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Introduction: Birds are involved natural cycle of a number of vector-borne viruses in both rural and urban areas. Toscana (TOSV) and Sicilian (SFSV) phleboviruses are sandfly-borne viruses in the genus Phlebovirus that can cause diseases in human. However, there is limited information on the role of the birds in sandfly-borne phleboviruses natural cycle and reservoirs ofthese viruses remain unknown. Methods: In this study, we analyzed Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) sera from Spain to identify the seroprevalence of these two phleboviruses. We tested respectively, 106 and 110 quail serum against TOSV and SFSV from 2018, 2019, and 2021 from two locations in northern Spain with using virus neutralization test. Results: We identified high neutralizing antibody rates for SFSV (45.45%) and TOSV (42.45%) with yearly fluctuation. Discussion: This is the first identification of SFSV and TOSV neutralizing antibodies in wild birds. High seroprevalence rates of TOSV and SFSV in quail birds raises the question whether birds have a role as amplifying hosts in the natural cycle of phleboviruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionBirds are involved natural cycle of a number of vector-borne viruses in both rural and urban areas. Toscana (TOSV) and Sicilian (SFSV) phleboviruses are sandfly-borne viruses in the genus Phlebovirus that can cause diseases in human. However, there is limited information on the role of the birds in sandfly-borne phleboviruses natural cycle and reservoirs ofthese viruses remain unknown.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) sera from Spain to identify the seroprevalence of these two phleboviruses. We tested respectively, 106 and 110 quail serum against TOSV and SFSV from 2018, 2019, and 2021 from two locations in northern Spain with using virus neutralization test.ResultsWe identified high neutralizing antibody rates for SFSV (45.45%) and TOSV (42.45%) with yearly fluctuation.DiscussionThis is the first identification of SFSV and TOSV neutralizing antibodies in wild birds. High seroprevalence rates of TOSV and SFSV in quail birds raises the question whether birds have a role as amplifying hosts in the natural cycle of phleboviruses.

The Common or European quail (Coturnix coturnix) is a Galliform bird of ecological importance for research in the field of animal migration. The Common quail is also a game bird, thus, of great interest for recreational activities and conservation management. Here, we generated a high quality de novo transcriptome for the Common quail for which no reference genome is to date publicly available. The transcriptome was obtained from a population of Common quail originated from captive founders raised under laboratory conditions. Paired-end RNA-Sequencing reads were obtained from extracted total RNA of brain tissue punches (preoptic-hypothalamic region) of 23 quails, which yielded to 5.5–11.2 million reads per individual bird for a total of 236 million reads. After assembly optimization, we used a stringent filtering analysis pipeline to remove redundant and low confidence transcripts. The final transcriptome consisted of 22,293 transcripts of which 21,551 (97%) were provided with annotation data. Our data offers a high quality pipeline for compiling transcriptomes of complex non-genomic species. Our data also provide a robust reference for gene expression studies in this species or other related Galliform species, including the Japanese quail.

This study investigated the habitat selection of the Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) during the breeding season of 2014 in an intensively managed agricultural environment (LAJTA Project, North-West Hungary). In order to assess the habitat preferences of the Common Quail, habitat composition around occupied plots were compared with unoccupied control plots. To characterize the habitat, a total of 11 variables related to vegetation structure and diversity, food availability and landscape were quantified. Multivariate methods (PCA and GLMs) were used to distinguish the main factors influencing habitat selection and to model the presence of the Common Quail. Based on our results, in the LAJTA Project, high probability of Common Quail presence can be predicted in plots with higher herbaceous cover and more abundant arthropod communities. The network of ecotone habitats, particularly the proximity to woody habitats, also appeared to have significant importance during the breeding season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality breeding areas are vital for the management and conservation of migratory bird species, especially those under pressure from climate warming effects. The Common quail Coturnix coturnix is a migratory species characterized by its itinerant breeding (several breeding attempts in different places) and exposure to high mortality rates, and it is a case in point. The identification and management of high quality nesting areas is essential to conserve this and other migratory species. Here, we use a Spanish long-term quail ringing dataset (1961–2014) to correlate population age structure with temporal and geographical variables. We show that northern Mediterranean regions provide optimal breeding sites and have balanced population age structures (young:adult males). The proportion of young:adult males provides an indicator of the relative quality of various breeding areas. Records of ringed quail provide data on the overlap between young and adult males temporarily resident in different geographic areas and may provide a useful tool to evaluate habitat quality. We found that the timing of sequential breeding attempts and temporary residency of quail are associated with latitude, altitude, and geographic location of quail ringing records. In southern regions, young males arrive at the breeding area later than adults, while in northern regions young birds and adults arrive at same time. Optimal breeding areas are characterized by high quality habitat, have high quail densities, and a mixture of young and adult males, factors that favour sexual selection, heterozygosity and population viability. However, not all high quality habitat areas are suitable for reproduction, being necessary enough quail density and the adequate proportion of young:adult males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was undertaken in black and white quails for studying the effect of plumage colour, estimating genetic parameters and fitting non-linear regression model to growth curve in white and black Japanese quails. White quails were significantly heavier in comparison to black quails across age groups indicating association of plumage colour with growth rate. The body weight variables measured at bi-weekly intervals when considered as a single variable had low repeatability indicating they were genetically not identical variables. Paternal half-sib estimates of heritability indicated higher additive variance in white quails in comparison to black quails. Phenotypic correlation estimates between bodyweights at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks of age, ranged from medium to high indicating favourable correlated response in bodyweight variables. Gompertz curve had very good fit with the data (99.6%) and similar curve parameters were estimated in both quail varieties. Point of inflection (IPT) was similar in both quail varieties and was 3.46 (black) and 3.44 weeks of age (white). The estimates of different growth parameters indicated the favourable effect of selection in these quail lines. Results indicated that growth curve estimates can be used for developing future breeding strategies in quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia during embryonic growth in embryos is frequently a powerful determinant of development, but at least in avian embryos the effects appear to show considerable intra- and inter-specific variation. We hypothesized that some of this variation may arise from different protocols that may or may not result in exposure during the embryo’s critical window for hypoxic effects. To test this hypothesis, quail embryos (Coturnix coturnix) in the intact egg were exposed to hypoxia (~15% O2) during “early” (Day 0 through Day 5, abbreviated as D0-D5), “middle” (D6-D10) or “late” (D11-D15) incubation or for their entire 16–18 day incubation (“continuous hypoxia”) to determine critical windows for viability and growth. Viability, body mass, beak and toe length, heart mass, and hematology (hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration) were measured on D5, D10, D15 and at hatching typically between D16 and D18 Viability rate was ~50–70% immediately following the exposure period in the early, middle and late hypoxic groups, but viability improved in the early and late groups once normoxia was restored. Middle hypoxia groups showed continuing low viability, suggesting a critical period from D6-D10 for embryo viability. The continuous hypoxia group experienced viability reaching <10% after D15. Hypoxia, especially during late and continuous hypoxia, also inhibited growth of body, beak and toe when measured at D15. Full recovery to normal body mass upon hatching occurred in all other groups except for continuous hypoxia. Contrary to previous avian studies, heart mass, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration were not altered by any hypoxic incubation pattern. Although hypoxia can inhibit embryo viability and organ growth during most incubation periods, the greatest effects result from continuous or middle incubation hypoxic exposure. Hypoxic inhibition of growth can subsequently be “repaired” by catch-up growth if a final period of normoxic development is available. Collectively, these data indicate a critical developmental window for hypoxia susceptibility during the mid-embryonic period of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of lighting programs for male and female meat quails raised in an equatorial region on performance and carcass traits. A total of 1,500 sexed quails (Coturnix coturnix) was distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with 2 sexes (male and female) and 3 lighting programs (natural, intermittent, and continuous) with 5 replicates of 50 birds. The lighting programs were applied in the period from 7 to 49 d of age, being natural (12 h and 30 min of natural light and 11 h and 30 min of dark), intermittent (12 h and 30 min of natural light and 5 h and 30 min of artificial light, alternating lighting periods with one h and 06 min and periods of darkness with one h and 12 min), and continuous (23 h of natural + artificial light and one h of dark). Regardless of lighting program, female quails were heavier than males, and birds subjected to natural light weighed less than those exposed to continuous and intermittent lighting programs. Quails exposed to intermittent and continuous light presented higher weight gain and feed intake, and worse feed conversion ratio compared to birds under a natural light regimen. It is concluded that in an equatorial region, it is possible to use a lighting program with only natural light for raising male and female meat quails from 7 to 49 d of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, we used the same method as in the 1989-1996 period to count calling males of the Common Quail Coturnix coturnix in selected 1x1 km squares of Ljubljansko barje (central Slovenia). We counted 39 males, which is 87% less compared to the survey 20 years ago. Quails were found in 56% fewer squares. Since Quail populations are known to fluctuate greatly between years, we think that the most realistic long-term estimate for population decline would be somewhere between 50 to 90%. We detected that within only one week males stopped calling in some squares, while in others they began calling although they had not been detected there before, indicating possible relocations. This dynamics should be considered when designing a population monitoring protocol for the Quail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: a series of events take place in a precise spatial and temporal context during the development of any organism. Typically, certain ontogenetic processes are consistent with the proper completion of previous events. Objective: to identify possible heterochronic events that may relate to altricial and precocious development patterns. Methods: we analyzed the ontogeny of three species of birds with two different development models: Columba livia (semialtricial 2), Coturnix coturnix, and Gallus gallus domesticus (precocial 2). The starts and endings of thirteen morphological events were compared, from hour 16 of incubation to the time of hatching. Results: while no differences in the sequence of developmental events were found, the events of the maturation stage in the altricial kind started earlier compared to the precocial species. Ontogenetic acceleration events in C. livia and C. coturnix explain how these species reach a level of morphological development similar to that of G. gallus domesticus, but with shorter incubation period. Conclusion: the results provide information not considered in the literature of the specialty about heterochronic events in early developmental stages of poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietetic metabolizable energy levels on performance and carcass traits of meat quails from 15 to 35 days old. Five hundred sixty, 15-d old, meat quails were randomly assigned to five treatments (2.850; 2.950; 3.050; 3.150 e 3.250kcal of ME kg-1 of diet), with eight replicates and fourteen birds per experimental unit. Feed intake, protein and lysine intake and feed conversion decreased linearly as the metabolizable energy content of diets increased (P<0.01), whereas metabolizable energy intake, body weight, weight gain and viability were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments. Diets did not influence (P>0.05) carcass traits as dry matter, moisture and protein content in carcass. However a quadratic effect (P<0.04) were observed on carcass fat content. Based on these results, the adequate metabolizable energy level to ensure better meat quails' growth is 3.250kcal of ME kg-1 diet, that corresponds to a metabolizable energy: crude protein ratio of 139,24. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research aimed at giving a special focus on the early development of the Harderian gland - the principal orbital gland in birds. The development of the Harderian gland was studied in the common quail (Coturnix coturnix) at 7, 8, 9 and 10 days of incubation. The Harderian gland started its development as a long tube with a narrow lumen proximally and undifferentiated lumen distally at the seventh day of incubation, while at the eighth day of incubation, the studied gland differentiated into: the upper group formed from five opened tubules but the lower one consisted of three relatively closed tubules; the Harderian gland attained a strap-like appearance with hour-glass major borders, an increase in number of acini which share in formation of gland and its corresponding closed duct at the ninth day of incubation. More additional acini shared in formation of the Harderian gland. The tubular wide opened Harderian gland duct has appeared. Innervation of the Harderian gland was carried by the inferior ramus of oculomotor nerve at tenth day of incubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present study was conducted to investigate plasma macrominerals (Ca, P, Na, K, and Mg) in adult male and female quails according to different body weights in four close-bred flocks of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) maintained at the Avian Research and Training Center of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. The results showed that mean plasma Na concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) different in female quails with respect to body size categories. The interaction between flocks and body size for plasma Ca levels was significant (P < 0.05) in both sexes of quails, whereas plasma Na was significant (P < 0.05) in female quails. The mean plasma P and K levels in imported and local flocks of Japanese quails were significantly (P < 0.05) different in female quails, whereas plasma Mg was significantly (P < 0.05) different in male quails. However, with respect to body size categories, plasma P, K, and Mg were significantly (P < 0.05) different in female quails only. The interaction between flocks and body size was significant for K and P in female quails and for plasma Mg levels in both sexes of quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoneuroendocrinology studies have identified conserved communicational paths in birds and mammals, e.g. the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis with anti-inflammatory activity mediated by glucocorticoids. Immune neuroendocrine phenotypes (INPs) have been proposed for mammals implying the categorization of a population in subgroups underlying divergent immune-neuroendocrine interactions. These phenotypes were studied in the context of the LEWIS/FISCHER paradigm (rats expressing high or low pro-inflammatory profiles, respectively). Although avian species have some common immunological mechanisms with mammals, they have also evolved some distinct strategies and, until now, it has not been studied whether birds may also share with mammals similar INPs. Based on corticosterone levels we determined the existence of two divergent groups in Coturnix coturnix that also differed in other immune-neuroendocrine responses. Quail with lowest corticosterone showed higher lymphoproliferative and antibody responses, interferon-γ and interleukin-1β mRNA expression levels and lower frequencies of leukocyte subpopulations distribution and interleukin-13 levels, than their higher corticosterone counterparts. Results suggest the existence of INPs in birds, comparable to mammalian LEWIS/FISCHER profiles, where basal corticosterone also underlies responses of comparable variables associated to the phenotypes. Concluding, INP may not be a mammalian distinct feature, leading to discuss whether these profiles represent a parallel phenomenon evolved in birds and mammals, or a common feature inherited from a reptilian ancestor millions of years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbamate anticholinesterase pesticides are widely used for plant protection. Their common application together with the high toxicity, are responsible for the increasing number of intoxication accidents with wild animals (mammals and birds). The present experiment aimed to determine the changes occurring in blood enzyme activities of quails after experimental acute intoxication with the carbamate insecticide carbofuran (Carbosan 35 СТ). Quails were divided into 5 groups: one control and 4 experimental. They were treated by increasing single doses of the tested pesticide: 1.05 mg/kg (experimental group I), 2.1 mg/kg (experimental group II), 5.25 mg/kg (experimental group III) and 10.5 mg/kg (experimental group IV), corresponding to 1/10 LD50, 1/5 LD50, 1/2 LD50 and LD50 - oral doses for albino rats, respectively. Prior to the treatment (hours –48, –24 and 0) and 1, 3, 5, 7, 24 and 48 hours thereafter, blood was sampled from v. subcutanea ulnaris for analysis of activities of serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), creatine kinase (СК) and gamma glutamyltransferase (É£-GT). The tested carbamate insecticide caused reduction in AChE activities, along with increased ASAT, ALAT, AP and СК concentrations. There were no changes in É£-GT concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In human bipedal walking, temporal changes in the elevation angle of the thigh, shank and foot segments covary to form a regular loop within a single plane in three-dimensional space. In this study, we quantified the planar covariation of limb elevation angles during bipedal locomotion in common quails to test whether the degree of planarity and the orientation of the covariance plane differ between birds, humans and Japanese macaques as reported in published accounts. Five quails locomoted on a treadmill and were recorded by a lateral X-ray fluoroscopy. The elevation angle of the thigh, shank and foot segments relative to the vertical axis was calculated and compared with published data on human and macaque bipedal locomotion. The results showed that the planar covariation applied to quail bipedal locomotion and planarity was stronger in quails than in humans. The orientation of the covariation plane in quails differed from that in humans, and was more similar to the orientation of the covariation plane in macaques. Although human walking is characterized by vaulting mechanics of the body center of mass, quails and macaques utilize spring-like running mechanics even though the duty factor is >0.5. Therefore, differences in the stance leg mechanics between quails and humans may underlie the difference in the orientation of the covariation plane. The planar covariation of inter-segmental coordination has evolved independently in both avian and human locomotion, despite the different mechanical constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this investigation was to study the histological structure of the gall bladder in the common quail (Coturnix coturnix). Samples were obtained from six male and six female healthy adult common quail. Tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Histological results showed that the overall histology of the gall bladder of the common quail is similar to that in the chukar partridge except for the goblet cells. No significant sex-based differences were found. The gall bladder was composed of tunica mucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa or tunica adventitia. The tunica mucosa was mainly lined with simple columnar epithelium which was covered by a continuous striated border of microvilli. Goblet cells were observed among the epithelial cells. The tunica mucosa formed some folds which appeared to be regularly distributed over the whole gall bladder luminal surface and were mostly isometric. Deep invaginations of the surface epithelium were observed to have grown down into the underlying mesenchyme, showing a tubular gland-like appearance. The muscularis mucosa was absent. The thin lamina propria-submucosa contained loose connective tissue which consisted of numerous diffuse lymphatic tissues, but no glands were observed. The tunica muscularis consisted of a thin circular layer of smooth muscle fibres. The loose connective tissue of the tunica serosa or adventitia was made up of adipose tissues and blood vessels. It is concluded that the histological structures of the gall bladder of the common quail are similar to those of the chukar partridge except for the presence of goblet cells among the epithelial cells of the tunica mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and sixty-eight 11-week-old laying quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were fed one of the following three diets: (1) control: basal diet with no lentil (Lens culinaris L.) byproduct; (2) inclusion of 10% lentil byproduct; (3) inclusion of 20% lentil byproduct. In the recent years, colour sorting machines are used in order to separate red lentils according to their colours. The goal is to select the items which are discoloured, not as ripe as required, or still with hull even after dehulling of lentil seed. During the sorting, a new byproduct called "sorting byproduct" leftover is obtained.The byproduct is cleaner and is of a higher quality than other lentil byproducts. This experiment was conducted to study the effects of the inclusion of different levels of lentil byproduct on laying quail performance. The experimental treatment included 10% or 20% lentil byproduct in the diet, and this was fed to quails aged between 11 and 22 weeks. The inclusion of 10% and 20% levels of lentil byproduct in the diet significantly increased egg production, but feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected. Egg weight decreased significantly following the inclusion of 20% lentil byproduct.The inclusion of lentil byproduct in the diet increased the deposition of yellow yolk pigments and decreased malonaldehyde formation in the yolk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TYR (Tyrosinase) and TYRP1 (Tyrosinase-related protein 1) play crucial roles in determining the coat color of birds. In this paper, we aimed to characterize the relationship of TYR and TYRP1 genes with plumage colors in Korean quails. The SNPs were searched by cDNA sequencing and PCR-SSCP in three plumage color Korean quails (maroon, white and black plumage). Two SNPs (367T®C and 1153C®T) were found in the coding region of TYRP1 gene, but had no significant association with plumage phenotype in Korean quails. The expression of TYR was higher in black plumage quails than that in maroon plumage quails. In contrast, the expression of TYRP1 was lower in black plumage quails than that in maroon plumage quails. This study suggested that the melanic plumage color in Korean quails may be associated with either increased production of TYR or decreased production of TYRP1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dietary supplementation with thymol has been shown to improve the oxidative stability of eggs and meat during storage. In addition, in vitro studies have shown that this compound can act as a positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor, similarly to its analog phenolic compound propofol. Hence, it is conceivable that thymol could also present anxyolitic and/or fear reducing properties, probably also affecting their locomotor activity. Considering that fear-inducing/stressful situations are practically unavoidable during birds’ rearing, the thymol feed supplementation could therefore present beneficial consequences in terms of animal welfare. This study evaluates potential fear reducing properties of thymol feed supplementation and its potential effects on locomotor activity by assessing female Japanese quail behavioral responses during brief mechanical restraint and open-field tests. Birds were evaluated after 2 and 15 days of supplementation. During the brief mechanical restraints, the latencies to struggle were significantly (P<0.05) shorter and the number of struggling bouts significantly higher (P<0.05) in the thymol group than in their Control counterparts suggesting a fear reducing effect. No effects on locomotor behavior were detected during open-field testing. The results suggest that dietary supplementation with thymol may help reduce female fear responses when birds are exposed to stressful situation without affecting the bird's locomotor activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The main goal of the study was to be determined some age linked ultrastructure features of the duodenum in specific bird species. The investigated are 20 birds from each -- Japanese and Wild quails. They were divided into four age groups (1st, 20th, 45th u 60th day of hatching; 5 birds in each age group). The materials for the electon microscopic study were obtained from the middle section of the duodenum. Onto the apical surface of the enterocytes of the duodenum with the one day old Japanese and Wild quails were determined evenly located and with similar height microvillies. They covered the apical surface of the enterocites and around the apical parts was seen glycocalyx. The height of the duodenal microvilli of the twenty days old Japanese quails was greater from those of the one day old. The 45 days old and 60 days old quails the microvilli, covering the apical surface of the enterocytes were evenly placed, but their height was continuously growing. The height of the duodenal microvilli of the one day old Japanese and Wild quails was equal. With the 20, 45 and 60 days old quails, the height of the microvilli of the Wild type were higher from the microvillies of the Japanese quails. We beleive the difference of the microvillies height of the duodenum with the Wild and the Japanese quail is due to the distinction in the nutritive habits and requirements of the investigated birds. The Wild quail is a bird, which is in a need of greater reabsorption mucosa of the small bowel and most likely is the reason the duodenal microvilli to be higher compare to the Japanese one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a study of the common quail (Coturnix coturnix) and the population trends and conservation status in Western Europe. The authors review data since 1900 to the present and they say that reliable predictions on changes in species distribution and their movements during breeding season can provide important information on the conservation status and population trends of the species which can be used in designing measures for management.

The article reports on a study on the common quail (Coturnix coturnix), its post-breeding movements and migration patterns observed in western populations. The authors aim to describe migratory phenology and some physiological features of individual quail. The results of the study detail the two waves of post-breeding movements and the timing of the hunting season. The authors say that the results of the study can be used in hunting management and the proper timing of quail hunting season.

The article describes a new approach for avian gender identification to prove it is more rapid and efficient than molecular analysis methods. It reported the findings on the CHD1 gene of the common quail, Coturnix c. coturnix, and the Japanese quail, Coturnix c. japonica, by high-resolution melting-curve (HRM) analysis. The study demonstrated the effectivity of an HRM assay for gender differentiation and proposed it as a supplementary molecular method to sex birds with no sexual dimorphism.

Abstract: Species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays have been applied to verify the labeling of pet foods containing quail, pheasant, and ostrich. The method combines the use of quail, pheasant, ostrich, chicken, duck, pig and fish specific primers that amplify small fragments (amplicons <200 base pairs) of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene and a positive control primer pair that amplifies a 141bp fragment of the nuclear 18S rRNA gene from eukaryotic DNA. The applicability of the assay was tested through the analysis of 100 commercial dog and cat food products. The reported PCR technique successfully detected the presence of the target species in 88 of the analyzed samples. However, the target species was not detected in 12 samples indicating a possible fraud in the labeling of these products. The results obtained suggest that the reported PCR method may represent a suitable tool for the detection of pet food mislabeling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a modelling analysis study on the climatic distributions of the Coturnix coturnix, an Iberian Peninsula farmland specialist bird, under habitat constraints. Species' distribution models are evaluated to determine predictive errors using performance measures like the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve that measures species restriction degree via the predictive variable variation changes. Accumulated precipitation showed a maximum contribution in models.

Cathelicidins comprise a family of antimicrobial peptides sharing a highly conserved cathelin domain, which play a central role in the early innate host defense against infection. In the present study, we report three novel avian cathelicidin orthologs cloned from a constructed spleen cDNA library of Coturnix coturnix, using a nested-PCR-based cloning strategy. Three coding sequences containing ORFs of 447, 465 and 456 bp encode three mature antimicrobial peptides (named Cc-CATH1, 2 and 3) of 26, 32 and 29 amino acid residues, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that precursors of Cc-CATHs are significantly conserved with known avian cathelicidins. Synthetic Cc-CATH2 and 3 displayed broad and potent antimicrobial activity against most of the 41 strains of bacteria and fungi tested, especially the clinically isolated drug-resistant strains, with minimum inhibitory concentration values in the range 0.3-2.5 μ for most strains with or without the presence of 100 m NaCl. Cc-CATH2 and 3 showed considerable reduction of cytotoxic activity compared to other avian cathelicidins, with average IC values of 20.18 and 17.16 μ, respectively. They also exerted a negligible hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes, lysing only 3.6% of erythrocytes at a dose up to 100 μg·mL. As expected, the recombinant Cc-CATH2 (rCc-CATH2) also showed potent bactericidal activity. All these features of Cc-CATHs encourage further studies aiming to estimate their therapeutic potential as drug leads, as well as coping with current widespread antibiotic resistance, especially the new prevalent and dangerous 'superbug' that is resistant to almost all antibiotics. Three novel avian cathelicidin orthologues were cloned encoding three antimicrobial peptides of 26, 32, 29 amino acid residues length. Synthetic Cc-CATH2 and 3 displayed broad and potent antimicrobial activity. Cc-CATH2 and 3 showed much reduced cytotoxicity, and a negligible hemolytic activity, lysing only 3.6% of erythrocytes at doses up to 100 μg·mL. Recombinant Cc-CATH2 showed potent bactericidal activity as expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Information on the movements of bird populations in extensive landscapes is needed to assess environmental effects and conservation strategies over appropriate temporal and spatial scales. The common quail ( Coturnix coturnix) is a game bird that breeds mainly in dense cereal crops. These crops cover huge areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The aim of this work is to relate cereal mowing, which causes rapid and massive habitat loss for the common quail, to population movements of the species during its breeding season. Location Spain, southern Europe. Methods We used ring recoveries to analyse, using circular statistics, the orientation of movements by male common quails in the northern half of Spain. Forward stepwise multiple regressions were applied to correlate (1) the Julian day of cereal harvesting at 770 locations with the respective latitude, longitude and elevation, and (2) the number of hunted birds with hunting pressure, breeding densities and mean mowing date by province. Finally, data concerning the number of quails hunted at the end of the breeding season were compared by province and year using two-way ANOVA. Results Our results show that during the breeding season in the northern half of Spain, male quails orient their movements towards higher areas, and mainly to the northern Castilian Plateau. These are the areas of Spain where cereals are harvested latest. Moreover, records show that the number of quails hunted is significantly higher in these areas than in other areas of the country, independently of hunting pressure and breeding densities, and it is extremely high in the northern Castilian Plateau. Main conclusions Cereal mowing combined with some Spanish geographical characteristics acts as a funnel, forcing quail populations to concentrate in certain areas of Spain at the end of the breeding season. This implies that the number of quails hunted in these areas may be high, and that they therefore constitute priority conservation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the toxicity induced by sodium selenite in male quail through in vivo and in vitro studies and the role played by vitamin B12 in alleviating selenium toxicity. Administration of selenite orally for 1 month induced hepatic oxidative damage. Selenite decreased body weight gain and increased relative liver weight. Selenite reduced hemoglobin and iron concentrations and elevated total bilirubin concentration. Serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase activities were increased in selenium-intoxicated quails. Total protein concentration was decreased associated with the appearance of prealbumin fraction, an increased γ-globulin and a decreased α- and β-globulins. The highest level of selenium was found in liver followed by kidney, testis, faeces and blood. Supplementation of vitamin B12 orally for 1 month simultaneously with selenite caused less marked biological alteration in the investigated parameters. In vitro study using isolated quail hepatocytes incubated with sodium selenite showed a dose-dependent response for toxicity markers. These results suggest that selenosis can be reduced by vitamin B12 supplementation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An enteric syndrome was observed in quail (Coturnix coturnix) semi-intensively reared for restocking in Apulia (southern Italy). The birds showed depression, severe diarrhoea, dehydration and reduced growth. Mortality occurred particularly in young birds. At necropsy the prominent lesion was enteritis. A coronavirus was detected by electron microscopy and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in the faeces and in the intestinal content of the dead quails. The virus could not be cultivated in chicken embryos. By sequence analyses of a fragment (409 nucleotides) of region 1b of the polymerase gene, the quail coronavirus displayed ≤93% nucleotide identity to avian coronaviruses (group 3 coronaviruses) - whereas by analysis of the S1 portion of the spike protein-encoding gene, the quail coronavirus displayed 16% to 18% amino acid identity with infectious bronchitis virus, and 79% to 81% identity with turkey coronavirus. Altogether, the findings suggest the existence of a novel coronavirus genetically related to turkey coronavirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms involved in D-glucose and amino acid transport in the intestine of birds are still not clear. In chickens, D-glucose and amino acid absorption occurs via carrier-mediated transport, but in wild birds a passive paracellular mechanism seems to be the predominant pathway. The purpose of this work was to determine the existence of carrier-mediated sodium cotransport of D-glucose and L-alanrne in the small intestine of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix), a granivorous bird. Intestinal transport was determined by changes in the short-circuit current (Isc), proportional to ion trans-membrane flux, in the middle segment of the intestine of Japanese quail with a Ussing chamber. D-Glucose produced an increase of the Isc, and this effect was reverted by phloridzin, indicating the presence of a D-glucose transport mediated by the sodium/glucose cotranspoter 1. Addition of L-alanine also produced an increase of the Isc. We concluded that there is carrier-mediated cotransport of D-glucose and L-alanine with sodium in the small intestine of the Japanese quail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of hatching egg weight and length of egg storage period on hatchability and subsequent laying performance of quails. Eggs were collected from a quail flock (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh) aged 17 weeks and classified into 4 groups on the basis of storage period 1, 3, 5, or 7 d. Prior to egg storage, the eggs in each group were further divided into egg weight treatment (small: <10.51 g; medium: 10.51-11.50 g; large: 11.51-12.50 g; and jumbo: >12.51 g). Hatchability of total and fertile eggs was affected significantly by hatching egg weight (P < 0.05) but was not affected significantly by the length of egg storage period. There was a decrease in egg production associated with increase in hatching egg weight. Egg production of quails hatched from stored eggs for 3 days was greater than the other groups. There was a significant interaction between hatching egg weight and length of egg storage for egg production. It was concluded that medium eggs can be hatched satisfactorily after 3 days storage for optimum egg production in quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yang, Y., Y. Cui, W. Wang, L. Zhang, L. Bufford, S. Sasaki, Z. Fan, and H. Nishimura. Molecular and functional characterization of a vasotocin-sensitive aquaporin water channel in quail kidney. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 287: R915-R924, 2004. First published June 17, 2004; 10.1152/ajpregu.00589.2003.—Both mammals and birds can concentrate urine hyperosmotic to plasma via a countercurrent multiplier mechanism, although evolutionary lines leading to mammals and birds diverged at an early stage of tetrapod evolution. We reported earlier (Nishimura H, Koseki C, and Patel TB. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 271: R1535-R1543, 1996) that arginine vasotocin (AVT; avian antidiuretic hormone) increases diffusional water permeability in the isolated, perfused medullary collecting duct (CD) of the quail kidney. In the present study, we have identified an aquaporin (AQP) 2 homolog water channel in the medullary cones of Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix (qAQP2), by RT-PCR-based cloning techniques. A full-length cDNA contains an 822-bp open reading frame that encodes a 274-amino acid sequence with 75.5% identity to rat AQP2. The qAQP2 has six transmembrane domains, two asparagine-proline-alanine (NPA) sequences, and putative N-glycosylation (asparagine-124) and phosphorylation sites (serine-257) for cAMP-dependent protein kinase, qAQP2 is expressed in the membrane of Xenopus laevis oocytes and significantly in- creased its osmotic water permeability (Pf), inhibitable (P < 0.01) by mercury chloride, qAQP2 mRNA (RT-PCR) was detected in the kidney; medullary mRNA levels were higher than cortical levels. qAQP2 protein that binds to rabbit anti-rat AQP2 antibody is present in the apical/subapical regions of both cortical and medullary CDs from normally hydrated quail, and the intensity of staining increased only in the medullary CDs after water deprivation or AVT treatment. The relative density of the ∼29-kDa protein band detected by immunoblot from the medullary cones was modestly higher in water- deprived/AVT-treated quail. The results suggest that 1) medullary CDs of quail kidneys express a mercury-sensitive functioning qAQP2 water channel, and 2) qAQP2 is at least partly regulated by an AVT-dependent mechanism. This is the first clear identification of AQP2 homolog in nonmammalian vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates whether predation rates on artificial nests predicted those on real nests containing eggs of the quail Coturnix coturnix in territories of the northern wheater Oenanthe oenanthe. Risk for artificial and natural nests; Criteria for artificial nest predation; Nest-type-specific differences in nest preying species.

AbstractThis study investigated the potential overlap between breeding and hunting seasons for a population of common quail Coturnix coturnix in the Alexandria District. Seasonal abundance (assessed as the number of birds flushed per unit effort), sex ratios and reproductive condition (based on gonad sizes) of the quail were measured over a period of 16 months, including two hunting seasons. Hunting impacts were assessed in terms of the number of birds killed per unit of hunting effort. Quail exhibited a spring peak in abundance and reproduction, which coincided with the legal hunting season, and bird numbers varied markedly between years. Sex ratio varied, with males dominating early in spring. Hunters killed nearly 60% of the birds flushed, and hunter efficiency was positively correlated with the abundance of quail. These results confirm the dilemma for managers, as quail are currently hunted during the main breeding season and offtakes are high. The development of management strategies is hampered by a lack of understanding of the population biology and ecology, and impacts of hunting. A number of possible hunting strategies are discussed. Since current harvests may not be sustainable, further research is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria (i.e.Campylobacterspp., shigatoxin-producingEscherichia coli,Salmonellaspp.) in common quail (Coturnix coturnix). To achieve this goal, 70 common quails were collected during the hunting season in the Campania region (southern Italy). From each bird, cloacal swab samples were collected and subjected to culture methods, polymerase chain reaction and serotyping. The results of the present study showed a prevalence of 21.4% and 5.7% forCampylobacterspp. and shigatoxin-producingE. coli, respectively. In contrast, noSalmonellaspp. was isolated. These findings show that common quail, as migratory birds, may constitute an environmental carrier of these pathogens representing a source of infection for other birds, livestock and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the feeding habits of common quail (Coturnix coturnix) in rural areas of Rawalpindi, Pakistan during September 2008 to May 2009. A total of 28 birds were captured (12 males and 16 females), gizzards were removed for feeding analysis. Out of 28 samples, two gizzards were empty and the remaining 26 samples contained 84.30% plant seeds viz., millet (Pennisetum americanum; 17.9%), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor; 17.2%), ground nut leaves (Arachis hypogaea; 10%), pohli (Carthamus oxyacantha; 9.8%), swank (Echinochloa crusgalli; 8.7%), baru (Sorghum halepense; 6.6%), and sesame (Sesamum indicum; 1%). The debris and stone contents in gizzards were 10.6 and 5.20%, respectively. The results of this study indicated that plant contents represented the major food items of the common quail in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Common or European quail ( Coturnix coturnix ) is a Galliform bird of ecological importance for research in the field of animal migration. The Common quail is also a game bird, thus, of great interest for recreational activities and conservation management. Here, we generated a high quality de novo transcriptome for the Common quail for which no reference genome is to date publicly available. The transcriptome was obtained from a population of Common quail originated from captive founders raised under laboratory conditions. Paired-end RNA-Sequencing reads were obtained from extracted total RNA of brain tissue punches (preoptic-hypothalamic region) of 23 quails, which yielded to 5.5-11.2 million reads per individual bird for a total of 236 million reads. After assembly optimization, we used a stringent filtering analysis pipeline to remove redundant and low confidence transcripts. The final transcriptome consisted of 22,293 transcripts of which 21,551 (97%) were provided with annotation data. Our data offers a high quality pipeline for compiling transcriptomes of complex non-genomic species. Our data also provide a robust reference for gene expression studies in this species or other related Galliform species, including the Japanese quail., Competing Interests: We declare no competing interests., (© 2020 The Authors.)

A correction to the article "Adjustments of global and local hindlimb properties during the terrestrial locomotion of the common quail (Coturnix coturnix)" published in a previous issue of the journal is presented.