important. The purpose of this work is to compare the effects of different purification techniques on chicken feathers prior to keratin isolation. These processes include surfactant washing, soxhlet extraction with ethanol, ozone, and sodium chlorite solutions. Thermogravimetric analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, and wide angle X-ray scattering were used to characterise the purified feathers prior to keratin extraction.

To evaluate the contribution of changes in plumage insulation to the energy cost of molt, we measured oxygen consumption by wintering White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) before and after plucking 12, 24, or 36% of their plumage, and when they were replacing these feathers. Measurements were made at 20 and 25 °C, two temperatures bracketing the lower critical temperature (ca. 23 °C) of wintering Z. l. gambelii, and at 10 °C, well below the birds' lower critical temperature. For comparison, oxygen consumption by naturally molting birds was measured at 25 °C during summer. In these sparrows, feather loss resulted in increased oxygen consumption only at 10 °C and when feather loss was moderate (24% plumage; 10% increase) to intensive (36% plumage; 24% increase). Regrowth of 24 and 36% of plumage resulted in increased oxygen consumption at 20 °C (10 and 8.5%, respectively) and 10 °C (16 and 28%, respectively). Oxygen consumption by birds was unaffected by loss or regrowth of 12% of the plumage regardless of temperature, and at 25 °C, oxygen consumption was unaffected by the intensity of plumage replacement (0–36%). Comparison of oxygen consumption at 25 °C between naturally molting summer birds and treated winter birds revealed that the energy cost of molt and the apparent energy inefficiency of molt result neither from added thermoregulatory costs nor from the costs of feather synthesis per se, but seemingly from metabolic changes entrained by molt.

This study aimed to determine the sex of Tanimbar Cockatoo (Cacatua goffiniana) birds by amplifying Chromodomain Helicase DNA-binding-1 (CHD-1) gene on Z and W sex chromosomes as well as to compare the quality of DNA extraction and PCR amplification products from samples derived from peripheral blood and plucked feathers. This work used five C. goffiniana birds which were collected from the Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC) in Pengasih, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta. From each C. goffiniana, feather samples were collected by plucking feathers on the ventral wing and peripheral blood samples were taken by cutting their nails and collecting the blood into microhematocrit tubes containing heparin. The next stage was DNA extraction and DNA amplification on the CHD-1 gene using the PCR method by NP, P2, and MP primer pairs. Then, products of DNA extraction and PCR amplification were electrophoresed on 1.5% agarose gel and visualized under a UV light transilluminator with a wavelength of 260 nm. The visualization showed that samples from peripheral blood generated clearer DNA fragments compared to plucked feathers. Two of the five samples were male C. goffiniana and the other three samples were females. In the male Tanimbar Cockatoo was amplified a single DNA fragment of the Z sex chromosome in size of 300 bp, whereas in the female C. goffiniana was amplified double DNA fragments of Z and W sex chromosomes in size of 300 bp and 400 bp respectively. The DNA quality showed that the DNA quality from peripheral blood samples were better in quality than the DNA collected from plucked feather samples.

This research project had the aim to validate the possible alternative and less-painful sampling method of cutting feathers close to the skin instead of plucking them for subsequent feather corticosterone analysis, confirming recently-published results for other species in captivity. Analyzing CORTf is often used in animal welfare studies in combination with behavioral monitoring. The background of this idea was to act in the sense of animal welfare and reduce the burden of animal studies according to the 3-R-Principle (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) by refining procedures. To confirm the hypothesis that the sampling method itself has no influence on CORTf levels measured, plucked and cut samples of the respective bird were collected. Birds of two wild species were used: the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus). The CORTf was measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The determined values were inspected for their mean values, standard deviation (SD), and average differences. Afterwards, the CORTf levels of both species were compared, according to the sampling method, with the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). In the Bland-Altman (BA) plot the differences of the methods were displayed against the mean values. Additionally, sex, as a possible factor influencing CORTf, was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The values of CCC showed poor agreement in the comparability of the two methods, whereas the concordance of the BA plot was decent. The average differences between the methods were marginal for both species (Mallards: −0.16 pg/mm, Flamingos −0.13 pg/mm). In summary, all anomalies or differences between the methods were negligible. Therefore, the alternative sampling method seems to be as suitable as the common standard method. No significant difference was found between females and males. Nevertheless, our results suggest that CORTf should not be interpreted in just considering the values themselves, but the results they should be analyzed in the context of a wider set of parameters. Hence, further studies are encouraged to create a larger data pool.

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária
A dissertação aqui presente estuda pela primeira vez, a infecção pelo circovirus aviário (Beak and Feather Disease Virus - BFDV) em aves psitacídeas na região espanhola da Catalunha, entre 2005 e 2008. O BFDV provoca a doença do bico e penas dos psitacídeos (Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease - PBFD), cuja apresentação clínica depende de vários factores relativos à ave infectada, ao ambiente e ao genótipo viral. A doença é observada em aves de cativeiro de todo o mundo e em aves selvagens de África e do Pacífico, colocando em risco a conservação de algumas espécies ameaçadas. É apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o tema abordando a caracterização da doença em termos de etiologia, patogenicidade, quadros clínicos, diagnóstico, tratamento e profilaxia. Através de amostras maioritariamente sanguíneas de 1348 animais de pelo menos 83 espécies diferentes, foi testada pelo método da reacção em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) a presença do DNA viral. Os animais estudados são na esmagadora maioria nascidos em cativeiro em países europeus e residentes da região. Tendo em conta os resultados de estudos anteriores e de diferentes regiões geográficas, encontrou-se um valor de prevalência relativamente reduzido (2,60%±0,8%). Certos grupos taxonómicos revelaram maior prevalência da infecção (Ecletus sp., Agapornis sp. Ara sp. e Psittacus erithacus ssp.), enquanto noutros não se encontraram animais positivos em todo o estudo. Não foi encontrada qualquer associação estatística entre a infecção por BFDV e o sexo ou a presença de Chlamydophila sp. Foi estudado o quadro clínico de 26 animais positivos e foi possível observar que 49% não apresentavam sintomas no momento da colheita de sangue. O quadro clínico agudo apenas se observou em Psittacus erithacus ssp. e Ecletus roratus ssp.
ABSTRACT - Studies on the detection of Avian Circovirus in domestic psittacines in Barcelona region - Spain - ~This dissertation studies for the first time the avian circovirus (BFDV) infection in psittacine birds in the Spanish region of Catalonia, between 2005 and 2008. BFDV is the etiologic agent of the Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD), whose clinical presentation depends on various factors relative to the infected bird, environment and viral genotype. The disease is observed in captive birds worldwide and in wild birds in Africa and Pacific, putting at risk the conservation of some endangered species. A literature review is presented approaching the etiology, pathogenicity, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis. The presence of viral DNA was tested by PCR in blood samples from 1348 animals of about 83 different species. Most of the tested animals were captive born in European countries and living in Catalonia region. Comparing to other similar studies and from different geographic regions, the prevalence value was relatively low (2,60%±0,8). Certain taxonomic groups revealed higher infection prevalence (Ecletus sp., Agapornis sp., Ara sp. e Psittacus erithacus ssp.), while in other species no positive birds were found in the whole study. No statistical relation was found between BFDV infection and sex or the presence of Chlamydophila sp. The clinical presentation in 26 positive animals was studied and it was observed that 49% didn’t show any symptoms at the moment of the blood sample collection. The acute clinical presentation was observed in Psittacus erithacus ssp. and Ecletus roratus ssp. species.