Bobwhite_Quail_Performance-Work-Statement_4.17.2018.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

April 2018

1. Background and Scope.

The Masked Bobwhite Quail was listed as an endangered subspecies in 1970 due to near extinction resulting from its restricted habitat being negatively impacted by extreme drought conditions coupled with poor livestock management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is involved with recovery efforts for the Masked Bobwhite through the use of a captive breeding program to produce chicks which are then introduced onto Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) located near the communities of Arivaca and Sasabe in Pima County, Arizona. The reintroduction method that is most effective involves bonding groups of young Masked Bobwhite chicks with a male Texas Bobwhite adult which fills the role as a foster parent upon which the chicks imprint, allowing the chicks to be raised to maturity, and teaching them crucial survival techniques. The male Texas Bobwhite are trapped from wild conditions on private and federal lands in Texas and transported by USFWS personnel to Arizona, but must be vasectomized prior to being matched up with the Masked Bobwhite chicks in Arizona. This permanent sterilization safeguard prevents the potential breeding of Texas Bobwhite with Masked Bobwhite once the chicks reach adulthood, prohibiting hybridization that would impact the gene pool and successful survival and perpetuation of the endangered species being reintroduced. All Masked Bobwhite and Texas Bobwhite will be individually identified by uniquely numbered aluminum leg bands.

The Service’s responsibility to manage the population of Masked Bobwhite includes assuring all of the birds involved in the program receive humane treatment as required by the Animal Welfare Act following guidelines articulated by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and specific to the Masked Bobwhite Quail Recovery Program at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.

The vasectomy procedure involves anesthetizing the bird (patient), having the patient’s skin surgically prepped with chlorhexidine and alcohol solution prior to having the skin opened.

Surgically scrubbing the surgeon’s hands with chlorhexidine and utilizing applied sterile gloves along with a sterile gown, utilizing instruments that have been sterilized by an autoclave and using a sterile new surgical scalpel for each individual patient. Drapes that are sterile will also be used to create a sterile field. Sterile suture will be used, and new suture will be used for each patient. The exact procedure will follow the recommendations of J.

Samour’s “Vasectomy in Birds: A Review” as published in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, v24 n3 (09 2010): 169-173.

2. Tasks.

Task 1: Provide veterinary services to ensure proper care and treatment of Masked Bobwhite and Texas Bobwhite

Provide necessary veterinary care for Masked Bobwhite and Texas Bobwhite in the field at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge or elsewhere in Arizona as required. Such care includes, but is not limited to, incremental annual surgeries of up to 60 wild Texas Bobwhite to perform vasectomy procedures (birds will be transported to and from the veterinary care facility by USFWS personnel); the diagnosis and treatment of sick or injured Masked Bobwhite or Texas Bobwhite, including routine and emergent surgeries; semi-annual health care checks and health certification of captive quail which includes physical examination of birds, collection of samples (blood, cloacal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs, and feces) to be tested for avian influenza, Salmonella enteritis Gallinarum, S. pullorum and internal parasites in order to certify birds for import or export, as needed; investigation of mortality or disease events with specific testing to be determined by clinical signs and examination of affected birds (veterinarian will be required to travel to Buenos Aires NWR to conduct this work);

clearing birds for import and export; providing appropriate holding areas for birds that require overnight or longer term care, or in the event this is not possible, work with Service personnel to locate an appropriate holding facility.

3. Period of Work

This work is intermittent in nature and services will remain effective until September 30, 2022 provided option years are exercised. This span of years is the necessary time period identified by the USFWS to demonstrate Masked Bobwhite recovery program success, and is therefore deemed administratively efficient for contracting purposes.

Base year: FY18 Current Date to September 30, 2018 Option year 1: FY19 October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019 Option year 2: FY20 October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020 Option year 3: FY21 October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021 Option year 4: FY22 October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

Note: Option years must be exercised prior to the previous year's period of performance ending date.

4. Deliverables

Annually (October 1 – September 30). Task 1: Intermittent, depending on exigent circumstances, and may occur at any time through the duration of the endangered species recovery program, with vasectomy surgery typically performed between April – July annually.

5. Considerations

The USFWS is seeking the services of a wild animal veterinarian that is willing to assist the USFWS with endangered species recovery. The veterinarian must be a Certified Avian Medicine Specialist with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in the state of Arizona, and must have demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in dealing successfully with wild birds and other animals.

Optimal veterinary care also requires that the veterinarian and/or veterinary care facility must be the closest suitable facility that is willing to conduct services on populations of wild birds, and ideally is experienced with the complicated vasectomy procedure prescribed by the USFWS for wild birds. The close proximity of the veterinary care facility to the Refuge is important in decreasing transport time to holding facilities following post-surgery to provide relatively stress free recovery time. Additionally, the close proximity of the veterinary care facility to the Refuge is a desirable location for bobwhite in need of transport for urgent veterinary care.

Review Articles

Vasectomy in Birds: A Review

Jaime Samour, MVZ (Hons), PhD, Dipl ECAMS

Abstract: Vasectomy is done to produce infertility by surgically removing a portion of the ductus deferens from both testicles. In birds, vasectomy can be done internally or externally.

Internal vasectomy is performed by severing and removing a section of the ductus deferens through bilateral celiotomy or by endoscopic-guided techniques. Vasectomy can be done externally using standard surgical procedures in those species possessing seminal glomera. In this review, the surgical techniques used to perform vasectomy in birds and the implications and applications of each technique are discussed.

Key words: seminal glomus, testis, vas deferens, vasectomy, adrenal gland, epididimys, avian

Introduction

Vasectomy is the surgical removal of a portion of the ductus deferens on either side with the objective of inducing infertility. In birds, different surgical techniques have been used to perform vasectomy for different purposes, such as a method to control unwanted populations of red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus)1 and

Canadian geese (Branta canadensis)2,3; to produce surrogate parents from wild-caught northern

Texas bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus texanus) for rearing the more endangered northern masked bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi) chicks4; to prepare teaser budgerigar (Melopsitta-cus undulatus) males for an artificial insemination program5; for examination of the fertile period of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and the

Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata)6; to sterilize immature birds by using the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) as a model7; and to sterilize hybrid falcons destined for the sport of falconry.8 In these species, vasectomy has been performed internally by severing and removing sections of the vas deferens through bilateral celiotomy2–4,8 or by endoscopic-guided tech-niques.7 Conversely, vasectomy has been done externally by using standard surgical procedures in those species possessing seminal glomera.1,5,6

The purpose of this article is to review the surgical techniques used to perform vasectomy in birds and to discuss the implications and appli-cations of each of the techniques.

Anatomic Review

The ductus deferens is a tortuous tubule, which originates in the epididymis on the dorsal aspect of the testis, runs alongside the ureter, across the dorsal aspect of the coelom, and penetrates the dorsal wall of the urodeum, where it forms the short papilla of the ductus deferens. In seasonal species, its diameter increases significantly during the culmination phase of the breeding cycle.9

In many species of passerine birds9 and in the budgerigar,10 the caudal portion of the ductus deferens forms a paired, convoluted structure that denominates the seminal glomera,9 located on the lateral lower section of the abdomen. During the culmination phase of the breeding cycle, the seminal glomera increase in size and volume, forming small, rounded swellings that bulge on either side of the cloaca. These swellings are commonly called the cloacal promontory. These structures can be used to determine the sex of passerine birds during the breeding season. In those species, the seminal glomera are used as a storage site maintaining the spermatozoa at 4uC (39.2uF) lower than the deep rectal temperature.9

Surgical Techniques

General considerations

Although some of the preliminary studies of vasectomy in birds were carried out either without From the Wildlife Division, Wrsan Farm, PO Box 77338, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery 24(3):169–173, 2010

’ 2010 by the Association of Avian Veterinarians anesthesia2 or with injectable anesthetic agents,5,6 inhalation anesthesia using isoflurane is now the most accepted and recommended method for achieving surgical anesthesia in birds.11 Induction and maintenance of anesthesia is achieved with a custom-made facemask adequate for the size of the species. In a study of budgerigars and zebra and Bengalese finches5 (J. S., unpublished data, October 2009), a small operating table made of an acrylic top and aluminum sides, measuring 20 cm long 3 12 cm wide 3 10 cm high, was used. The top was molded to accommodate the shape of small birds. A heating pad was placed underneath the operating table providing the operating table surface with a temperature (by conduction) of approximately 28uC (82.4uF). The use of this operating table greatly enhanced the ability of the attending veterinary surgeon to conduct the surgical procedure.5

Internal vasectomy

Internal vasectomy can be performed using standard bilateral celiotomy. After the bird is anesthetized, it is placed in right lateral recum-bency, with the left leg pulled in the dorsal caudal position and the wings deflected dorsally. Legs and wings are securely fastened to the operating table with masking tape. The skin is incised from approximately the sixth rib to the pubic bone.

The exposed superficial medial femoral artery and vein are cauterized with bipolar electrocautery forceps. A small incision is made on the external and internal oblique and transverse abdominal muscles, and the incision is enlarged by blunt dissection with fine, straight artery forceps. The intercostal blood vessels of the last 2 ribs (ribs 7 and 8) are cauterized with bipolar electrocautery forceps before severing the ribs with scissors. A small retractor is placed to allow adequate visualization of the coelom. The wall of the abdominal air sac is penetrated to expose the testis and the ductus deferens located on the ventral aspect of the anterior pole of the kidney.

The ductus deferens is identified and carefully debrided with a blunt probe where it emerges from the epididymis. The ductus deferens is then grasped and severed by pulling gently with dissecting forceps or, ideally, biopsy forceps, and then a sizeable segment (5–8 mm) is removed by applying gentle traction to the opposite end.

Ligature or hemoclip placement on the terminal ends of the ductus deferens is considered unnec-essary. Extreme care should be exercised during the procedure to avoid any damage to the underlying common iliac vein or the ureter. The same procedure is done on the contralateral side.

After completing the surgical procedure, the incision is sutured in a continuous or interrupted pattern in 2 layers using 4-0 or 5-0 absorbable suture. Comprehensive descriptions of the surgi-cal procedure for lateral celiotomy in avian species have been described recently.12,13

Conversely, internal vasectomy can be per-formed in birds with a less-invasive surgical procedure based on an endoscopic-assisted tech-nique.7 The bird is placed in lateral recumbency with the legs pulled either in the caudal position14 or with the upper leg pulled forward15 and secured to the table with masking tape. Deflecting the wings dorsally and securing them to the table with masking tape is of utmost importance in prevent-ing cylindrical rotation of the body during the surgical procedure. This is easily overlooked, in particular when using cloth type operating drapes over the body. The recommended surgical point of entry is either the lower end of the inverted triangle created by the last rib, the cranial edge of the pubic bone, and the flexor cruris medialis and flexor cruris lateralis muscles or at the midsection of the intercostal space between the last 2 ribs.15

Commonly, a small skin incision is made (5 mm), followed by blunt penetration through the mus-cles with a pair of artery forceps. Immediately after, a 2.7-mm endoscope is introduced through an operating sheath (Karl Storz GmbH & Co

KG, Tuttlingen, Germany). The wall of the abdominal air sac is penetrated by applying gentle pressure with the tip of the telescope. The ductus deferens is identified (Fig 1a) and carefully debrided as it emerges from the epididymis. The ductus deferens is then grasped (Fig 1b) and severed by pulling gently with biopsy forceps and a sizeable segment (5–8 mm) is removed by applying gentle traction to the opposite end

(Fig 1c). The preferred site for internal vasectomy is where the ductus deferens emerges from the epididymis; at that spot, the ductus deferens is not yet closely associated with the ureter.5,7,16 The same procedure is done on the contralateral side.

Ligatures or hemoclips on the terminal ends of the severed ductus deferens are not necessary. Ex-treme care should be exercised during the proce-dure to avoid any damage to the underlying common iliac vein or the ureter. The skin is closed with 1 or 2 interrupted sutures of 4-0 or 5-0 absorbable suture material. Endoscopic-assisted vasectomy has been successfully done in immature

Japanese quail7 and, more recently, in immature and mature domestic pigeons (Columba livia).16

170 JOURNAL OF AVIAN MEDICINE AND SURGERY

External vasectomy

External vasectomy is indicated in those species that possess seminal glomera. After inducing anesthesia, the bird is placed in dorsal position, and the legs are secured caudally with masking tape. The lower abdominal wall is plucked and prepared for surgery. A small surgical incision (3–5 mm) is made midway on the straight line between the cloaca and the pubic bone (Fig 2a). The use of some form of magnification is highly recommended. In stud-ies with budgerigars5 and zebra and Bengalese finches,6 all external vasectomies were per-formed with a 103 operating microscope. In a more recent study in common house spar-rows (Passer domesticus),16 vasectomies were done successfully with the aid of a 63 surgical binocular loupe (Heine Optotechnik, Herrsching, Germany). The use of a fine blunt probe aids in debriding and differentiating the ductus deferens within the subcutaneous space (Fig 2b). After it is identified, the ductus deferens is grasped with fine-tip dissecting forceps and a small section (5–

8 mm) is severed using fine-tip microsurgery scissors (Fig 2c). The same procedure is done on the contralateral side while maintaining the bird in the same position. Ligatures or hemoclips on the terminal ends of the severed ductus deferens are not necessary. The skin is closed by placing

1 or 2 interrupted sutures of 5-0 absorbable suture material. Correct placement of the stitches is essential to avoid exerting tension on the cloaca because tenesmus has been previously reported5 in budgerigars during the postopera-tive period.

Postoperative fertility assessment

After vasectomy, assessing the effectiveness of the procedure using a functional assay is essential.

Different techniques have been used in previous studies. In one study,5 semen collection was attempted in vasectomized, male budgerigars at monthly intervals, followed by examination with standard light microscopy techniques of any fluid obtained during the process. Conversely, vasec-tomized red-winged blackbird males,1 zebra and

Bengalese finch males,6 Eastern bobwhite quail

(Colinus virginianus) males,2 and Japanese quail males7 were paired up with females and allowed copulation and egg laying. After oviposition and natural1,2,6 or artificial incubation,7 fertility was assessed through candling of the eggs1,6 or by opening up and examining the internal contents of the eggs to assess fertility.2,7 Vasectomy did not affect postsurgical breeding behavior, circulating plasma testosterone levels, or testicular morpho-metrics in immature Japanese quail,7 findings that

Figure 1. (a) Mature testis and the main body of the epididymis (arrow) in an adult pigeon. The testis is suspended by a short fold of the mesenterium denominated the mesorchium. (b) The biopsy forceps is posed to severe the ductus deferens as it emerges from the epididymis (arrow). This is the preferred site for internal vasectomy because at this spot, the ductus deferens is not yet closely associated with the ureter. (c)

The severed terminal ends of the ductus deferens are visible (arrows). The same procedure is repeated on the contralateral side. Hemorrhage is minimal.

SAMOUR—VASECTOMY IN BIRDS 171

are similar to those found in other studies done on mammalian species.17

External vasectomy in passerine birds and internal vasectomy in nonpasserine birds can be done by following the surgical procedures described above. However, vasectomy does not arrest courtship and copulation, and radical orchiectomy should be considered as an alter-native method to eliminate sexually derived behavior and to produce permanent infertility in birds.

Acknowledgments: I thank HH Sheikh Sultan bin

Zayed Al Nahyan for his continuing support to the biomedical research program of the Veterinary Science

Department, the veterinary technical and keeping staff for assistance with the surgery and the keeping of the birds, and Dr Jesus Naldo for kindly reviewing the manuscript.

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Figure 2. (a) The surgical site for external vasectomy in the house sparrow is the midsection of the line between the cloaca and the pubic bone (arrow). (b) The seminal glomus is clearly visible as a convoluted structure just under the skin (arrow). (c) The ductus deferens is identified and a section is severed and removed (arrow). No ligature or surgical clip placement is considered necessary. The operation is then repeated on the contralateral side.

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