Virological Investigation of Avian Influenza Virus on Postglacial Species of Phasianidae and Tetraonidae in the Italian Alps

Land-based birds, belonging to Galliformes order are considered to be potential intermediaries in the emergence of new strains of influenza A viruses (AIVs), but the viral circulation in these birds remains largely unknown. To gain insights into the circulation of AIV in the wild Galliformes populations in Italian Alps, we conducted a virological survey on rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis) belonging to Phasianidae family and on tetraonids including rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus helveticus) and black grouse (Tetrao tetrix tetrix). In 2003 and 2004, during the hunting seasons, 79 wild Galliformes, categorised into age and sex classes, were hunted in the Sondrio Province (Central Alps). Cloacal swabs were collected from 11 rock partridges and from 68 tetraonids including 23 alpine rock ptarmigans and 45 black grouses. We tested cloacal swabs by a high sensitive reverse transcription- (RT-) PCR detecting the matrix gene of AIV. No AIV was detected in the investigated samples, thus, suggesting the lack of AIV circulation in these relict populations in the study period. In terms of threatened species conservation, during wildlife management activities, it is very important to exclude the introduction of AIV-carrier birds in shared territories, a fact representing a health risk for these populations.

The authorship and type localities of bird taxa (Aves) collected during the John Ross 1818 Expedition to the Baffin Bay, northwestern Atlantic Ocean

The 1818 expedition to the Baffin Bay, headed by Captain John Ross, resulted in the description of at least six bird speciesand four bird genera believed to be new to science. My review of publications relevant to the history of the expedition andto its ornithological outputs resulted in the correction of authorship of several of these names, as follows: The genus So-materia (Anatidae) dates from Leach (in Anonymous 1818), not from Leach (in Ross 1819c). The author of the generaClangula (Anatidae) and Xema (Laridae) is Ross (1819c), not Leach (in Ross 1819c). The species Larus sabini (Laridae)dates from J. Sabine (in Anonymous 1819a), not from J. Sabine (1819). The subspecies of Lagopus mutus (Tetraonidae)from western Greenland should be called Lagopus mutus dispar Ross, 1820c, not Lagopus mutus saturatus Salomonsen, 1950, if recognized. Other corrections consider names which are currently not used as valid.