Falco Cherrug Research Articles

The quarantine station at the National Avian Research Center, Abu Dhabi

The National Avian Research Center is a scientific and conservation organization based in Abu Dhabi. The flagship species for the organization are the Houbara bustard Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii and the Saker falcon Falco cherrug. To minimize the risk of infectious diseases being introduced into the Center a quarantine station was built to facilitate the screening of all incoming birds. This paper describes the design of the quarantine station, technical systems, water supply and drainage, and the maintenance and husbandry practices implemented at the station.

Normal blood chemistry of the Saker falcon (Falco cherrug)

Blood chemistry reference values obtained from 30 clinically normal adult female Saker falcons are presented and compared with published values for other birds of prey.

Normal haematology of captive saker falcons (Falco cherrug)

A complete haematological study was carried out on 25 clinically normal captive female saker falcons (Falco cherrug) in order to establish normal haematology reference values for the species. The results are compared with values obtained in captive peregrine falcons.

Mycoplasma buteonis sp. nov., Mycoplasma falconis sp. nov., and Mycoplasma gypis sp. nov., Three Species from Birds of Prey

Organisms with the typical characteristics of mycoplasmas were isolated from the tracheae of buzzards, saker falcons, and griffon vultures. All isolates obtained from the same bird species appeared to be serologically identical and distinct from the isolates obtained from the other two bird species and from the previously described Mycoplasma, Entomoplasma, Mesoplasma, and Acholeplasma species. The results of an indirect immunofluorescence test, a growth inhibition test, and an immunobinding assay showed that the isolates belong to three new species, for which the names Mycoplasma buteonis (seven strains obtained from buzzards), Mycoplasma falconis (six strains obtained from saker falcons), and Mycoplasma gypis (eight strains obtained from griffon vultures) are proposed. M. buteonis ferments glucose, does not hydrolyze arginine or urea, reduces tetrazolium chloride and potassium tellurite anaerobically, does not produce films and spots, and does not possess phosphatase activity. M. falconis does not ferment glucose, hydrolyzes arginine but not urea, reduces tetrazolium chloride and potassium tellurite anaerobically, does not produce films and spots, and does not possess phosphatase activity. M. gypis does not ferment glucose, hydrolyzes arginine but not urea, reduces tetrazolium chloride and potassium tellurite aerobically and anaerobically, produces films and spots, and possesses phosphatase activity. The three new species lyse avian, bovine, equine, human, ovine, porcine, rabbit, and guinea pig erythrocytes, but do not adsorb these erythrocytes. The type strain of M. buteonis is Bb/T2g (= ATCC 51371), the type strain of M. falconis is H/T1 (= ATCC 51372), and the type strain of M. gypis is B1/T1 (= ATCC 51370).

Isolation of mycoplasmas from a buzzard, falcons and vultures

Thirteen mycoplasmas were isolated from a peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), two saker falcons (Falco cherrug), a buzzard (Buteo buteo), a black vulture (Aegypius monachus), and two griffon vultures (Gypsfuhus). Six of them could be identified: Mycoplasma gallinarum (three isolates), M. columborale (two isolates) and M. anatis (one isolate). The remaining seven isolates did not react with antisera against the known avian mycoplasma species in the indirect immunofluorescence and growth inhibition tests. They may represent new species.