Wildlife Disease News Digest

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An epidemic of extinctions: Decimation of life on earth
The Independent - www.independent.co.uk
16 May 2008
Photo courtesy of Independent Graphics

The world's species are declining at a rate "unprecedented since the extinction of the dinosaurs", a census of the animal kingdom has revealed. The Living Planet Index out today shows the devastating impact of humanity as biodiversity has plummeted by almost a third in the 35 years to 2005. The report, produced by WWF, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network, says land species have declined by 25 per cent, marine life by 28 per cent, and freshwater species by 29 per cent.

Jonathan Loh, editor of the report, said that such a sharp fall was "completely unprecedented in terms of human history". "You'd have to go back to the extinction of the dinosaurs to see a decline as rapid as this," he added. "In terms of human lifespan we may be seeing things change relatively slowly, but in terms of the world's history this is very rapid." And "rapid" is putting it mildly. Scientists say the current extinction rate is now up to 10,000 times faster than what has historically been recorded as normal.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

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UK. Dead fish in River Ely being investigated
BYM Marine Environment News - www.bymnews.com
16 May 2008
Area: Wales United Kingdom

Officers from Environment Agency Wales and Cardiff Harbour Authority are currently investigating the cause of death of approximately 1,000 fish, mainly Rudd, Roach and Chub, in the lower reaches of the river Ely and Cardiff Bay. Samples of fish were collected on Monday 12 May and sent to the Environment Agency National Fisheries Laboratory. A post mortem examination is underway. Lesions were present on almost all the fish submitted, and can be an indication of bacterial infection. Bacterial lesions are a common feature of spawning stress in Roach.

The examined fish were in spawning condition, and the extent of the mortality suggests that normal spawning stress may have been compounded by other factors, such as fluctuations in dissolved oxygen. The involvement of a fish disease cannot be ruled out at this stage. The results of the additional tests will be forwarded as soon as they are available. The average pH at the site close to the mortality has also increased over the past month.

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Tasmanian devil to get endangered species listing
AFP - afp.google.com
19 May 2008
Area: Australia

Australia's Tasmanian devil will be listed as an endangered species this week as a result of a deadly and disfiguring cancer outbreak, the state government said Monday. The disease, a fast-growing head tumour which spreads over the marsupial's face and mouth and prevents it from eating, often killing it within months, has cut the island's devil population in the wild by as much as 60 percent. A spokeswoman for Tasmania's Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn said the small, black-haired animal would be listed as an endangered species by state officials on Wednesday. The minister told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the animal would be upgraded from a vulnerable to an endangered species so that the "appropriate resources and effort" can be poured into protecting it.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

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Distemper Identified as Cause of Skunk Deaths in Shasta County
UC Davis News - www.news.ucdavis.edu
15 May 2008
Area: California United States

Canine distemper, one of the most serious viral diseases affecting dogs, appears to have caused the deaths in recent months of a large number of skunks, foxes and raccoons in Northern California, report veterinary scientists at the University of California, Davis. Since mid-February, 83 skunks, 13 foxes and 12 raccoons were reported to have died of unexplained causes in Shasta County. "Early molecular tests were negative for canine distemper and rabies, which are both contagious viruses that can infect many species of domestic and wild carnivorous animals," said Mourad Gabriel, a comparative pathology graduate student in the laboratory of veterinary professor Janet Foley. "Postmortem exams, however, revealed typical changes associated with canine distemper infection."

Canine distemper is a potentially fatal disease primarily causing inflammation in the nervous and respiratory systems. While the virus does not pose a threat to human health, dog owners are urged to protect the health of their animals by having them vaccinated against distemper and keeping them away from wild animals, which might be carrying the disease. Unfortunately, the outbreak is continuing with ongoing reports of deaths, including animals from more distant locations. Gabriel, Foley and veterinary pathology professor Linda Munson, have been investigating the unexplained wildlife deaths in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Game.

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Reported Wildlife Mortality Events to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center Updated
USGS National Wildlife Health Center
19 May 2008
Area: United States

USGS and a network of partners across the country work on documenting wildlife mortality events in order to provide timely and accurate information on locations, species and causes of death. This information was updated on May 16, 2008 on the USGS National Wildlife Health Center web page, New and Ongoing Wildlife Mortality Events Nationwide. Quarterly Mortality Reports are also available from this page. These reports go back to 1995.

>>> Updated Wildlife Mortality Event Table

OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
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