We confi rmed the emergence of bluetongue virus (BTV) in 5 wild ruminant species in Spain. BTV seroprevalence was high and dispersed with time, with a south-tonorth gradient. Our results suggest a complex epidemiology of BTV and underline the need for additional research on wildlife in Europe.
Within
the environmental risk assessment conducted for pesticide
registration in the European Union (EU), avian reproductive toxicity
is characterized after exposing adults. However, eggs of ground-nesting
species can be exposed when pesticide applications occur during laying
or incubation. We simulated environmentally realistic exposure of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs to an herbicide (2,4-D) and
a fungicide (tebuconazole) applied to winter cereal crops during the
breeding season of most farmland birds. We analyzed the effects on
hatching success, offspring survival, and physiology. Exposure by
overspray led to greater pesticide accumulation in the eggshell or
content than exposure through contact with treated soil (3.1–13.7
times higher, depending on the pesticide and target sample). Egg overspray
with tebuconazole significantly increased chick mortality, which was
26% higher than that of controls. 2,4-D caused a similar but a close
to significant increase (chick mortality 24% higher than controls).
Exposure to either pesticide through contact with treated soils did
not affect chick survival but altered some biochemical parameters
posthatching. Our experiment shows that egg spraying with pesticides
should be considered as a relevant exposure scenario in risk assessment
procedures, given its potential to affect the reproductive success
of ground-nesting farmland birds.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.