Intersexual differences in the exploratory behaviour of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Breeding performance and survival are mechanisms through which animal personality affects fitness. Exploration behaviour (EB) is an easily obtainable personality trait that correlates to multiple life-history traits, thus it has been widely used in animal personality studies. Through in situ Novel Environment exploration tests, we assessed the exploration behaviour of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) during two breeding seasons. A principal component analysis revealed two behavioural axes regarding the exploration behaviour: slow-fast and timid-daring. We found that male blue tits are significantly slower explorers than female blue tits, suggesting that evolutionary processes act unequally across sexes in our study area. To investigate these processes, we assessed the relationship between exploration behaviour and two fitness aspects: reproduction and survival. Slower-exploring males bred in nests with significantly shorter incubation periods, and timid males had higher local return ratios. Interactions between male and female EB revealed that disassortative pairs were more successful breeders than assortative ones. Further research should explore potential evolutionary implications of intersexual EB differences.

Are plumage colour and song redundant ornaments in great tits (Parus major)? It depends on the colour

According to current theory, the development of different conspicuous ornaments may provide multiple, redundant or unreliable information. However, multiple visual and acoustic traits have not often been tested at the same time. In this study, we analyse whether black tie size, yellow breast colour indexes (chroma and hue) and song parameters (repertoire size, strophe length, maximum and minimum frequency) are inter-correlated in male great tits (Parus major). We found that males with larger black ties sang greater repertoires and had higher song frequencies, providing redundant information. However, song parameters did not correlate with hue and chroma of the yellow breast coloration, supporting the idea that they convey different units of information. Results therefore stress that since different plumaged patches can transmit very different units of information, bird song will correlate to plumage coloration traits depending on the patch and the colour considered, an aspect rarely taken into account in previous studies relating song to plumage colour traits.

Conspecific aggression strategies are conditioned by environmental, social and intrinsic variables in breeding blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus

Territorial behaviour arises as a strategy of ensuring individuals’ access to a variety of potentially limiting resources. While aggressiveness is a well-studied widespread trait across taxa, the mechanisms that allow for a range of aggressive phenotypes to coexist in the wild remains unclear. In this study, we analyse environmental, social and intrinsic variables that can modulate the expression of different strategies of male–male aggressiveness. Furthermore, through network analysis we explore the role of this trait in the establishment of territories during the breeding season as the intensity of different aggressiveness strategies may limit or grant access to resources. Simulating territorial intrusions during the early incubation period, we assessed the aggressiveness of breeding male blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). We defined three types of conspecific aggressiveness (nonconfrontational intimidating, nonconfrontational cautious and confrontational) and analysed the effect of habitat structure, territory quality, presence of other breeding species and male condition on the type and intensity of the aggressive display. The results obtained suggest that yearling males rely on intimidating behaviour more than older males, that perform more cautious displays. Furthermore, smaller and heavier males opted for confrontational strategies. The density and nature of neighbours, as well as the territory quality and the habitat structure, also conditioned the intensity and type of display. Surprisingly, the network analysis revealed that the intensity of male–male aggressive displays did not condition the establishment of breeding territories. Our results suggest that aggressiveness is a context-specific trait shaped by a complex array of environmental and intrinsic parameters.

Host dispersal shapes the population structure of a tick-borne bacterial pathogen

Birds are hosts for several zoonotic pathogens. Because of their high mobility, especially of longdistance migrants, birds can disperse these pathogens, affecting their distribution and phylogeography. We focused on Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, which includes the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, as an example for tick-borne pathogens, to address the role of birds as propagation hosts of zoonotic agents at a large geographical scale. We collected ticks from passerine birds in 11 European countries. B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence in Ixodes spp. was 37% and increased with latitude. The fieldfare Turdus pilaris and the blackbird T. merula carried ticks with the highest Borrelia prevalence (92 and 58%, respectively), whereas robin Erithacus rubecula ticks were the least infected (3.8%). Borrelia garinii was the most prevalent genospecies (61%), followed by B. valaisiana (24%), B. afzelii (9%), B. turdi (5%) and B. lusitaniae (0.5%). A novel Borrelia genospecies "Candidatus Borrelia aligera" was also detected. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of B. garinii isolates together with the global collection of B. garinii genotypes obtained from the Borrelia MLST public database revealed that: (a) there was little overlap among genotypes from different continents, (b) there was no geographical structuring within Europe, and (c) there was no evident association pattern detectable among B. garinii genotypes from ticks feeding on birds, questing ticks or human isolates. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that the population structure and evolutionary biology of tick-borne pathogens are shaped by their host associations and the movement patterns of these hosts.

The strength of the association between heterozygosity and probability of interannual local recruitment increases with environmental harshness in blue tits

The extent of inbreeding depression and the magnitude of heterozygosity–fitness correlations (HFC) have been suggested to depend on the environmental context in which they are assayed, but little evidence is available for wild populations. We combine extensive molecular and capture–mark–recapture data from a blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) population to (1) analyze the relationship between heterozygosity and probability of interannual adult local recruitment and (2) test whether environmental stress imposed by physiologically suboptimal temperatures and rainfall influence the magnitude of HFC. To address these questions, we used two different arrays of microsatellite markers: 14 loci classified as neutral and 12 loci classified as putatively functional. We found significant relationships between heterozygosity and probability of interannual local recruitment that were most likely explained by variation in genomewide heterozygosity. The strength of the association between heterozygosity and probability of interannual local recruitment was positively associated with annual accumulated precipitation. Annual mean heterozygosity increased over time, which may have resulted from an overall positive selection on heterozygosity over the course of the study period. Finally, neutral and putatively functional loci showed similar trends, but the former had stronger effect sizes and seemed to better reflect genomewide heterozygosity. Overall, our results show that HFC can be context dependent, emphasizing the need to consider the role of environmental heterogeneity as a key factor when exploring the consequences of individual genetic diversity on fitness in natural populations.

Individual genetic diversity and probability of infection by avian malaria parasites in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Understanding the importance of host genetic diversity for coping with parasites and infectious diseases is a long-standing goal in evolutionary biology. Here, we study the association between probability of infection by avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) and individual genetic diversity in three blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) populations that strongly differ in prevalence of this parasite. For this purpose, we screened avian malaria infections and genotyped 789 blue tits across 26 microsatellite markers. We used two different arrays of markers: 14 loci classified as neutral and 12 loci classified as putatively functional. We found a significant relationship between probability of infection and host genetic diversity estimated at the subset of neutral markers that was not explained by strong local effects and did not differ among the studied populations. This relationship was not linear, and probability of infection increased up to values of homozygosity by locus (HL) around 0.15, reached a plateau at values of HL from 0.15 to 0.40 and finally declined among a small proportion of highly homozygous individuals (HL > 0.4). We did not find evidence for significant identity disequilibrium, which may have resulted from a low variance of inbreeding in the study populations and/or the small power of our set of markers to detect it. A combination of subtle positive and negative local effects and/or a saturation threshold in the association between probability of infection and host genetic diversity in combination with increased resistance to parasites in highly homozygous individuals may explain the observed negative quadratic relationship. Overall, our study highlights that parasites play an important role in shaping host genetic variation and suggests that the use of large sets of neutral markers may be more appropriate for the study of heterozygosity-fitness correlations.

The importance of a main dish: nestling diet and foraging behaviour in Mediterranean blue tits in relation to prey phenology

Insectivorous birds rely on a short period of food abundance to feed their young; they must time their reproduction to match the timing of Lepidoptera larvae, their main prey. Apart from the net result (i.e. birds are timed or mistimed with respect to the food's peak), an important aspect is the possible influence of other factors, such as the seasonality of the environment or the abundance and diversity of species contributing to the caterpillar peak, on birds' phenology and their ability to cope well with unpredictable food supplies. In a 2-year study, we explored the seasonal variation of nestling diet in Mediterranean blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus and how reproductive parameters (nestling condition, provisioning rates) are affected by the phenology and composition of food. We also examined the influence of the synchrony between offspring needs and caterpillar peak in shaping the composition of the nestlings' diet. We found that the effect of synchrony on nestling condition varied between years which may be partially due to differences in food peak attributes. The adequacy of birds' timing in relation to prey phenology affected foraging decisions; those birds that were not able to correctly adjust their timing were forced to rely on less preferred prey (tortricids). In this sense, we found that relative contribution of tortricids (smaller caterpillars but easier to get) and noctuids (preferred prey but more difficult to find) to the diet influenced nestling condition and parental provisioning effort; parents performed fewer feeding events and reared heavier nestlings as the contribution of noctuids to the diet increased. The relationship between the proportion of caterpillars and nestling mass was curvilinear, whereas that parameter was negatively affected by the percentage of pupae. Our results show how changes in diet composition may contribute to explain the effect of mismatching on birds' breeding performance.

[Oncogenic osteomalacia due to phosphaturic mesenchymal tumour in infratemporal fossa]

Oncogenic osteomalacia is an uncommon syndrome characterized by phosphaturic tumours that produce mineral metabolism abnormalities. Head and neck is the second most frequent location of these tumours. We describe a case of a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumour in the infratemporal fossa that caused oncogenic osteomalacia, resolved by means of surgical excision.

The use of blue tit eggs as a biomonitoring tool for organohalogenated pollutants in the European environment

In the present study, large scale geographical variation in the occurrence of organohalogenated pollutants (OHPs) was investigated throughout Europe using eggs of a terrestrial resident passerine species, the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). Blue tit eggs from 10 sampling locations, involving suburban, rural and remote areas, in 7 European countries were collected and analysed. Sum polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels ranged from 150ng/g lipid weight (lw) to 2003ng/g lw. Sum polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) ranged from 3.95ng/g lw to 114ng/g lw. As expected, PCB and PBDE concentrations were significantly higher in the sampled suburban locations compared to the rural and remote locations. Sum organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) ranged from 122ng/g lw to 775ng/g lw. OCP concentrations were, against the expectations, found to be lower in the rural sampling locations compared to the other locations. Contamination profiles of PCBs, PBDEs and OCPs differed also among the sampling locations, which may be due to local contamination sources. Finally, we compared the results of this study with previously reported OHP concentrations in the eggs of a closely related species, the great tit (Parus major), from the same sampling locations in Europe. We found no differences in concentrations between the species. In addition, we found a significant, positive correlation between the sum PCB concentrations in blue tit eggs and great tit eggs, suggesting similar exposure pathways, mechanisms of accumulation and maternal transfer of PCBs. In conclusion, our results suggest the usefulness of eggs from passerine birds as a biomonitoring tool for OHPs on a large geographical scale.

Determining the environmental factors underlying the spatial variability of insect appearance phenology for the honey bee, Apis mellifera, and the small white, Pieris rapae

The spatial patterns of the variability of the appearance dates of the honey bee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidea) and the small white Pieris rapae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) were investigated in Spain. A database of more than 7,000 records of the dates of the first spring sightings of each species in more than 700 localities from 1952-2004 was used. Phenological data were related to spatial, topographical, climate, land use, and vegetation productivity explanatory variables by means of multiple regression models in order to search for the environmental mechanisms underlying the observable phenological variability. Temperature and altitudinal spatial gradients accounted for most of the spatial variability in the phenology of the studied species, while vegetation productivity and land use had low relevance. In both species, the first individuals were recorded at those sites with warmer springs and dry summers, at low altitudes, and not covered with dry farming (i.e., cereal crops). The identity and magnitude of the effect of the variables were almost identical for both species and closely mirrored spatial temperature gradients. The best explanatory models accounted for up to half of the variability of appearance dates. Residuals did not show a spatial autocorrelation, meaning that no other spatially structured variable at our working resolution could have improved the results. Differences in the spatial patterns of phenology with regard to other taxa, such as arrival dates of migratory birds, suggest that spatial constraints may play an essential role in the phenological matching between trophic levels.

Solar activity affects avian timing of reproduction

Avian timing of reproduction is strongly affected by ambient temperature. Here we show that there is an additional effect of sunspots on laying date, from five long-term population studies of great and blue tits (Parus major and Cyanistes caeruleus), demonstrating for the first time that solar activity not only has an effect on population numbers but that it also affects the timing of animal behaviour. This effect is statistically independent of ambient temperature. In years with few sunspots, birds initiate laying late while they are often early in years with many sunspots. The sunspot effect may be owing to a crucial difference between the method of temperature measurements by meteorological stations (in the shade) and the temperatures experienced by the birds. A better understanding of the impact of all the thermal components of weather on the phenology of ecosystems is essential when predicting their responses to climate change.

Heterozygosity-based assortative mating in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus): implications for the evolution of mate choice

The general hypothesis of mate choice based on non-additive genetic traits suggests that individuals would gain important benefits by choosing genetically dissimilar mates (compatible mate hypothesis) and/or more heterozygous mates (heterozygous mate hypothesis). In this study, we test these hypotheses in a socially monogamous bird, the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). We found no evidence for a relatedness-based mating pattern, but heterozygosity was positively correlated between social mates, suggesting that blue tits may base their mating preferences on partner's heterozygosity. We found evidence that the observed heterozygosity-based assortative mating could be maintained by both direct and indirect benefits. Heterozygosity reflected individual quality in both sexes: egg production and quality increased with female heterozygosity while more heterozygous males showed higher feeding rates during the brood-rearing period. Further, estimated offspring heterozygosity correlated with both paternal and maternal heterozygosity, suggesting that mating with heterozygous individuals can increase offspring genetic quality. Finally, plumage crown coloration was associated with male heterozygosity, and this could explain unanimous mate preferences for highly heterozygous and more ornamented individuals. Overall, this study suggests that non-additive genetic traits may play an important role in the evolution of mating preferences and offers empirical support to the resolution of the lek paradox from the perspective of the heterozygous mate hypothesis.

Brominated flame retardants and organochlorines in the European environment using great tit eggs as a biomonitoring tool

Large-scale studies are essential to assess the emission patterns and spatial distribution of organohalogenated pollutants (OHPs) in the environment. Bird eggs have several advantages compared to other environmental media which have previously been used to map the distribution of OHPs. In this study, large-scale geographical variation in the occurrence of OHPs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), was investigated throughout Europe using eggs of a terrestrial residential passerine species, the great tit (Parus major). Great tit eggs from 22 sampling sites, involving urban, rural and remote areas, in 14 European countries were collected and analysed (5-8 eggs per sampling site). The environmentally most important congeners/compounds of the analysed pollutants were detectable in all sampling locations. For PCBs, PBDEs and OCPs, no clear geographical contamination pattern was found. Sum PCB levels ranged from 143 ng/g lipid weight (lw) to 3660 ng/g lw. As expected, PCB concentrations were significantly higher in the sampled urban compared to the remote locations. However, the urban locations did not show significantly higher concentrations compared to the rural locations. Sum PBDEs ranged from 4.0 ng/g lw to 136 ng/g lw. PBDEs were significantly higher in the urbanized sampling locations compared to the other locations. The significant, positive correlation between PCB and PBDE concentrations suggests similar spatial exposure and/or mechanisms of accumulation. Significantly higher levels of OCPs (sum OCPs ranging from 191 ng/g lw to 7830 ng/g lw) were detected in rural sampling locations. Contamination profiles of PCBs, PBDEs and OCPs differed also among the sampling locations, which may be due to local usage and contamination sources. The higher variance among sampling locations for the PCBs and OCPs, suggests that local contamination sources are more important for the PCBs and OCPs compared to the PBDEs. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which bird eggs were used as a monitoring tool for OHPs on such a large geographical scale.

Eggshell pigmentation pattern in relation to breeding performance of blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus

1. We test the consequences, in terms of breeding success and parental effort, of eggshell pigmentation pattern in a hole-nesting bird, the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus that lays eggs asymmetrically speckled with reddish spots (maculated eggs). 2. We assess the effect of distribution of spots (pigment 'spread') and spot size and pigment intensity (pigment 'darkness') on eggshell physical properties and breeding parameters concerning nestling condition, investment of parents in offspring care and reproductive output in two different habitat types: a deciduous oakwoodland and an evergreen forest. 3. Blue tit clutches with more widely distributed spots showed a thicker eggshell, a shorter incubation period, a lesser amount of mass loss per day and a higher hatching probability than those with spots forming a 'corona' ring. While eggs with larger and darker (more pigment intensity) spots showed a thicker eggshell and a shorter incubation period. In the light of 'signal function hypothesis', these egg traits may reflect female health status and, consequently, this could affect male parental effort. 4. Here we show supports for some of the necessary assumptions of this hypothesis. We found a positive relationship between egg pigment 'spread' and male but not female provisioning rates per day. On the other hand, pigment 'darkness' of blue tits' clutches was positively related to female tarsus length, while pigment 'spread' was positively related to clutch size, male body mass and nestling tarsus length. Our study shows that eggshell pigment 'spread' can be used as an indicator of clutch quality. Further investigations are needed to understand the role of calcium availability as possible causal agent of deviant eggs and its relation to the maculation phenomenon.

The cheek plumage patch is an amplifier of dominance in great tits

Amplifiers are signals that enhance the perception of other signals or cues, but no studies to date provide empirical evidence for the role of these signals in a reproductive context. Here we use the white cheek patch of great tits as a model for studying this issue. Aggressive interactions decrease patch immaculateness, so patch size may be an amplifier of dominance, that is, more clearly reveal status. If so, in high-quality individuals patch size should correlate positively with reproductive success (here estimated by laying date, assuming that the earlier the better), whereas low-quality individuals with a large patch should only more clearly reveal their low quality and thus suffer low reproductive success, which is exactly the pattern found in males. In contrast, the cheek patch does not seem to function as an amplifier in female great tits.

Phenology and climate change: a long-term study in a Mediterranean locality

It is well documented that plant and animal phenology is changing in response to recent climate warming in the Palaearctic. However, few long-term data sets are currently available in the Mediterranean basin. The present study reports long-term temporal trends of several phenophases of 45 plants, 4 insects and 6 migratory insectivorous birds. Dynamic factor analyses performed with plant phenophases showed that most of those events occurring at spring and summer had common trends toward the advancement, especially since mid-1970s. However, during these last decades, insect phenology showed a steeper advance than plant phenology, suggesting an increase of decoupling of some plant-insect interactions, such as those between pollinators and flowers or herbivorous insects and their plant resources. All trans-Saharan bird species showed highly significant temporal trends in all studied phenophases (some of them covering most of the last century). In two species, the duration of stay is increasing due to both earlier arrivals and later departures. On the other hand, two wintering species showed a significant advancement in their arrival dates, while an opposite pattern were found for departures of each one. Only one of these species increased significantly its wintering stay. Bird departures were not related to local climate in any species. Our results demonstrate a key role of local temperatures behind interannual variability of most plant and insects phenophases, with especial emphasis in those occurring in spring and summer. Therefore, the common signal towards the advancement recorded since mid-1970s resulted from the recent rise in temperatures.

[Cochlear implant in a patient with dilatation of the endolymphatic sac and vestibular aqueduct]

We present an 8 years patient old with a giant dilatation of the vestibular aqueduct associated with profound and progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The patient received a cochlear implant and during the surgery a pulsatile clear fluid via the cochleostomy was observed, without gusher. We present all the problems, and offer some advices for this kind of surgery.

Changes in Haemoproteus sex ratios: fertility insurance or differential sex lifespan?

There is little direct evidence of the fitness effects of changes in malaria gametocyte sex ratio. Gametocyte sex ratios in haemospororin parasites (phylum Apicomplexa) are usually female skewed. However, in some cases and especially in Haemoproteus parasites, less female-biased and even male-biased sex ratios are encountered. The 'fertility insurance hypothesis' tries to explain these biases as an evolutionary strategy to facilitate gamete encounter. Thus, the hypothesis predicts that, if there is a reduction in gametocyte density (intensity of infection) or other factors preventing gametes from meeting, a change to a higher proportion of male gametocytes may be favoured. By contrast, a change in sex ratio may be caused by other non-adaptive mechanisms, for example differential survival of the gametocytes of each sex. We study within-host changes in Haemoproteus majoris sex ratios following an experimental reduction in the density of the parasites in the blood in a breeding population of blue tits (Parus caeruleus). Medication with the antimalarial drug primaquine induced a significant reduction in Haemoproteus gametocyte infection intensity in two different breeding seasons and under two different doses of medication. Sex ratios became male skewed following the experimental treatment in agreement with the predictions of the 'fertility insurance' hypothesis. Also in support of the hypothesis, a significant change towards male-biased sex ratios emerged for non-medicated birds in one year, probably owing to the natural immune reduction of the density of the parasites in the blood. The alternative possibility that changes are caused by different lifespans of gametocytes is not supported by changes in sex ratios in control hosts, where new production and release of gametocytes occur.

[Adverse effects of continuous positive airway pressure therapy and its relation to the nose]

The main problem in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with nasal continuous airway pressure (nCPAP) is the lack of compliance. One of the most important reasons for no compliance is the adverse effects of this treatment. We analyse, prospectively, 182 patients treated with nCPAP in order to show the relationship between previous nasal problems and adverse effects of nCPAP. Sixty percent of the population developed one o more side effects. Of this group, 69% showed nasal septum deviation at first examination in front of 31% that did not showed this problem (p = 0.001). In the group of patients with nasal side effects we observed an increase of compliance in 80% of patients treated medically and in 89% of those treated by a septoplasty. We demonstrate that the adverse effects of nCPAP are related to previous nasal problems and, also, that treatment of those problems can achieve an increase in compliance to nCPAP therapy.

Foodborne pathogenic bacteria in prepackaged fresh retail portions of farmed rainbow trout and salmon stored at 3 degrees C

Twelve lots of fresh unskinned fillets of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and 10 lots of fresh sliced salmon (Salmo salar) prepacked in trays wrapped with an oxygen-permeable film were obtained immediately after packing from two supermarkets having in-plant facilities for packaging wet fish. During storage at 3 degrees C, Listeria innocua was detected in eight lots of trout fillets after 4 days storage. L. monocytogenes was recovered from a single lot also contaminated with L. innocua. Initial numbers of aeromonads were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in trout fillets (3.35 +/- 0.62 log cfu g(-1)) than in salmon slices (4.20 +/- 0.89 log cfu g(-1)). In both fish products, these bacteria significantly (p < 0.05) increased up until spoilage. Most Aeromonas spp. isolates from trout fillets were assigned to A. veronii biovar sobria HG8 (hybridisation group 8), A. caviae HG4, A. eucrenophila HG6, A. hydrophila HG1 and A. veronii biovar veronii HG10. Strains of HG12 (A. schubertii), HG4 and HG8 formed the majority of aeromonads recovered from salmon slices.

[Atypical Cogan's syndrome: report of two cases and revision of literature]

Cogan's syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease with systemic involvement. It appears in young people and has two presentations: the typical form with keratitis, sudden deafness with or without vestibular syndrome, and the atypical form with different non keratitic ocular diseases and a great variety of systemic symptoms in relation with the autoimmune etiology of the process. Cogan's syndrome has a bad prognosis and deafness appears in 25% of the cases with the right treatment and in 60% of patients without treatment. The best treatment is systemic and ocular corticotherapy. The second treatment of choice is cyclophosphamide or cyclosporine A. We present two cases of atypical Cogan's syndrome with unilateral deafness in both.

[Cutaneous leishmaniasis: report of a case]

We present one cutaneous leishmania case that begun with cervical adenopathy without evident focus. We revise its diagnosis and treatment.

Bacteriological quality of aquacultured freshwater fish portions in prepackaged trays stored at 3 degrees C

Fresh trout fillets and salmon slices packed in trays were obtained from two multinational chain supermarkets and evaluated for freshness and bacteriological quality immediately after packaging and during storage at 3 degrees C. Initial aerobic counts at 30 and 25 degrees C were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in trout fillets (5.27 +/- 0.57 and 4.87 +/- 0.80 log CFU/g, respectively) than in salmon slices, where levels in excess of 6 log CFU/g were found. In both products, initial Enterobacteriaceae counts were slightly higher than 3 log CFU/g and increased significantly during shelf life by approximately 3 log CFU/g. Most of the enterobacteria were identified as Citrobacter freundii, Hafnia alvei, and Enterobacter cloacae. On day 0, most probable number (MPN) counts of total and fecal coliforms were not significantly different, numbers of the latter group being approximately 4 MPN/g. Escherichia coli was only detected when fish was spoiled. Although initial presumptive Staphylococcus aureus counts were approximately 3 log CFU/g, only 4 of 84 selected colonies belonged to this species. Neither Salmonella nor antimicrobial residues were detected in any sample. Ethanol content in salmon slices did not significantly (P > 0.05) increase until they became inedible. Significant correlation (r = +0.72, P < 0.05) was observed between this chemical index and viable counts at 30 degrees C only when salmon slices were inedible. Trout fillets were acceptable for 7 days, and salmon slices showed signs of spoilage after 4 days. Although public health concerns associated with packed trout and salmon appear to be minimal, data on sensory quality, shelf life, and total viable and Enterobacteriaceae counts strongly suggest the need to improve the quality control systems used by European multinational retailers, especially for imported salmon.

Latitudinal Variation in Female Local Return Rate in the Philopatric Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)

Philopatry and dispersal distances of female Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) are presented for European populations using data from 25 breeding areas from 40 to 70°N. Female annual survival probabilities according to capture–recapture models were similar in two study areas in central Spain (45 and 52%). The present study shows that survival is underestimated by using annual local return rate in one of the two breeding populations under study in central Spain. In southern and central Europe, females were found to return equally regularly to their breeding areas, whereas in northern Europe (latitude >60°N) females returned at lower rates. I did not find that median dispersal distance varied among sites, nor was breeding distance related to locate survival rate. Therefore, the present study suggests that the decline in between-year local return rate of female Pied Flycatchers with increasing latitude over Europe may be more probably caused by differences in mortality than by geographical differences in site fidelity.

Interactions between hemoparasite status and female age in the primary reproductive output of pied flycatchers

The relationship between hemoparasite infection (measured just after egg laying) and primary reproductive output (laying date, clutch size and egg volume) was studied in female pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca, of different ages (2 years old vs. 4 or more years old). The hemoparasite (Haemoproteus balmorali and Trypanosoma spp.) prevalence increased with advancing female age. H. balmorali-infected females initiated egg laying earlier and laid larger clutches. There was no evidence that infected females laid smaller eggs or had a lower body mass after egg laying than non-infected ones. Only for H. balmorali-infected females was there an increase in clutch size between age groups. The present results suggest that primary reproductive output of females will depend on their health-dependent residual reproductive value. Only old females may be able to control a chronic or latent infection by hemoparasites and thereby invest more heavily in reproduction than younger but experienced females. Alternatively, high hemoparasite prevalence may be the cause of increased female primary reproductive output in old females.

Are avian blood parasites pathogenic in the wild? A medication experiment in blue tits (Parus caeruleus)

The Hamilton and Zuk hypothesis on haemoparasite-mediated sexual selection and certain studies of reproductive costs are based on the assumption that avian blood parasite infections are detrimental to their hosts. However, there is no experimental evidence demonstrating harmful effects of blood parasites on fitness in wild populations, it even having been suggested that they may be non-pathogenic. Only an experimental manipulation of natural blood parasite loads may reveal their harmful effects. In this field experiment we reduced through medication the intensity of infection by Haemoproteus majoris and the prevalence of infection by Leucocytoazoon majoris in blue tits (Parus caeruleus), and demonstrated detrimental effects of natural levels of infection by these common parasite species on host reproductive success and condition. The fact that some of the costs of infection were paid by offspring indicates that blood parasites reduce parental working capacity while feeding nestlings. Medicated females may be able to devote more resources to parental care through being released from the drain imposed upon them by parasites and/or through a reduced allocation to an immune response. Therefore, this work adds support to previous findings relating hosts' life-history traits and haematozoan infections.

[Sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinoma: report of 7 cases]

The intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are uncommon tumors, with less than 4% of the total of malignancies of this region. They have histological similitudes with the glandular estructure of the intestinal mucosa. In some aspects they are similar to others tumors of this area, symptoms, an etiological relation with the exposure to wood dust ... but they have differences in the local aggressivity, this is important for the tractament, evolution and survival. The authors present a revision about clinic characteristics, diagnostic and tractament of seven cases of nasosinusal intestinal type adenocarcinoma.

[Glioma of the sphenoid sinus in an adult]

Benign congenital lesions resulting from the deficient regression of neuroglial tissue in normal embryonic development are called gliomas. They are usually located in the nasofrontal region and are diagnosed in the postnatal period. They are included in the differential diagnosis of nasofrontal midline masses. We review the case of a 62 year-old woman who was originally studied for a polypoid mass in the left nasal cavity. CT revealed occupation of the left ethmoidofrontal recess and turbinate by a glioma. We report this case as a rare finding in a 62 year-old woman because of its importance in differential diagnosis. We reviewed craniofacial gliomas.

Latitudinal variation in parental energy expenditure during brood rearing in the great tit

The variation in time and energy allocation of female great tits, Parus major, was studied in five different European populations across a latitudinal gradient. Daily energy expenditure (DEE) was measured in females tending 12-day-old broods. The number of daylight hours used by the parents to collect food for the brood increased with latitude, while DEE and feeding rate per brood tended to level off with latitude. Individual variation in DEE could be explained by variation in ambient temperature (-), the duration of activity period (+) and area, but not by brood size, female body mass, brood mass or feeding rate. When the effect of ambient temperature and the duration of the activity period on the day of energy expenditure measurements were controlled for, female DEE still tended to level off with latitude. Temperature and activity alone can thus not explain the observed pattern. The present study suggests that parents at southern latitudes may be under a time constraint and do not increase energy expenditure because they have no more daylight hours available for foraging, while birds at northern latitudes may be under an energy constraint because they do not make full use of the long daylight period available.

Behaviour of Listeria spp. in naturally contaminated chorizo (Spanish fermented sausage)

Counts of Listeria spp. were determined during the manufacture and drying of 21 lots of five chorizo varieties produced by three different manufacturers. Presumptive Listeria were not isolated from any of the batches produced in a large factory (F3) using starter, sorbate and controlled ripening at high temperatures. Initial levels in factory 1 (F1), with no starter added, but controlled ripening at low temperatures, were ca 3.5 log10 cfu/g while those in factory 2 (F2), with no starter added and ripening under natural climatic conditions, were 1.17 log10 cfu/g. Numbers of listeriae in batches obtained from F1 remained almost constant before decreasing by ca 0.5 log units/g in the finished product (32 days), while the levels in F2 increased by 1.47 log units/g after 11 days of ripening and declined further to levels above the original amount. Manufacturing procedure and smoking significantly affected presumptive listeriae counts. Thirteen strains recovered from F1 batches were identified as: Listeria monocytogenes (three strains of serovar 1/2c), Listeria innocua (eight strains of serovar 6b) and Listeria welshimeri (two strains of serovar 6b). Listeria strains from F2 were assigned to L. innocua and L. welshimeri.