OCURRENCE OF INFECTIOUS AGENTS IN WILD AND NEWLY SEIZED FROM ILLEGAL TRADE AMAZON PARROTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION

• Grant number: 16/03928-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2016
• End date: December 01, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Tânia de Freitas Raso
• Grantee: Frederico Fontanelli Vaz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/19092-6 - Investigation into the diversity and distribution of adenoviruses in wild and cage birds in Australia, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Brazil is the country with the greatest diversity of psittacine birds, which are among the most threatened avian species in the country. Red-tailed Amazon parrot (Amazona brasiliensis), red-spectacled Amazon parrot (Amazona pretrei) and vinaceous Amazon parrot (Amazona vinacea) populations are considered threatened. The blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) is in the least concern category; however, there is a special interest in this species because it is the main target of illegal trade. Information about the health of these species is scarce in the literature, and pathogens investigation contribute to the species conservation activities. Three pathogens are important in the current Brazil context: circovirus, Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease agent; herpesvirus, Pacheco Disease agent; and Chlamydia psittaci. Thus, this study aims to investigate these infectious agents in nestling parrots of the species A. aestiva, A. brasiliensis, A. vinacea and A. pretrei in wild conditions in four regions of the country and nestlings newly seized from illegal trade; compare the occurrence and/or prevalence of infectious agents between wild and seized parrots sampled; assess the positive samples by sequencing and; evaluate the potential impact of these pathogens to the conservation of the populations studied. Cloacal and oropharyngeal swab samples and blood samples will be collect from the parrots to perform molecular tests (PCR). Subsequently, positive samples will be characterized by sequencing and DNA analysis. The results of this study will fill gaps in health monitoring of wild and from trafficking psittacine birds and will enable determine the impact of pathogens in the sampled populations, so tracing the possible implications for the conservation of threatened parrots species in Brazil.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

VAZ, FREDERICO FONTANELLI; SIPINSKI, ELENISE ANGELOTTI BASTOS; SEIXAS, GLAUCIA HELENA FERNANDES; PRESTES, NEMORA PAULETTI; MARTINEZ, JAIME; RASO, TANIA FREITAS. Molecular Survey of Pathogens in Wild Amazon Parrot Nestlings: Implications for Conservation. DIVERSITY-BASEL, v. 13, n. 6, JUN 2021. (16/03928-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

VAZ, Frederico Fontanelli. Survey and molecular characterization of pathogens in wild Amazon parrot nestlings and recently seized nestlings from ilegal trade. 2020. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) São Paulo.