A5046238811- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Malaria Research and Control
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Studies
- Immunotoxicology and immune responses
- History of Medicine Studies
University of Gabès
2015-2025
Université Grenoble Alpes
2025
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble
2025
Cumberland Infirmary
2022
Maternity and Children's Hospital
1961-1968
Asthenozoospermia, characterized by reduced sperm motility, is a common cause of male infertility. Multiple morphological abnormalities the flagella (MMAF) represent severe and genetically heterogeneous form asthenozoospermia. Over 50 genes have been associated, but approximately half MMAF cases remain unexplained. DRC1, gene involved in nexin-dynein regulatory complex (N-DRC), has linked to primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), often with significant variability clinical presentation. His study...
The Mediterranean region is both a hotspot for biodiversity and the accumulation of plastic pollution. Many species are exposed to this pollution while feeding, including wide diversity seabirds. Our objective was investigate spatial variation in quantity types ingested by Yellow-legged gulls using information obtained from regurgitated pellets collected 11 colonies. Anthropogenic debris, particularly plastic, found all colonies, but amount varied considerably. This among-colony difference...
In recent years, a number of zoonotic flaviviruses have emerged worldwide, and wild birds serve as their major reservoirs. Epidemiological surveys bird populations at various geographical scales can clarify key aspects the eco-epidemiology these viruses. this study, we aimed exploring presence in western Mediterranean by sampling breeding yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), widely distributed, anthropophilic, abundant seabird species. For 3 sampled eggs from 19 colonies Spain, France,...
Complex communities of bacteria inhabit the feathers all birds. Under normal conditions, individuals maintain a healthy state by defending themselves against these potential invaders preening. The immune system is only triggered when gain access into body. Preening is, however, costly and may trade-off with investment in system. To shed light on how birds balance between immunity preen secretions facing high or low feather bacterial load, we experimentally manipulated load feral pigeons...
Efficiently tracking and anticipating the dynamics of infectious agents in wild populations requires gathering large numbers samples, if possible at several locations points time, which can be a challenge for some species. Testing presence specific maternal antibodies egg yolks sampled on colonies could represent an efficient way to quantify exposure breeding females agents, particularly when using abundant widespread species, such as yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis). We used approach...
Female birds transfer antibodies to their offspring via the egg yolk, thus possibly providing passive immunity against infectious diseases which hatchlings may be exposed, thereby affecting fitness. It is nonetheless unclear whether amount of maternal transmitted into yolks varies with female quality and laying order. In this paper, we investigated type A influenza viruses (anti-AIV antibodies) by a long-lived colonial seabird, yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), in relation fluctuating...
SUMMARY During the last few years, several cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in humans have been reported Tunisia. However, detailed information on WNV wild birds, primary amplifying host WNV, are lacking. In this work, we investigated exposure sparrows (hybrid Passer domesticus × hispaniolensis ) living two oases southern Tunisia (Gabès and Kébili oases) to through detection WNV-specific antibodies by using ELISA microneutralization tests. total, 208 birds were sampled (54 from...
SUMMARY It has previously been suggested that southern Tunisian oases may be suitable areas for the circulation of flaviviruses. In order to anticipate and prevent possible epidemiological spread flaviviruses in humans domestic animals, ecology their transmission oasis system needs better understood. Thus, aim this study was assess seroprevalence anti-flavivirus antibodies laughing dove ( Spilopelia senegalensis ), an abundant resident bird oases. Anti-flavivirus were detected 17% sampled...
Abstract Oases are semi-natural woodlots surrounded by an inhospitable desert environment. This insular-like habitat system is known to support a mixture of sedentary and migratory bird species originating from different areas. However, little about the interactions between these birds parasites. In this study, we investigated diversity, prevalence host specificity avian haemosporidian parasites in southern Tunisian oases two common species, laughing dove Spilopelia senegalensis hybrid...
Investigating the prevalence of anti-influenza A viruses (AIV) antibodies in wild birds can provide important information for understanding bird exposure to AIV, as well prevention purposes. We investigated AIV nature by measuring anti-AIV nests and adults an abundant anthropophilic waterbird species common around Mediterranean sea, yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis). Sampling took place two colonies located gulf Gabès southern Tunisia: Sfax Djerba. Antibodies were detected sites, with...
Abstract Urban life is associated with dietary shifts in opportunistic predators, such as raptors. This presumably true food‐poor environments, drylands. We investigated this issue little owls ( Athene noctua ) inhabiting an arid southern Tunisian area. Using pellet data, we found that coleopterans accounted for 69% of ingested food items. Controlling prey availability, coleopteran‐based diet was more notable the urban environment compared to rural areas. suggest habitat conditions areas...
Abstract Bird migration has long been hypothesized as the main mechanism for long‐distance dispersal of flaviviruses, but role migratory birds in flaviviruses spillover is not well documented. In this study, we investigated eco‐epidemiology West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu (USUV) trans‐Saharan passerines during their spring stopover southern Tunisian oases. To do, combined oral swab analysis serological tools to assess whether could be reaching these sites while infectious or have previously...
Discriminant analysis functions have previously been determined for sexing Mediterranean Yellow-legged Gulls Larus michahellis from the western basin. However, data eastern populations are lacking. In this work, we used morphometric a sample of 81 (39 males and 42 females) breeding in Gulf Gabès south-eastern Tunisia to (1) determine discriminant function useful sex discrimination, (2) assess accuracy published our study area. Our results showed marked sexual differences all morphological...
Although the Gulf of Gabès is recognised as an Important Bird Area, several aspects ecology waterbirds inhabiting this area still need to be investigated. We observed how waterbird foraging guilds varied among habitats. In total, 49 species belonging 16 families were recorded. Winter visitors accounted for 73% counts. The avifauna was dominated by shorebirds (52% records), followed large wading birds (25%), open-water (18%) and waterfowl (5%). However, structure local communities their...
Investigating how patterns of sexual size dimorphism vary among local populations may be useful for understanding evolution in lizards. We investigated a Tunisian population Bosk's fringe-toed lizards Acanthodactylus boskianus asper, relation to Middle-eastern the same subspecies. Our results showed an overall male-biased dimorphism, consistent with general trends lacertids, and provide support both fecundity advantage hypothesis intra-sexual selection hypothesis. Indeed, similarly-sized...
We explored whether antibody detection in egg yolks could serve as an alternative to plasma samples when monitoring yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) for exposure avian influenza viruses (AIVs). tested female and eggs anti-AIV antibodies used the data we obtained check two sample types yielded same status (positive or negative) compare prevalence estimated from blood with that yolk data. Our results showed sampling one per clutch, regardless of egg's position laying sequence, is...