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Current bird populations in southern temperate latitudes often represent relicts of glacial refugia from which northern populations expanded as the climate became suitable following the last glacial maximum, 18 000 years before present. Alternatively, these southern populations could be the result of the fragmentation of large distributions and other processes not related to glaciations, like recent recolonization from northern populations and human impact in historical times. Here, we investigate the origin of a small, isolated population of rooks Corvus frugilegus in north‐western Iberia. We use genetic data from mitochondrial sequence markers and seven microsatellite loci to assess levels of genetic diversity, structure and gene flow among extant populations in Iberia and its broad distribution across western Europe. Microsatellite markers revealed the existence of two genetic clusters corresponding to Iberia and the remaining European populations, respectively. Haplotype networks based on mtDNA markers revealed a marked star‐like phylogenetic pattern and evidence of a recent population expansion in northern Europe, but not in the Iberian population. Our results suggest that contemporary gene flow between Iberia and western Europe is restricted, and that breeding recruitment over recent generations in the Iberian population is local. The results are consistent with a relatively recent post‐glacial colonization of Europe and western Siberia by rooks surviving the last glacial maximum in an Iberian refugium, and likely from refugia in other southern peninsulas. The unique ecological features and genetic differentiation of the Iberian rooks underscore the importance of ensuring the long‐term conservation of this declining population.

The use of whole-genome phylogenetic analysis has revolutionized our understanding of the evolution and spread of many important bacterial pathogens due to the high resolution view it provides. However, the majority of such analyses do not consider the potential role of accessory genes when inferring evolutionary trajectories. Moreover, the recently discovered importance of the switching of gene regulatory elements suggests that an exhaustive analysis, combining information from core and accessory genes with regulatory elements could provide unparalleled detail of the evolution of a bacterial population. Here we demonstrate this principle by applying it to a worldwide multi-host sample of the important pathogenic E. coli lineage ST131. Our approach reveals the existence of multiple circulating subtypes of the major drug-resistant clade of ST131 and provides the first ever population level evidence of core genome substitutions in gene regulatory regions associated with the acquisition and maintenance of different accessory genome elements.

Lice were collected from 579 hummingbirds, representing 49 species, in 19 locations in Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay and Peru, at elevations 0–3000 m above sea level. The following variables were included in an ecological analysis (1) host species' mean body mass, sexual size dimorphism, sexual dichromatism, migratory behaviour and dominance behaviour; (2) mean elevation, mean and predictability of temperature, mean and predictability of precipitation of the host species' geographic area; (3) prevalence and mean abundance of species of lice as measures of infestation. Ordination methods were applied to evaluate data structure. Since the traits are expressed at different scales (nominal, interval and ratio), a principal component analysis based on d-correlations for the traits and a principal coordinates analysis based on the Gower index for species were applied. Lice or louse eggs were found on 80 (13.8%) birds of 22 species. A total of 267 lice of 4 genera, Trochiloecetes, Trochiliphagus, Myrsidea and Leremenopon, were collected, with a total mean intensity of 4.6. There were positive interactions between migration behaviour and infestation indices, with elevational migrants having a higher prevalence and abundance of lice than resident birds. Further, we found weak negative correlations between host body mass and infestation indices and positive correlations between mean elevation and prevalence and abundance of Trochiliphagus. Thus, formerly unknown differences in the ecological characteristics and infestation measures of Trochiliphagus and Trochiloecetes lice were revealed, which allows a better understanding of these associations and their potential impacts on hummingbirds.

Migration and over-wintering strategy of raptors can be influenced by many factors such as sex, age and experience of birds, habitat variability and food availability. Based on the telemetry data of nine Red Kites (Milvus milvus), we observed in situ their wintering grounds in southern Italy during winter 2019/2020. Red Kites originated from Austria and the Czech Republic arrived to their wintering grounds from 10th September to 5th December 2019 and departed between 9th February and 7th May 2020. Tagged Kites stayed in their wintering grounds from 73 to 207 days (mean 135±46 SD). These birds occupied home range and the core area from 39 to 9,351 km2 (KDE 95%; mean 3,591±3,460 SD) and 6 to 1,998 km2 (KDE 50%; mean 566±483 SD), respectively. We observed a total of 242 Red Kites at nine communal roost sites (min. = 14, max. = 45 individuals) used by tagged Red Kites. Roosts were situated at an average altitude of 630 m above sea level. Agricultural countryside with small or large fields, small or large forest patches, meadows, pastures, sheep or cattle farms surrounded areas around communal roosts of Red Kites.

Abstract The Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is one of the most widespread raptors in the world. The Palaearctic is populated by two migrating subspecies, Milvus migrans migrans and Milvus migrans lineatus, in the western and eastern part of this realm, respectively. There is a large intergradation zone of M. m. migrans/M. m. lineatus in-between. Although the migration routes of M. m. migrans from Europe to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East are well known, detailed information about migration routes of Black Kites from intergradation zone are missing. Using satellite telemetry we are able to fill this gap in our knowledge of these birds. We tagged with GPS/SMS/GPRS telemetry loggers 13 and 6 Black Kite pulli in lowland around Biysk (Altai Krai, Russia) and in mountains around Kosh-Agach (Altai Republic, Russia), respectively. After fledging, Black Kites from both subpopulations stayed in a small, non-overlapping areas and then migrated to southern Asia through narrow corridors. Black Kites originating from Biysk migrated through the Western Circum-Himalayan Corridor. Black Kites originating from Kosh-Agach used the Trans-Himalayan Corridor crossing the Himalayas in altitudes of up to 6256 m asl. The average total distance travelled of Black Kites from both subpopulations was 9166 km without any significant differences between these subpopulations. Timing of both spring and autumn migration did not vary along different age groups. Black Kites from both subpopulations wintered in low elevations of Pakistan and India. Birds wintered on average for 190 days, and the mean area of individual home ranges in winter was 4704 km2. During the breeding period, birds dwelled in south-western Siberia, where they spent on average 125 days with an average home range size 3537 km2. We found that ontogenetic shifts in migratory behaviour of Black Kites from Eastern Russia differ from those in population/subspecies in Europe. Black Kites crossing the Himalayas fly and, moreover, stay for hours resting at night in the environment of mountains at altitudes over 5000 m.

Abstract Background Peritoneal larval cestodiasis induced by Mesocestoides Vaillant, 1863 (Cyclophyllidea: Mesocestoididae) is a common cause of severe infections in domestic dogs and cats, reported also from other mammals and less frequently from birds. However, there is a limited knowledge on the taxonomy of causative agents of this disease. Results In the present study, we investigated a massive, likely lethal, infection of a song thrush Turdus philomelos (Passeriformes: Turdidae) by Mesocestoides sp. tetrathyridia. We performed combined morphological and phylogenetic analysis of the tetrathyridia and compared them with the materials obtained previously from other birds and mammals. The metrical data fitted within the wide range reported by previous authors but confirmed the limited value of morphological data for species identification of tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides spp. The molecular analyses suggested that the isolates represented an unidentified Mesocestoides sp. that was previously repeatedly isolated and sequenced in larval and adult forms from domestic dogs and cats in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. In contrast to the present study, which found encysted tetrathyridia, four of the five previous studies that identified the same species described infections by acephalic metacestodes only. Conclusions The tetrathyridia of the examined Mesocestoides sp. are described in the present study for the first time. However, the possible match with the species that were previously reported to infect birds remains uncertain. The phylogenetic analyses also suggested the rejection of two cases that were previously identified as Mesocestoides corti as they were likely caused by the same species as in the presently reported infection case. The newly provided DNA sequences should allow the assignment to species in the future, when adults of the genus Mesocestoides are more thoroughly sequenced.

In the 19th century, Red kite (Milvus milvus) was very common and widespread in Sardinia, but in the mid-900 an important decline occurred. Since the 1970s the species has been studied more continuously, but in recent years the published data seem contradictory. In 2018-2020, authors carried out specific research to collect data on the population of the Red kite in Sardinia exploring both the historical range of the species and areas where the species was reported in the past. In 2018-2020, we estimated 10-13 breeding pairs in an area of about 3,440 km2 located in the north west of Sardinia. As regard wintering, we estimated 30-40 birds in winters 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, whereas 90-110 birds were counted in winter 2020-2021.

European populations of the white‐tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla suffered a drastic decline during the 20th century. In many countries, only a few dozen breeding pairs survived or the species disappeared completely. By today, the populations have recovered, naturally or through restocking (e.g. in Scotland or the Czech Republic). In the Carpathian Basin, which is now a stronghold in southern Europe for the species in the southern part of the distribution range with more than 500 breeding pairs, only about 50 pairs survived the bottleneck. This region provides important wintering places for individuals arriving from different regions of Eurasia. In the present study, we investigated 249 DNA samples from several European countries, using 11 microsatellites and mitochondrial control region sequences (499 bp), to answer two main questions: 1) did the Carpathian Basin population recover through local population expansion or is there a significant gene flow from more distant populations as well? 2) Does the Czech population show signs in its genetic structure of the restocking with birds of unknown origin? Our microsatellite data yielded three genetically separate lineages within Europe: northern, central and southern, the latter being present exclusively in the Carpathian Basin. Sequencing of mitochondrial DNA revealed that there is one haplotype (B12) which is not only exclusive to the Carpathian Basin but it is frequent in this population. Our results suggest that in accordance with the presumably philopatric behaviour of the species, recovery of the Carpathian Basin population was mainly local, but some of the wintering birds coming from the northern and central populations contributed to its genetic composition as well. We detected considerably higher proportions of northern birds within the Czech Republic compared to the neighbouring areas, making it likely that parents of the reintroduced birds came from northern populations.

Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary are located in central Europe, where the white-tailed sea eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (WTSEs) was one of the most frequent large raptor species during the 19th century, with substantial numbers of breeding pairs and wintering individuals. Due to landscape changes, direct persecution and intensified agriculture the population decreased dramatically in the 20th century. The species completely disappeared as a breeder from Czech Republic since at least 1920s until 1970s or even 1980s (Bělka, Horal, 2009) as well as from Austria since 1960s until the late 1990s (Probst, Peter, 2009; Probst, 2009). In Hungary, population of this once a widespread breeder (in 19th century) continually decreased until 1970s when a population minimum of ca 20 breeding pairs was reached, most of them in southern Danube valley (Bank et al., 2004). Later on, the breeding population began to recover slowly and now the breeding population consists from 35 territorial pairs (30 breeding) in Austria in 2017 (Probst, Pichler, 2017), 116 known breeding pairs in Czech Republic in 2016 (Bělka, 2017) and 279–307 breeding (egg-laying) pairs in Hungary in 2016 (Szelényi, 2016). It seems that WTSEs from Germany and Poland predominated in recolonization of the population in the western and northern part of the Czech Republic, and that the core Danube population was predominant in the recolonization of southeastern part of the Czech Republic and eastern Austria and Hungary. Moreover, ringing data and recent genetic studies suggest that WTSE populations in central Europe may even have been reestablished by eagles from North European populations (Literák et al., 2007, Nemesházi et al., 2016). Because there are only limited data about a dispersion of WTSEs from this recovered Central European population based on ringing data and because GPS/GSM telemetry is much more powerful tool for spatio-temporal studies than ringing activities, the aim of our study was to reveal the first year dispersion of WTE from central Europe using GPS/GSM telemetry.

Abstract Background The cutaneous monostome trematode Collyriclum faba (Bremser in Schmalz, 1831) is a bird parasite with a hitherto unknown life cycle and highly focal occurrence across the Holarctic and Neotropic ecozones. Methods Representative specimens of benthic organisms were sampled at multiple sites and dates within the known foci of C. faba occurrence in Slovakia. A combined approach involving detailed morphological examination and sequencing of two independent DNA loci was used for their analysis. Results We elucidated the complete life cycle of C. faba, which we determined to include the aquatic gastropod mollusk Bythinella austriaca (Frauenfeld, 1857) as the first intermediate host, the mayflies of the family Heptageniidae, Ecdyonurus venosus (Fabricius, 1775) and Rhithrogena picteti Sowa, 1971 x iridina (Kolenati, 1839), as the second intermediate hosts, and birds (primarily but not exclusively passeriform birds) as the definitive hosts. Bythinella austriaca occurs focally in the springs of tributaries of the Danube in the Alpine-Carpathian region. The restricted distribution of B. austriaca explains the highly focal distribution of C. faba noticed previously in spite of the broad distribution of its second intermediate and definitive host species. Utilization of both larval and adult Ephemeroptera spp. as the second intermediate hosts explains the known spectrum of the definitive host species, with the highest prevalence in species feeding on larvae of Ephemeroptera, such as Cinclus cinclus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Motacilla cinerea Tunstall, 1771, or adults of Ephemeroptera, such as Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758) and Regulus regulus (Linnaeus, 1758). In this study, we also determine the prevalence and DNA sequences of other immature trematode specimens found in the examined benthic organisms (particularly the families Microphallidae, Troglotrematidae and Nanophyetidae and Euryhelmis zelleri Grabda-Kazubska, 1980, Heterophyidae), and describe cercariae of C. faba. Conclusions We determined the full life cycle of the Central European populations of C. faba. We speculate that other species of Bythinella and the closely related genus Amnicola may serve as first intermediate hosts in other parts of the distribution range of C. faba. Similarly, other Ephemeroptera of the family Heptageniidae may serve as the second intermediate hosts of C. faba in the Americas.

Among Accipitriformes sensu stricto, only a few species have been reported to form hybrid zones; these include the red kite Milvus milvus and black kite Milvus migrans migrans. M. milvus is endemic to the western Palearctic and has an estimated total population of 20-24,000 breeding pairs. The species was in decline until the 1970s due to persecution and has declined again since the 1990s due to ingestion of rodenticide-treated baits, illegal poisoning and changes in agricultural practices, particularly in its core range. Whereas F1 M. milvus × M. migr. migrans hybrid offspring have been found, F2 and F3 hybrids have only rarely been reported, with low nesting success rates of F1 hybrids and partial hybrid sterility likely playing a role. Here, we analyzed the mitochondrial (CO1 and CytB) and nuclear (Myc) DNA loci of 184 M. milvus, 124 M. migr. migrans and 3 F1 hybrid individuals collected across central Europe. In agreement with previous studies, we found low heterozygosity in M. milvus regardless of locus. We found that populations of both examined species were characterized by a high gene flow within populations, with all of the major haplotypes distributed across the entire examined area. Few haplotypes displayed statistically significant aggregation in one region over another. We did not find mitochondrial DNA of one species in individuals with the plumage of the other species, except in F1 hybrids, which agrees with Haldane´s Rule. It remains to be investigated by genomic methods whether occasional gene flow occurs through the paternal line, as the examined Myc gene displayed only marginal divergence between M. milvus and M. migr. migrans. The central European population of M. milvus is clearly subject to free intraspecific gene flow, which has direct implications when considering the origin of individuals in M. milvus re-introduction programs.

Coyotes occur in Costa Rica and their population is increasing. In August 2010, the first author visited Braulio Carrillo National Park and approached 3 coyotes. The unusual coyote behavior was analyzed using unique photographs and is ascribed primarily to maternal aggression that was possibly combined with fear-induced and territorial aggressions. As coyotes continue to adapt to suburban environments, and as their populations expand throughout Central America, coyote interactions with humans can be expected more often to occur in this region.La población de coyotes Costa Rica va en aumento. En agosto de 2010, el primer autor visitó el Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo y se acercó a 3 coyotes. Su comportamiento inusual fue analizado mediante fotografias únicas y atribuido principalmente a la agresión maternal, posiblemente en combinación con el miedo y la agresión inducida por la agresión territorial. Teniendo en cuenta la adaptación continua de los coyotes en ambientes suburbanos y el aumento de su población en Centroamérica, se pueden esperar casos frecuentes de interacción entre coyotes y seres humanos en esta región.

Three new coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species are reported from the lesser seed-finch, Oryzoborus angolensis from Brazil. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora curio n. sp. are spherical to subspherical; 24.6 × 23.6 (22-26 × 22-25) mum, shape-index (SI, length/width) of 1.04 (1.00-1.15). Oocyst wall is bilayerd, ~ 1.5 mum thick, smooth and colourless. Micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. The sporocysts are ovoid, 13.2 × 10.9 (15-17 × 10-13) mum, SI = 1.56 (1.42-1.71), with a small Stieda body and residuum composed of numerous granules scattered among the sporozoites. Sporozoites are elongated and posses a smooth surface and two distinct refractile bodies. Oocysts of Isospora braziliensis n. sp. are spherical to subspherical, 17.8 × 16.9 (16-19 × 16-18) mum, with a shape-index of 1.06 (1.00-1.12) and a smooth, single-layered wall ~ 1 mum thick. A micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granules are absent. Sporocysts are ellipsoid and slightly asymmetric, 13.2 × 10.8 (12-14 × 9-12) mum, SI = 1.48 (1.34-1.61). Each sporocyst contains a barely visible Stieda body and a residuum composed numerous of granules. Sporozoites are elongated and each of them contains two distinct refractile bodies. Oocysts of Isospora paranaensis n. sp. are subspherical to broadly ellipsoid 24.3 × 19.8 (22-26 × 18-22) mum, SI = 1.22 (1.15-1.38) with smooth single-layered wall ~ 1.5 mum thick. A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but one distinct ellipsoid polar granule (2.5-3.5 × 1.5-2.5 mum) is present. Sporocyst are ovoid, 15.7 × 10.1 (14-18 × 8-12) mum, SI = 1.46 (1.31-1.72), with distinct Stieda and sub-Stieda bodies. Each sporocyst contains a spherical sporocyst residuum, 4 mum in diameter. All described isosporan species represent a possible cause of acute coccidiosis for O. angolensis in captivity.

This study is focused on Escherichia spp. isolates resistant to critically important antibiotics (cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin and colistin) among Caspian gull’s (Larus cachinnans) chicks nesting in the Nove Mlyny Water Reservoir, Czech Republic. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria within wild birds is commonly evaluated using a single sampling event, capturing only a brief and momentary snapshot at a particular location. Therefore, the Caspian gulls in our study were sampled in May 2018 (n = 72) and May 2019 (n = 45), and a water sample was taken from the reservoir (2019). We obtained 197 isolates identified as E. coli by MALDI-TOF MS. A total of 158 representative isolates were whole-genome sequenced, 17 isolates were then reclassified to Escherichia albertii. We observed a higher (86 %; 62/72) occurrence of ESBL/AmpC-producing Escherichia spp. among gulls in 2018 compared to 38 % (17/45) in 2019 (p

ABSTRACT Wild birds including raptors can act as vectors of clinically relevant bacteria with antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in black kites (Milvus migrans) inhabiting localities in proximity to human-influenced environments in southwestern Siberia and investigate their virulence and plasmid contents. A total of 51 E. coli isolates mostly with multidrug resistance (MDR) profiles were obtained from cloacal swabs of 35 (64%, n = 55) kites. Genomic analyses of 36 whole genome sequenced E. coli isolates showed: (i) high prevalence and diversity of their antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and common association with ESBL/AmpC production (27/36, 75%), (ii) carriage of mcr-1 for colistin resistance on IncI2 plasmids in kites residing in proximity of two large cities, (iii) frequent association with class one integrase (IntI1, 22/36, 61%), and (iv) presence of sequence types (STs) linked to avian-pathogenic (APEC) and extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). Notably, numerous isolates had significant virulence content. One E. coli with APEC-associated ST354 carried qnrE1 encoding fluoroquinolone resistance on IncHI2-ST3 plasmid, the first detection of such a gene in E. coli from wildlife. Our results implicate black kites in southwestern Siberia as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant E. coli. It also highlights the existing link between proximity of wildlife to human activities and their carriage of MDR bacteria including pathogenic STs with significant and clinically relevant antibiotic resistance determinants. IMPORTANCE Migratory birds have the potential to acquire and disperse clinically relevant antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and their associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through vast geographical regions. The opportunistic feeding behavior associated with some raptors including black kites and the growing anthropogenic influence on their natural habitats increase the transmission risk of multidrug resistance (MDR) and pathogenic bacteria from human and agricultural sources into the environment and wildlife. Thus, monitoring studies investigating antibiotic resistance in raptors may provide essential data that facilitate understanding the fate and evolution of ARB and ARGs in the environment and possible health risks for humans and animals associated with the acquisition of these resistance determinants by wildlife.

Abstract Ten species of the louse genus Myrsidea belonging to the “serini-species-group” have been reviewed. A redescription of Myrsidea quadrifasciata (Piaget, 1880), the earliest described and valid species of this species complex, is given and a neotype for this species is designated. Nine new junior synonymies of M. quadrifasciata are proposed and discussed. The new synonyms and their respective type hosts are: Myrsidea anoxanthi Price and Dalgleish, 2007 from Loxipasser anoxanthus (Gosse, 1847), Myrsidea argentina (Kellogg, 1906) from Spinus magellanicus (Vieillot, 1805), Myrsidea balati Macháček, 1977 from Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758), Myrsidea darwini Palma and Price, 2010 from Geospiza fuliginosa Gould, 1837, Myrsidea major (Piaget, 1880) from Plectrophenax nivalis (Linnaeus, 1758), Myrsidea serini (Séguy, 1944) from Serinus serinus (Linnaeus, 1766), Myrsidea queleae Tendeiro, 1964 from Quelea quelea lathami (Smith, A., 1836), Myrsidea textoris Klockenhoff, 1984 from Ploceus cucullatus cucullatus (Müller, 1776), and Myrsidea viduae Tendeiro, 1993 from Vidua macroura (Pallas, 1764). Intraspecific morphometric variability, relative genetic divergence (based on a 379 bp portion of the mitochondrial COI gene and a 347 bp portion of the nuclear EF-1α gene), geographical distribution, and host associations, including 8 new host records for these lice, are discussed. Taking into consideration these parameters we suggest that the only way to deal with these taxa is to follow concept of subspecies with the following taxa and their geographic distributon: Palearctic Region: M. q. quadrifasciata and M. q. serini, Neotropical Region: M. q. anoxanthi, M. q. argentina, M. q. darwini, Paleotropic Region: M. q. queleae, M. q. textoris and M. q. viduae.

ABSTRACT The Australian silver gull is an urban-adapted species that frequents anthropogenic waste sites. The enterobacterial flora of synanthropic birds often carries antibiotic resistance genes. Whole-genome sequence analyses of 425 Escherichia coli isolates from cloacal swabs of chicks inhabiting three coastal sites in New South Wales, Australia, cultured on media supplemented with meropenem, cefotaxime, or ciprofloxacin are reported. Phylogenetically, over 170 antibiotic-resistant lineages from 96 sequence types (STs) representing all major phylogroups were identified. Remarkably, 25 STs hosted the carbapenemase gene blaIMP-4, sourced only from Five Islands. Class 1 integrons carrying blaIMP and blaOXA alongside blaCTX-M and qnrS were notable. Multiple plasmid types mobilized blaIMP-4 and blaOXA-1, and 121 isolates (28%) carried either a ColV-like (18%) or a pUTI89-like (10%) F virulence plasmid. Phylogenetic comparisons to human isolates provided evidence of interspecies transmission. Our study underscores the importance of bystander species in the transmission of antibiotic-resistant and pathogenic E. coli. IMPORTANCE By compiling various genomic and phenotypic data sets, we have provided one of the most comprehensive genomic studies of Escherichia coli isolates from the Australian silver gull, on media containing clinically relevant antibiotics. The analysis of genetic structures capturing antimicrobial resistance genes across three gull breeding colonies in New South Wales, Australia, and comparisons to clinical data have revealed a range of trackable genetic signatures that highlight the broad distribution of clinical antimicrobial resistance in more than 170 different lineages of E. coli. Conserved truncation sizes of the class 1 integrase gene, a key component of multiple-drug resistance structures in the Enterobacteriaceae, represent unique deletion events that are helping to link seemingly disparate isolates and highlight epidemiologically relevant data between wildlife and clinical sources. Notably, only the most anthropogenically affected of the three sites (Five Islands) was observed to host carbapenem resistance, indicating a potential reservoir among the sites sampled.

One species of the louse genus Philopterus Nitzsch, 1818 is redescribed and illustrated: Philopterus acrocephalus Carriker, 1949 ex Acrocephalus luscinius (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830), A. melanopogon (Temminck, 1823), A. scirpaceus (Hermann, 1804), A. schoenobaenus (Linnaeus, 1758), Iduna aedon rufescens Stegmann, 1929, I. rama (Sykes, 1832), Locustella sp. and L. ochotensis (von Middendorff, 1853). Philopterus acrocephalus represents the first species of the Philopterus-complex recorded in the family Locustellidae Bonaparte, 1854. Philopterus gustafssoni sp. nov. is described ex Regulus regulus (Linnaeus, 1758), R. regulus regulus (Linnaeus, 1758), R. regulus azoricus Seebohm, 1883, R. regulus buturlini von Loudon, 1911, R. regulus sanctaemariae Vaurie, 1954, R. regulus tristis Pleske, 1892 and R. ignicapillus (Temminck, 1820). Descriptions of both species are amended with genetic data, DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I, nuclear hyp and TMEDE6; concatenated sequences are compared to the morphologically nearest species with genetic data available, Philopterus citrinellae (Schrank, 1776) and Philopterus fringillae (Scopoli, 1772). Holotype of Philopterus reguli (Denny, 1842) is pronounced to be a straggler, determination of other known material from Regulidae is changed for Philopterus gustafssoni sp. nov.

Satellite tracking became a frequently applied method for the study and conservation of raptors during the last decade, although the data derived from different projects are rarely analyzed together. Similarly Eastern Imperial Eagles (Aquila heliaca) have been tracked from several projects in eight countries in the western part of the distribution range from 2008 to 2018. The large eastern populations of the imperial eagles in Russia and Kazakhstan are migratory, while these western populations in Central-Europe, the Balkans, Anatolia and the Caucasus are thought to be resident. In the recent presentation our aim was to give an overview about these extensive tracking studies and to show the large-scale dispersal movement of immature imperial eagles from the different resident populations of the species. All together we gathered data of 171 satellite-tracked individuals, which tags provided more than 1.5 million locations of the individuals’ dispersal movements. The following number of specimens were tagged in the different countries: Hungary (74 spec, 2011–2018), Austria (26 spec, 2011–2018), Bulgaria (25 spec, 2008–2014), Georgia (15 spec, 2016–2018), Asian Turkey (11 spec, 2017–2018), Czech Republic (7 spec, 2017–2018), Slovakia (6 spec, 2017–2018), Macedonia (5 spec, 2013), European Turkey (2 spec, 2009). Both Argos/GPS (Microwave, NorthstarST) and GPS/GSM (Ecotone, Ornitella, Aquila) type tags were used. The tagging was financed by various sources, of which the most important ones were the EU LIFE Program, Bulgaria-Turkey and ETC-Coro-SKAT Cross-border cooperation program, MME BirdLife Hungary, windfarm companies and Technisches Büro für Biologie (Rainer Raab). The overview of the dispersal movements of immature imperial eagles showed, that the original theory that these populations were resident, was right in general, although a small fraction of individuals still showed clear southward migration movement at their first winter. Also it was shown that the site fidelity and natal philopatry was very high, as only a very small fraction of the individuals moved temporarily to the territory of other breeding populations and in all cases they returned to the natal population if they survived their journey.

Poultry represents a common source of bacteria with resistance to antibiotics including the critically important ones. Selective cultivation using colistin, cefotaxime and meropenem was performed for 66 chicken samples coming from 12 farms in Paraguay while two breeding companies supplied the farms. A total of 62 Escherichia coli and 22 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were obtained and representative isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Relatively high prevalence of phylogenetic group D and F was observed in E. coli isolates and several zoonotic sequence types (STs) including ST457 (14 isolates), ST38 (5), ST10 (2), ST117 (2) or ST93 (4) were detected. Isolates from three farms, which purchased chicken from a Paraguayan hatchery showed higher prevalence of mcr-5.1 and blaCTX-M-8 compared to the other nine farms, which purchased chickens from a Brazilian hatchery. Moreover, none of the K. pneumoniae isolates were linked to the Paraguayan hatchery. ESBL/AmpC and mcr-5-carrying multi-drug resistant (MDR) plasmids were characterized, and complete sequences were obtained for eight plasmids. The study shed light on Paraguayan poultry farms as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance commonly conferred via MDR plasmids and showed linkage between resistance and origin of the chickens at the hatcheries level.

Three new species of parasitic mites of the genus Neharpyrhynchus Fain (Acariformes, Harpirhynchidae) are described from Neotropical birds, N. chlorospingus sp. n. from Chlorospingus pileatus (Passeriformes, Emberizidae) from Costa Rica, N. mironovi sp. n. from Dacnys cayana (Passeriformes, Thraupidae) and N. tangara sp. n. from Tangara cayana (Thraupidae) both from Brazil. Neharpyrhynchus trochilinus (Fain) is recorded from 3 new hosts of the family Trochilidae (Apodiformes), Panterpe insignis and Eugenes fulgens from Costa Rica, and Amazilia lactea from Brazil. Emended diagnosis of the genus and a key to species are provided; all records of Neharpyrhynchus species are summarized.

Antimicrobial resistance genes can be found in all ecosystems, including those where antibiotic selective pressure has never been exerted. We investigated resistance genes in a collection of faecal samples of wildlife (non-human primates, mice), people and domestic animals (dogs, cats) in Côte d'Ivoire; in the chimpanzee research area of Taï National Park (TNP) and adjacent villages. Single bacteria isolates were collected from antibiotic-containing agar plates and subjected to molecular analysis to detect Enterobacteriaceae isolates with plasmid-mediated genes of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR). While the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in the villages was 27% in people (n = 77) and 32% in dogs (n = 38), no ESBL-producer was found in wildlife of TNP (n = 75). PMQR genes, mainly represented by qnrS1, were also present in human- and dog-originating isolates from the villages (36% and 42% in people and dogs, respectively), but no qnrS has been found in the park. In TNP, different variants of qnrB were detected in Citrobacter freundii isolates originating non-human primates and mice. In conclusion, ESBL and PMQR genes frequently found in humans and domestic animals in the villages were rather exceptional in wildlife living in the protected area. Although people enter the park, the strict biosecurity levels they are obliged to follow probably impede transmission of bacteria between them and wildlife.