SVIBOR - Project code: 3-03-286

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Strossmayerov trg 4, HR - 10000 ZAGREB
tel.: +385 1 459 44 44, fax: +385 1 459 44 69
E-mail: ured@znanost.hr

SVIBOR

SVIBOR - Collecting Data on Projects in Croatia

Project code: 3-03-286


BIRDS: RESERVOIRS AND CARRIERS OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL DISEASES


Main researcher: GREGURIĆ, JELENA (14393)


Assistants
Type of research: applied
Duration from: 01/01/91. to 01/01/96.
Papers on project (total): 79
Institution name: Veterinarski fakultet, Zagreb (53)
Department/Institute: Department of Biology
Address: Heinzelova 55
City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia
Communication
Phone: 385 (0) 290143
Fax: 385 (0) 214697
Summary: During 1991, 1992 and 1993 feral pigeons were regularly researched (monitored) while the birds living in the wildness , domesticated pigeons and pet birds were researched only occasionally. It was researched the biology and ecology of all the above mentioned birds as well as the state of health of this birds. By these researches we have established that the most widespread bird disease is chlamydiosis/ornithosis/psittacosis, expecially in feral pigeon of which 64,71% were positive. During these three years was monitored the distribution of feral pigeons in Zagreb and it was established that most of feral pigeons were permanently staying around the oil refinery The First Croatian Oil Refinery "Zvijezda", where they can find food. In order to establish how the feral pigeons influence the health of people,the blood of poeple working in the oil refinery was serologicaly examined in order to establish the presence of antibodies for Chl. psittaci. It was establishes that 18,84% of people were positive to Chl. psittaci. Such a high percentage of positive people having a permanent contact whith pigeons shows that for people feral pigeons are constant source of infection of this disease and in that sense threat to their health . Such epidemiological researches are still being conducted. Beside being a threat to human health, such great number of pigeons make also economic demages because they eat a great quantity of seeds (a pigeon eats 23,40 kg of food per year). According to officials of Oil Refinary Zagreb pigeons eat sunflower seeds and oil rape worth 280000 DEM per year which shows how big is the demage caused by them. It was also established theat great number of pigeons also gathers in the ZOO-garden end therefore are a threat to the health of animals kept in the Zoo as well as the visitors. Together with serological examinations in the birds were made also parasitological, haemathological, patho-anatomical, pathohistological,toxicological and biochemical examinations.Rubbish-heaps and dumps are very often the source of food for birds and therefore at several occasions the Zagreb and Split city dumps as well as rubbish-heaps on some islands have been examined. In order to prevent birds from gathering at dumps, rubbish should be better economised. In that way the environment will be protected and gathering of birds at dumps,as potential source of disease, will be prevented. In regard to the gathering of large number of pigeons around the food-processing industries, animal-industries, silos, farms, we have been asked for advice in order to reduce the number of pigeons from those places. In order to reduce the number of pigeons it is necessary to use materials that are safe for human health and ecologically justified and therefore the tests using these materials are been made.

Keywords: birds, biology, ecology, birds diseases, zoonosis, chlamydiosis/ornithosis/psittacosis, epidemiology, human health protection, protection of environment, veterinary public health

Research goals: The goal these researches was that by monitoring ofbirds , which live near people, to discover in time the deseaseswhich birds can carry to the people and animals and in thisway can appropriate actions can be taken in occordancewith the regulations of the Veterinary public health.It means, that we should not wait for appearance of a disease to start with diagnostics, therapy and rootingout of this disease, but it has to be disovered first and preparations its control must be made. Our pastresearches of pigeons from three ecologically differentenvironments: feral pigeons, domesticated pigeons and rockpigeons, have shown , that only feral pigeons are infectedin greatest number with different causes. This state shows thatit is necessary to reduce the number of feral pigeons. Thisreduction need not go under biological minimum, and it isnecessary to use materials whitch are ecologically justified. Itis necessary to continue these researches in order to discoverdisease in time in that way protect health of people and animals.It is also necessary to expand these researches to mammals, asshown by the results of tests micromethod complement fixationtest by cattle and sheep, especially now when the micromethodcomplement fixation test was been installed ( so far this methodwas used only at the Virusology Department of Croatian Departmentfor Public Health). Due to costliness of ingradienses, installingof other methods. ELISA or IF is being prepared and theirinsttaling depends on price and financial possibillity. From thisfollows that it is necessary to establish a veterinaryepidemiological center which would not belong to anyadministration as recommended by the WHO. In that way theadministration by various abministrative bodies would be avoidedbecause it ia well known that the administration always limitsand slows the effectiveness of such centres which have to operateimmediately

COOPERATION - PROJECTS


  1. Name of project: Dijagnostika TBC, dijagnostika Chlamydia psittaci
    Name of institution: Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo
    City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia

COOPERATION - INSTITUTIONS


  1. Name of institution: Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo, Odjel za bakteriološku dijagnostiku tuberkuloze; Odjel za virusologiju;Rockefelerova ulica
    Type of institution: International organization
    City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia

  2. Name of institution: Veterinarski fakultet Ljubljana
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Systematic exchange of information
    City: Ljubljana, Slovenija
Other information about the project.
MZT Croatian language SVIBOR Alphabetic list Sorted on project code Sorted on institutions Search help
Ministry of
Science and
Technology		 Croatian
language		 Svibor
homepage		 Alphabetic
list		 Sorted on
project code		 Sorted on
institutions		 Search Help
Last update: 10/13/95
Information: svibor@znanost.hr