Wildlife Disease News Digest

TOP STORIES

Bisphenol A stifles thyroid hormone and slows frog development
Environmental Health News - www.environmentalhealthnews.org
12 May 2009
NP Martin, H Patisaul and W Hessler

A new study reveals that by interfering with thyroid hormone, exposure to low levels of bisphenol A (BPA) slows the rate at which tadpoles develop into frogs. Thyroid signals are necessary both for normal frog metamorphosis and for human development.

In these experiments, exposure levels similar to those found in human infants kept certain genes from turning on, thus delaying tadpole development. Analyzing tadpole metamorphosis is an ideal model system for observing the consequences of BPA exposure on the thyroid system, say the authors.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health used frog tadpoles to study how BPA alters thyroid hormone during development and affects genes activated by T3.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Cited Journal Article
>>>The xenoestrogen bisphenol A inhibits postembryonic vertebrate development by antagonizing gene regulation by thyroid hormone. Endocrinology. 2009 Feb 19. [Epub ahead of print].

Key coral reefs 'could disappear'
BBC News - news.bbc.co.uk
13 May 2009
L Williamson
Photo credit: AFP
Area: Coral Triangle, South East Asia

The world's most important coral region is in danger of being wiped out by the end of this century unless fast action is taken, says a new report.

The international conservation group WWF warns that 40% of reefs in the Coral Triangle have already been lost.

The area is shared between Indonesia and five other South East Asian nations and is thought to contain 75% of the world's coral species.

It is likened to the Amazon rainforest in terms of its biodiversity.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

U.S. project to fight frog-killing fungus
Miami Herald - www.miamiherald.com (Source: Associated Press)
12 May 2009
B Zongker
Photo credit: National Geographic

Zoos in the United States, Panama and Mexico are deploying researchers in Central America to develop new ways to fight a fungus blamed for wiping out dozens of frog and amphibian species.

The Smithsonian Institution is leading six other zoos and institutes in the Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, announced Monday, which aims to raise $1.5 million to fight the fast-spreading chytrid fungus.

Their protection efforts will focus on a small slice of Panama that is the only area in Central America that appears to be untouched by the disease, said Dr. Karen Lips, a University of Maryland researcher.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Toxic Organism Resurfaces, Claiming Marine Animals
Laguna Beach Independent - www.lagunabeachindependent.com
08 May 2009
T Reckas
Area: Laguna Canyon, California, USA - Map It

The staff of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Canyon so far has battled mostly unsuccessfully to revive 16 rescued sea lions, sickened by domoic acid and transported to the animal rescue center in recent weeks. One has been released, two are still under care, and the other 13 have died.

The center's staff hopes to avoid a repeat of the 2002 season that claimed more than 120 sea lions.

Harmful algal blooms often occur in spring due to increasing daylight and an upwelling of water rich in nutrients, such as phosphate and nitrate, which are naturally occurring and also present in urban runoff.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo credit: ScienceDaily