Wildlife Disease News Digest

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Plastics suspect in lobster illness: MBL scientist investigates role of environmental toxin in shell disease
EurekAlert - www.eurekalert.org
14 Aug 2008
Photo courtesy of MBL

The search for what causes a debilitating shell disease affecting lobsters from Long Island Sound to Maine has led one Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) visiting scientist to suspect environmental alkyphenols, formed primarily by the breakdown of hard transparent plastics.

Preliminary evidence from the lab of Hans Laufer suggests that certain concentrations of alkyphenols may be interfering with the ability of lobsters to develop tough shells. Instead, the shells are weakened, leaving affected lobsters susceptible to the microbial invasions characteristic of the illness.

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Red tide may be linked to Quebec whale deaths
cbcnews.ca - cbc.ca
14 Aug 2008
Area: St. Lawrence River, Quebec, Canada – Map It

A red algae infestation in the St. Lawrence Seaway caused by heavy rain this summer may have caused the death of several marine animals, including birds, fish and a handful of beluga whales, say scientists in the area. Residents in the Lower St. Lawrence region and greater Rimouski area have reported finding hundreds of dead sturgeon and birds on the shore. And seven beluga whales have been found dead in the past week, about half of the average annual death toll recorded for the species, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

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Deadly bird disease hits W. Michigan
WOOD TV - www.woodtv.com
9 Aug 2008
Area: Mason County, Michigan, USA – Map It

A deadly bird disease has been detected in Mason County. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that some birds that have been found dead on the Lake Michigan shore died of Type E. Botulism. The infected birds were found dead at Ludington State Park in July.

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Worries die down but fish-killing virus still present
The Northwestern - www.northwestern.com
15 Aug 2008
AJ Schaenzer
Photo Courtesty of MP King

A deadly fish virus that had local Department of Natural Resources officials keeping a close eye on area waterways last summer has not proven to be much of a concern this year. Art Techlow III, DNR biologist for the Winnebago System, says there have been no confirmed cases this year of VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia, a disease that causes fish to bleed to death.

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Botulism outbreak kills 600 birds
EuroWeekly News - www.euroweeklynews.com
14 Aug 2008
Area: El Hondo Nature Reserve, Spain - Map It

An outbreak of botulism has killed off some 600 birds and thousands of fish in the El Hondo nature reserve near Elche in just two weeks. This mirrors recent reports that hundreds of birds had died of the condition in the Albufera wetland, where it crosses through Tavernes de la Valldigna. The ministry for the environment says around half of the dead birds are gulls. It has given the green light for the river to be completely emptied so the corpses can be removed.

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Researchers probe pandemic potential of H9N2 virus
Ctr for Infectious Disease Research and Policy - www.cidrap.umn.edu
14 Aug 2008
L Schnirring

Scientists have warned it's impossible to predict which avian influenza virus will spark the next pandemic, and while most of the attention has been on highly pathogenic H5N1, one research group is reporting new findings that raise concerns about the threat from the low-pathogenic H9N2 virus.

The international group of researchers, mainly from the University of Maryland, published their findings in the August issue of PLoS One (Public Library of Science One). They used ferrets, which have sialic acid receptors in their respiratory tracts resembling those in humans, to explore how H9N2 viruses replicate and transmit.

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More Avian Influenza News
Rapid bird flu test under development
ProMed Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (08): swans
NIGERIA: New bird flu strain confirmed
LAOS: New veterinary law targets bird flu

Bird positive for West Nile Virus
The Post - www.thepost.on.ca
15 Aug 2008
Area: Dyer's Bay, Ontario, Canada – Map It

A dead Eastern Loggerhead Shrike in Grey Bruce tested positive for West Nile virus (WNv). This is the first WNv positive bird in the region this year. The bird was found in the Dyer's Bay area. Monitoring dead birds is a predictor for the presence of WNv. In Ontario, 23 birds have tested positive for WNv this summer. There have not been any human cases.

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More West Nile Virus News
West Nile found in Adams – Map It

Second West Nile infected bird found – Map It

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