Macrocysts of the protozoan parasite Sarcocystis spp. occurred in 34 of 241 (14%) adult and 6 of 70 (8.6%) immature mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) that were collected in southwestern Louisiana from 1987 to 1989. The prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. among immature ducks was higher than previously reported, possibly because of a longer exposure period. No differences in carcass composition variable...

This study was carried out to verify the possibility that ducks are sources of Newcastle disease (ND) virus infection for chickens in mixed flocks. Immunosuppressed (IS) and non immunosuppressed (NIS) birds, at three different antibody levels (medium, low and absent) were used; the titres having been induced through vaccination, and Immunosuppression done using dexamethazone. Each of the 3 resp...

The ability of ducks to derive magnetic direction information was tested in a conditioned procedure and the functional properties of the mechanism of magnetoreception investigated using common manipulations. Twelve ducks were trained to find a hidden imprinting stimulus behind one of three screens in a round arena. Once a criterion was reached, the directional choices of ducks were recorded in ...

This study was performed to determine the presence of mite species on wild ducks (Subfamily, Anatinae) in Turkey. For this purpose, a total of 12 ducks were caught in the 2003-2004 hunting seasons and inspected for the presence of mite species. At the end of the examinations six ducks were found to be infested by mites. One mite species was found on the infested ducks. This species were identif...

In addition to causing 12 human deaths and 17 cases of human infection, the 2004 outbreak of H5N1 influenza virus in Thailand resulted in the death or slaughter of 60 million domestic fowl and the disruption of poultry production and trade. After domestic ducks were recognized as silent carriers of H5N1 influenza virus, government teams went into every village to cull flocks in which virus was ...

Mallard ducks were fed diets containing various levels of technical DDT or chemically pure p,p'-DDT, or dieldrin. Either technical DDT or p,p'-DDT at 20 ppm or greater, or dieldrin at I 0 ppm caused a statistically significant reduction in e9gshell thickness, weight, and calcium. Shells of eggs from ducks fed 40 ppm of p,p -DDT were about 20% thinner than those from control ducks, and shells of...

Wild waterfowl are primary reservoirs of avian influenza viruses (AIV). However the role of sea ducks in the ecology of avian influenza, and how that role differs from freshwater ducks, has not been examined. We obtained and analyzed sera from North Atlantic sea ducks and determined the seroprevalence in those populations. We also tested swab samples from North Atlantic sea ducks for the presen...

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, caused by a novel reassortant influenza A (H5N8) virus, occurred among poultry and wild birds in South Korea in 2014. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenesis in and mode of transmission of this virus among domestic and wild ducks. Three of the viruses had similar pathogenicity among infected domestic ducks: the H5N8 viruses were m...