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PubMed2004

Newcastle disease in geese: natural occurrence and experimental infection.

A novel disease entity in domestic geese with unusual epidemiology and pathological changes has emerged in some regions of China since the late 1990s. Velogenic Newcastle disease (ND) viruses were isolated from visceral organs and cloacal swabs of diseased birds in the field. Gross lesions of diseased geese were characterized by extensive necrotic foci in intestinal mucosa, spleen and pancreas. Histological examination revealed multisystemic distribution of lesions. Similar disease was reproduced experimentally in geese not only with two field isolates of goose origin, but also with ND viruses belonging to genotypes VI, VII, VIII and IX. These led us to define the novel disease as clinical ND in geese. Additionally, the goose-originated ND virus isolates could be transmitted from geese to specific pathogen free chickens, illustrating the potential threat they posed to the chicken industry. This is the first detailed report of the natural outbreaks and experimental reproduction of ND in geese, providing evidence that geese could play an important role in the epidemiology of ND.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Differences in oxidative stress between young Canada geese and mallards exposed to lead-contaminated sediment.

Lead (Pb) exposure results in an increase in tissue lipid peroxides and variation in glutathione (GSH) concentrations, which can be related to peroxidative damage of cell membranes in Pb-poisoned animals. Species and individual variation in sensitivity to Pb poisoning among animals may be due to differential resistance to oxidative stress. The effects of oxidative stress caused by Pb exposure (1.7, 414, and 828 microg/g of diet) were compared for the first 6 wk in growing young of two species of waterfowl, Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), with the first species being possibly more sensitive to Pb poisoning based on previous field and laboratory observations. Blood and liver Pb concentrations increased more in mallards than in geese. This may be explained on the basis of body weight, being 3.2 times higher in geese, and by hepatic metabolism, where GSH S-transferase (GST) activity is 2.9-fold higher in geese and presumably has a role in the binding of Pb to GSH and subsequent biliary excretion. In contrast, mallards showed higher hepatic levels of GSH and activities of CSH peroxidase (GPX) and GSH reductase (GR). Although both species showed a rise in hepatic GSH concentration with Pb exposure, the relationship between increased lipid peroxidation and Pb exposure was only significant in geese. Within treatment groups, hepatic GSH concentrations were inversely related to liver Pb concentrations in both species, which may correspond to the role of GSH in Pb excretion. Hepatic GSH was also inversely related to hepatic lipid peroxidation, but only in mallards and in agreement with the species differences observed in GPX and GR activities. The lower resistance to lipid peroxidation of Canada geese may explain why geese can die in the field from Pb poisoning after ingesting fewer shot than found in the gizzards of mallards and with lower liver Pb concentrations than in mallards.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Helicobacter anseris sp. nov. and Helicobacter brantae sp. nov., isolated from feces of resident Canada geese in the greater Boston area.

Numbers of nonmigratory Canada geese have increased substantially in the past decade, and they have become a nuisance in some urban areas. Because of their close contact with humans in parks and areas adjacent to surface waterways, contact with their feces poses a zoonotic risk. A total of 97 geese from 10 separate geographic locales in the greater Boston area had their feces sampled for detection of Helicobacter spp. Identification of Helicobacter spp. based on 16S rRNA genus-specific helicobacter primers was noted in 39 of 97 (40.2%) DNA fecal extracts. Twenty-seven (27.8%) of these geese had helicobacters isolated from their feces. A urease-positive novel species, Helicobacter anseris, based on phenotypic, biochemical, and 16S rRNA analyses, was isolated from 20 geese from seven different flocks. A second, novel, urease-negative Helicobacter sp., H. brantae, was identified in seven geese. Four geese had both novel Helicobacter spp. cultured from their feces. Whether these two novel helicobacters pose a zoonotic risk, similar to other enteric helicobacters (e.g., H. canadensis, previously isolated from diarrheic and bacteremic humans and from geese in Europe), will require further studies.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Pathogenicity of a Hong Kong-origin H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus for emus, geese, ducks, and pigeons.

The H5N1 type A influenza viruses that emerged in Hong Kong in 1997 are a unique lineage of type A influenza viruses with the capacity to transmit directly from chickens to humans and produce significant disease and mortality in both of these hosts. The objective of this study was to ascertain the susceptibility of emus (Dramaius novaehollandiae), domestic geese (Anser anser domesticus), domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), and pigeons (Columba livia) to intranasal (i.n.) inoculation with the A/chicken/Hong Kong/220/97 (H5N1) highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. No mortality occurred within 10 days postinoculation (DPI) in the four species investigated, and clinical disease, evident as neurologic dysfunction, was observed exclusively in emus and geese. Grossly, pancreatic mottling and splenomegaly were identified in these two species. In addition, the geese had cerebral malacia and thymic and bursal atrophy. Histologically, both the emus and geese developed pancreatitis, meningoencephalitis, and mild myocarditis. Influenza viral antigen was demonstrated in areas with histologic lesions up to 10 DPI in the geese. Virus was reisolated from oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs and from the lung, brain, and kidney of the emus and geese. Moderate splenomegaly was observed grossly in the ducks. Viral infection of the ducks was pneumotropic, as evidenced by mild inflammatory lesions in the respiratory tract and virus reisolation from oropharyngeal swabs and from a lung. Pigeons were resistant to HK/220 infection, lacking gross and histologic lesions, viral antigen, and reisolation of virus. These results imply that emus and geese are susceptible to i.n. inoculation with the HK/220 virus, whereas ducks and pigeons are more resistant. These latter two species probably played a minimal epidemiologic role in the perpetuation of the H5N1 Hong Kong-origin influenza viruses.

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PubMed1987

Epizootic necrotic enteritis in wild geese.

Outbreaks of a disease characterized by severe necrotic enteritis occurred among Canada geese (Branta canadensis), lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens), Ross' geese (A. rossi), and white-fronted geese (A. albifrons) on lakes in Saskatchewan and Manitoba during the autumn of 1983, 1984 and 1985. Ducks using the lakes were apparently not affected. Lesions in the geese closely resembled those described in enteritides in other species associated with the proliferation of Clostridium perfringens in the small intestine. Clostridium perfringens was present in large numbers in the affected areas of the intestine of the geese; other pathogens were not identified. It is hypothesized that an abrupt change in diet as geese begin to feed on grain disrupts the intestinal microflora, allowing C. perfringens to proliferate in the upper small intestine. Toxins produced by the bacteria then cause mucosal necrosis. Protease-inhibitory substances in some grains might also have a role in the disease.

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PubMed1995

Gizzard nematodes of Canada geese wintering in southern Illinois.

Gizzards from 64 hunter-shot Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were collected in southern Illinois (USA) in December 1991 and January 1992 to determine the prevalence and intensity of gizzard nematodes. Three species of gizzard nematodes were recovered: Amidostomum anseris, Amidostomum spatulatum, and Epomidiostomum crami. The prevalence of infection was 98%. Mean intensity was 17.8 nematodes per host and was significantly greater for immature geese (40.3 nematodes/host) than for adult geese (10.9 nematodes/host). The intensity of both A. anseris and E. crami was greater in immature geese, but even the most heavily infected birds did not display serious lesions. Despite a dramatic increase in the population of geese, mean intensity in adult geese was similar to mean intensity reported from earlier studies at the same site. Mean intensity in immature geese in 1991 and 1992 was greater than in earlier studies.

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PubMed1999

Spatial and temporal variation in lead levels related to body condition in the Mississippi Valley population of Canada geese.

Concern over lead poisoning led to progressive prohibition of toxic shot to harvest waterfowl in the 1980's. Nevertheless, waterfowl remain susceptible to ingestion of lead shot because illegal use continues and spent shot persists in soil and wetland substrates. While mortality due to lead toxicosis has subsided, sublethal effects may still affect survival and reproduction. We measured liver lead levels and body condition in 732 Canada geese (Branta canadensis interior) during July 1984 to April 1989 in southern Illinois (USA), east-central Wisconsin (USA), and northern Ontario (Canada). Although we sampled only individuals that were visibly healthy, 55 of 732 (7.5%) geese had elevated liver lead levels (> 2 ppm). Lead levels of 46 (6.3%) geese indicated subclinical poisoning (2-6 ppm) and 9 (1.2%) geese had lead levels indicative of clinical poisoning (> 6 ppm). A greater proportion of juveniles (14.3%) had elevated lead levels than did adults (6.0%), but there was no difference between genders. Lead levels were highest in autumn and winter in southern Illinois, but were low during nesting and summer, despite legal use of lead shot in northern Ontario during our study. Lead poisoning (> or = 5% of the population) was still evident during all seasons in juveniles, and during autumn and winter in adults, 5 to 10 yr after toxic shot was banned from areas where we collected geese during migration and winter. Elevated lead levels did not affect total body mass, lipid reserves, or mineral levels of geese we collected. Protein levels also were unaffected below 10 ppm, but there was evidence of decline at higher concentrations. Thus, it seems unlikely that lead exposure currently affects survival or reproduction of Mississippi Valley Population (MVP) geese via body condition, although other sublethal effects cannot be discounted.

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PubMed1972

Influenza in Canada geese.

The role of wild avian species in the natural history of influenza is unknown. A serological study was carried out to ascertain the prevalence, distribution, and types of influenza antibody in several wild Canada goose populations. Geese were trapped and blood samples were obtained in each of 4 consecutive years, 1966-69. Antibody to influenzavirus was found in 66 (4.7%) of the 1 401 Canada geese tested by the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Antiribonucleoprotein antibody was found in 8 of 1 359 sera tested by the agar gel precipitation (AGP) test. An increase in the percentage of reactors was seen each year. This increase was greater in two refuges with nonmigratory flocks. HI antibody was found against the turkey/Wisconsin/66, turkey/Wisconsin/68, turkey/Canada/63, and turkey/Alberta/6962/66, or closely related viruses. No antibody was found against duck/Ukraine/1/63 or human A/Hong Kong/68 virus at a time when the latter was prevalent in human populations, suggesting that Canada geese played no direct role in spreading the virus.Canada geese were experimentally exposed to turkey/Wisconsin/66 and turkey/Wisconsin/68 viruses; mallard ducks were exposed to turkey/Wisconsin/66 virus. HI antibody developed in 75% of the geese and 40% of the ducks but was generally short-lived. Anti-RNP antibody was detected in 15% of the exposed geese but in none of the ducks. Virus was recovered from 3 of 10 adult ducks but not from geese. None of the birds showed signs of disease.

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PubMed1999

Forced copulation results in few extrapair fertilizations in Ross's and lesser snow geese.

Extrapair paternity varies from 0 to over 70% of young among various populations of birds. Comparative studies have suggested that this variation is related to nesting density, breeding synchrony and the proportion of extrapair copulations. We used minisatellite DNA fingerprinting to examine levels of extrapair paternity in Ross's geese, Chen rossi, and lesser snow geese, C. caerulescens c. (hereafter snow geese) nesting in the largest known goose colony in the world. These geese have one of the highest known percentages of extrapair copulation (46-56% of all attempted copulations), and all of these appeared to be forced. Among all successful copulations, 33 and 38% were extrapair in Ross's and snow geese, respectively. Despite the high percentage of extrapair copulations, extrapair paternity was low in both Ross's and snow geese (2-5% of young). Extrapair paternity was not related to nest density in either species. However, in snow geese, extrapair paternity was more likely to occur in nests of females that nested asynchronously, either early or late in the season. This is one of a few reported examples of a negative relationship between extrapair paternity and breeding synchrony. Extrapair young also tended to come from eggs laid later in the clutch. Although forced extrapair copulations appear to be a relatively inefficient reproductive tactic for males, they may provide a reproductive advantage for some males. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

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PubMed2002

The energetics of barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) flying in captive and wild conditions.

Experimental data on the relationship between mean heart rate (f(H)) and mean rate of oxygen consumption (VO(2)) of captive barnacle geese during flights in a wind tunnel are assessed in terms of their capacity to predict the typical VO(2) of wild barnacle geese, based on the recordings of their f(H), while undertaking autumn migratory flights between Spitsbergen (78 degrees N) and Caerlaverock, Scotland (55 degrees N). A significant linear relationship has been demonstrated between the f(H) and simultaneously recorded VO(2) of a single barnacle goose (B-B) flying in the wind tunnel (VO(2)=1.42 f(H)-304, r(2)=0.82, P<0.001, N=12 flights). Data recorded from three additional geese (N=4 flights), lay within the 95% prediction intervals of the relationship for goose B-B. When these geese (mean body mass=2.06 kg, n=4) were flown in the wind tunnel (WT) without the mask, they had a mean f(H) of 451+/-23 beats min(-1), yielding an estimate for VO(2) of 336+/-33 ml min(-1). However, f(H) has also been recorded from wild barnacle geese (mean migratory f(H) of 253 beats min(-1)), and substitution of this value into the above calibration equation results in an unrealistically low value for mean migratory VO(2) of only 55 ml min(-1). Various factors, such as differences in heart mass, selective tissue perfusion, environmental temperature and flock formation, which might account for some of the difference in f(H) between the captive and wild geese are discussed. Comparison with other WT studies shows that inter-species minimum mass-specific VO(2) declines with increasing body mass (M(b); range 0.035-2.8 kg) as 173 M(b)(-0.224), r(2)=0.848.

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PubMed2001

Tannins in Puccinellia arctica: possible deterrents to herbivory by Canada geese.

Urban populations of Canada geese, Branta canadensis, pose a nuisance problem throughout most of the eastern United States and in other parts of the United States and Canada. Puccinellia arctica is a species of arctic grass that is unpalatable to Canada geese on the North Slope of Alaska and may prove to be an effective long-term and nonlethal means of controlling the growing populations of urban Canada geese. A comparative study of the secondary metabolites of both P. arctica and Puccinellia langeana and Poa pratensis, two palatable grass species that Canada geese generally consume, revealed no significant differences. However, ellagitannin levels were higher in P. arctica than in the palatable grass species and may be contributing to its unpalatability to Canada geese. These results support the potential to use P. arctica in public areas to control geese intrusions.

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PubMed2003

Direct (non-vector) transmission of West Nile virus in geese.

During a recent epizootic, losses due to West Nile virus (WNV) infection in young goose flocks were estimated to be far greater than expected if mosquito-borne transmission was the principal route of infection. Contact transmission was investigated experimentally as an alternative explanation. A group of 10, 3-week-old geese were inoculated subcutaneously and placed in one insect-proof room with 20 geese of the same age. A group of 10 geese were housed in an adjacent insect-proof room to serve as an environmental control. All geese in the inoculated group produced antibodies, eight became viraemic and five died between 7 and 10 days after infection. Virus was shed from the cloaca and oral cavity by three geese. Two of the in-contact birds died on days 10 and 17 after infection, and WNV was recovered from another three birds. None of the environmental control group became infected. This result strongly suggests that horizontal transmission of WNV can occur in commercial flocks and may be aggravated if cannibalism and feather-picking of sick geese occur.

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PubMed1999

The effect of a combined dietary treatment with cholesterol and cholic acid on the lipid metabolism of geese at low or high choline concentrations.

A previous study demonstrated that a dietary treatment of young geese with cholesterol and cholic acid raises lipid concentrations in the liver. The present study was carried out to investigate whether such a lipid accumulation caused by those hyperlipidemic compounds can be intensified by low dietary choline concentrations. Therefore, 38 eight-week old geese were divided into four groups of 9 or 10 animals each and received a basal diet poor in choline which consisted predominately of maize and soy protein isolate over a period of 8 weeks. Treatment factors were supplementation of diets with cholesterol and cholic acid (0 vs. 5 g of cholesterol and cholic acid each per kg) and supplementation of choline chloride (0 vs. 1.5 g/kg). Final body weights as well as carcass weights were neither influenced significantly by dietary treatment with cholesterol and cholic acid nor by low dietary choline concentrations. However, feeding diets supplemented with cholesterol and cholic acid markedly increased liver weights (two-fold), hepatic triglyceride (3.7-fold) and cholesterol (12-fold) concentrations and percentages of monounsaturated fatty acids at the expense of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver. In geese fed diets with cholesterol and cholic acid, insufficient choline supply did not intensify, but even slightly reduced hepatic lipid accumulation. Geese fed diets with cholesterol and cholic acid exhibited markedly increased levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids in plasma and very low-density lipoproteins, regardless of the choline supply. Muscle tissue of geese fed diets supplemented with cholesterol and cholic acid exhibited also increased concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol whereas the fatty acid composition of muscle lipids remained unchanged. Among geese without hyperlipidemic treatment, concentrations of triglycerides in plasma and very low-density lipoproteins as well as the concentrations of phosphatidylcholine in liver and muscle tissue were not reduced by low dietary choline concentrations. Therefore, it is suggested that those animals were able to synthesize endogenous sufficient choline.

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PubMed2005

Comparison of nicarbazin absorption in chickens, mallards, and Canada geese.

Nicarbazin (NCZ), a coccidiostat commonly used in the poultry industry, causes reduced hatchability and egg quality in layer hens at a concentration of 125 ppm (8.4 mg/kg) in the feed. Although this effect is undesirable in the poultry industry, NCZ could provide a useful wildlife contraception tool for waterfowl, particularly urban geese. We tested the absorption of NCZ in chickens (Gallus gallus), mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and Canada geese (Branta canadensis) gavaged with 8.4 mg of NCZ/kg per bird each day for 8 d. Plasma levels of 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) differed significantly among species. Peak plasma DNC levels were 2.87 +/- 0.15 microg/mL, 2.39 +/- 0.15 microg/mL, and 1.53 +/- 0.15 microg/ mL in chickens, mallards, and Canada geese respectively. It took 6 d to obtain peak DNC levels in chickens as opposed to 8 d in mallards and Canada geese. The half life of DNC in plasma was 1.43 d in chickens, 0.72 d in mallards, and 1.26 d in Canada geese. Mallards eliminated 100% of plasma DNC 4 d post-treatment, whereas Canada geese eliminated 100% of plasma DNC 8 d post-treatment. Chickens had only eliminated 99% of plasma DNC 8 d post-treatment. Mallard plasma DNC levels were highly correlated with Canada goose plasma DNC levels. This research showed mallards are an ideal model species for the Canada goose for future reproductive studies on NCZ in a laboratory setting. However, levels higher than 8.4 mg/kg must be fed to waterfowl in order to obtain a plasma level comparable to chickens.

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PubMed2001

The arterial supply of Meckel's diverticulum in geese (Anser anser domesticus).

This study was carried out to describe the arterial supply of Meckel's diverticulum (MD) in geese, using 36 adult healthy geese of both sexes, 50 to 52 weeks of age. The arterial supply of MD was classified into three types, In the first type, MD was supplied by a very distinct branch from the cranial mesenteric artery in 21 geese. In the second type, it was supplied by one terminal branch from the cranial mesenteric artery in 9 geese. In the third type, it was supplied both by one branch from the jejunal artery and by terminal branch from the cranial mesenteric artery in 6 geese. Based on the these types, we found significant differences (p < or = 0.01) in the length of MD between type I and II. The blood supply of the third type was observed more frequently in the male than in the female. Results from this study may contribute to the anatomical knowledge of arterial supply of MD in the geese.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Lead concentrations in liver and kidneys of snow geese during an avian cholera epizootic in California.

During an avian cholera epornitic, between December 1982 and January 1983, 58 dead, 23 sick, and 106 hunter-killed lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) were collected at Delevan National Wildlife Refuge, Colusa County, California, USA. Fifty-one of the dead and sick geese were infected with Pasteurella multocida. Lead concentrations in the livers ranged from < 1 to 253 parts per million (ppm) (dry weight). Lead concentrations in the kidneys ranged from < 1 ppm to 547 ppm (dry weight). Snow geese with > 30 ppm lead, considered diagnostic of acute lead poisoning, had significantly (P < 0.05) lower heart weights and a smaller band of heart fat, compared to geese with tissue lead concentrations of < 30 ppm. Tissue lead concentrations in geese dying from avian cholera generally were lower than concentrations in hunter-killed geese, but the differences were not significant for either kidney (P = 0.08) or liver (P = 0.30) tissue.

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PubMedDate not supplied

A descriptive analysis of the potential association between migration patterns of bean and white-fronted geese and the occurrence of Newcastle disease outbreaks in domestic birds.

The sightings and migration patterns of 65 bean (Anser fabalis) and 65 white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) are reported. In the past, these geese were serologically screened for the occurrence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and other avian viral diseases by Hlinak et al. (3). Of the 130 birds originally tagged and serologically screened in 1991, 53 birds were resighted between 1991 and 1996. Most of the sightings were reported from main wintering and resting sites in Germany and The Netherlands. It is noteworthy that 19 of the 53 birds sighted had serologic evidence that they had been exposed to NDV before the time of marking in 1991. Although the origin of these infections in bean geese and white-fronted geese is still unknown, the sightings reported in this study indicate that, once infected, wild geese may be involved in the dissemination and spread of avian viral diseases, specifically Newcastle disease. The migration patterns of the wild geese provided further evidence that the main resting and wintering areas of migratory waterfowl are likely to be important for the inter- and intraspecies transmission of avian diseases, thereby representing risk areas for the poultry industry.

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PubMed1991

Plasma lipoproteins and liver lipids in two breeds of geese with different susceptibility to hepatic steatosis: changes induced by development and force-feeding.

Susceptibility to fatty liver in the force-fed goose is partly under genetic control. However, the mechanisms leading to liver steatosis in this avian model are poorly understood, but may involve perturbation in hepatic lipoprotein synthesis. Plasma lipoproteins were fractionated by density gradient ultracentrifugation from plasma of geese differing in their susceptibility to liver steatosis (Landes breed, highly susceptible; Rhine breed, partly resistant). The concentrations and chemical compositions of the major lipoprotein classes (VLDL, IDL, LDL and HDL) were characterized at 8, 22 and 27 wk of age and compared to the lipid composition of the corresponding liver. In non-force-fed geese, the lipoprotein profile was typical of birds, with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) predominating (4-5 g/L). However, at 22 and 27 wk of age, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels were significantly lower in Landes geese suggesting that this breed may possess a lower ability to export liver lipids, which would explain its susceptibility to liver steatosis when overfed. The livers of force-fed geese were specifically enriched in triglyceride, and to a lesser extent, in cholesteryl esters and non-esterified fatty acids as compared to those of control geese of the same age (27 wk). This accumulation of lipids was more pronounced in the Landes breed and was responsible for the higher liver weight in that breed. In both breeds, liver steatosis was accompanied by an increase in plasma levels of HDL (11 g/L), whereas low-density lipoproteins were essentially absent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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