Publications by authors named "Milan Thorel"

The white stork () is a ciconiiform species widely represented in zoological institutions. Plasma protein electrophoresis is widely used in avian patients for assessment of inflammatory conditions, but reference intervals for this testing modality are lacking for the white stork. The two main electrophoretic methods are agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE).

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Plasma electrophoresis is an ancillary diagnostic tool in avian medicine, with agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) being the most common techniques. Frozen samples can be used for quantitative studies or comparative diagnostic purposes, but stability of avian plasma proteins under freezing is poorly described. To evaluate the influence of plasma freezing on electrophoretograms in white storks (), heparin blood was sampled from 30 individuals during annual health examinations.

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The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in animal health and homeostasis, particularly in endangered species conservation. This study investigated the fecal microbiota composition of European captive-bred African savanna elephants () housed in French zoos, and compared it with wild African savanna elephants. Fecal samples were collected and processed for DNA extraction and amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

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Aspergillosis is pervasive in bird populations, especially those under human care. Its management can be critically impacted by exposure to high levels of conidia and by resistance to azole drugs. The fungal contamination in the environment of a Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) group, housed in a French zoological park next to numerous large crop fields, was assessed through three serial sessions of surface sampling in nests, in 2018-20: all isolates were counted and characterized by sequencing.

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Aspergillosis is a fungal infection caused mainly by that often results in respiratory disease in birds. Aspergillosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in captive-bred penguin species. Currently, there is no registered vaccine to prevent aspergillosis.

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Article Synopsis
  • A 4-year-old female common Eider was presented with mild lethargy and, upon examination, was found to have Plasmodium relictum parasites in her blood.
  • Despite treatment with doxycycline, her health worsened rapidly, leading to supportive care; however, she died shortly after.
  • Necropsy revealed severe internal bleeding and amyloidosis in multiple organs, marking the first documented case of this specific Plasmodium lineage in a common Eider.
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The clouded leopard () is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. However, diseases affecting this species across zoo populations are not well documented. The primary objective of this retrospective study was to identify common and significant causes of morbidity and mortality in captive-bred clouded leopards from European, Asian, and Australian institutions.

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