Congenital neuropathy and dilution of feather melanin in nestlings of urban-breeding northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis).
A pair of northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) breeding in a public park in the city center of Hamburg, Germany, raised 12 healthy and five aberrant offspring between 1996 and 2000. Aberrant nestlings (three males and two females) had pale silver-blue plumage and displayed severe locomotor disorders. Histopathologically, the defects were characterized by adendritic feather melanocytes and mild degeneration of the cerebellar white matter. Epidemiologic results were suggestive of a hereditary autosomal recessive defect, which may have originated from close inbreeding during the foundation of Hamburg's urban population of northern goshawks.
Rutz
Christian
C
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom.
Zinke
Axel
A
Bartels
Thomas
T
Wohlsein
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D005241:Feathers / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007178:Inbreeding; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000151:congenital / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000235:genetics; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D020460:Melanosomes / Q000473:pathology; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000151:congenital / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D020304:Raptors; D014504:Urban Health
D008543:Melanins