Wildlife Disease News Digest

New Parasite Discovered; Infects Waterfowl, Other Species
Physorg.com – www.physorg.com
25 Mar 2008

Microbiologists at Oregon State University have discovered a new species of “myxozoan” parasite that has been found for the first time to infect a warm blooded animal – in this case, ducks - after evolving from its relatives that are common in cold-blooded fish and aquatic worms.

The findings were just reported in the International Journal for Parasitology, and raise concerns not only about the new parasite but about others that may become more widespread, cause more health problems or possibly even move into new species as a result of global warming and climate change.

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Cited Journal Article

Myxozoan parasitism in waterfowl. International Journal for Parasitology.2008; [article in press]

Wildlife crime officers swoop on strath estate
Strathspey & Badenoch Herald – www.strathspey-herald.com
26 Mar 2008
G Burke
Location: United Kingdom

More than 50 investigators descended upon an estate near Grantown and several other local properties as part of an inquiry into the illegal trapping or poisoning of birds of prey.

Wildlife crime officers and forensic scientists from several forces were joined by officers from the National Wildlife Crime Unit and investigators from the RSPB, SSPCA and the Scottish Government for the co-ordinated early-morning raids last Thursday on several premises associated with the Glenlochy Moor estate, near Cromdale.

Officers woke four gamekeepers and took them away for up to six hours of questioning while colleagues searched their homes and outbuildings for any sign of illegal activity.

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Minnesota braces for arrival of deadly fish virus
Fort Mills Time – www.fortmillstime.com
26 Mar 22008
Location: Minnesota, USA

There's a deadly virus spreading through the Great Lakes, causing large fish kills in the east. It even turned up in inland waters in Wisconsin last year.

The virus hasn't arrived in Minnesota yet. But if it shows up here in Lake Superior or the Mississippi River, state fisheries officials fear, it could spread to inland lakes with devastating consequences.

The disease is called viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS. It causes fish to bleed to death. Many believe it's just a matter of time before VHS spreads to Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says there's a "high likelihood" it will.

"I'd be surprised if we don't get VHS, considering how fast it's moved," said Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, the chief sponsor in the House of legislation to tighten laws restricting the transportation and stocking of fish in an effort to prevent VHS from getting established in Minnesota.

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Bird Flu Scientists Say Mallards May Carry Virus Long Distances
Bloomberg Press – www.bloomberg.com
24 Mar 2008
J Gale

Scientists in the Netherlands tracking the spread of bird flu in wild ducks say mallards may be the best long-distance carrier of the deadly H5N1 virus.

Researchers at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam experimentally infected six wild-duck species with H5N1 to determine which were capable of excreting the virus without succumbing to the disease. Pochards and tufted ducks shed the most virus, though tend to become ill or die earlier, they said.

``Of the six wild duck species studied, the mallard is the prime candidate for being a long distance vector,'' the researchers wrote in a study published in the April edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases. ``It was the only species to show abundant virus excretion without clinical or pathologic evidence of debilitating disease.''

The study suggests mallards should be given priority in any surveillance for the H5N1 virus in wild ducks, the authors wrote. The H5N1 strain has spread to more than 60 countries since 2003 through trade in poultry and the movement of wild birds. It has infected people in 14 countries and world health officials say it may spark a pandemic if it becomes capable of spreading among humans through coughing and sneezing.

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Cited Journal Article

Wild Ducks as Long-Distance Vectors of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1).
Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 April; 14(4)

More Dead Birds Infected with West Nile Virus Found in San Diego
KPBS News– www.kpbs.com
24 Mar 2008
Location: San Diego, California, USA

More dead birds infected with West Nile virus have been found in San Diego County. It's the earliest time of the year the disease has ever been detected here. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.

In January, a red-tailed hawk was found in Escondido with West Nile virus. Since then, the disease has been detected in at least five other birds in various parts of the County.

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OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo courtesy of BBC News