Evaluation of the health status of goshawk chicks (Accipiter gentilis) nesting in Wrocław vicinity

Abstract

The health status of goshawk chicks (Accipiter gentilis) from the nests in the vicinity of Wroclaw was evaluated. The research was conducted in spring 2001. Each nest was inspected three times at different phases of the reproduction period and the protocol included: the counting of eggs in each nest, clinical examination of chicks, collecting swabs from the crop and cloaca, blood and litter samples for bacteriological, mycological and parasitological examinations. The total of 40 eggs, from which 33 chicks hatched, were found in 11 nests. The number of birds that survived until day 35-40 was 28. E.coli (87% and 100% during the first and third inspection, respectively), Staphylococcus spp. (38.7% and 51.8%, respectively) and Candida spp. (22.5% and 18.5%, respectively) were most frequently isolated micro-organisms from faecal swabs. Candida spp. were also identified from the crop and during the third visit the frequency of isolation was significantly higher and reached 63%.The presence of Trichomonas gallinae was recorded and confirmed in the second visit in 35% of the chicks whilst in the third examination Trichomonas were found in all chicks. The second inspection showed the ectoparasite Carnus hemapterus on the nestlings in 5 nests and Leucocytozoon spp. in the blood of 53.6% of the chicks. Fungi such as Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. and Geotrichum spp. were isolated from litter samples. No Salmonella spp. was isolated from faecal swabs or litter samples.