Wildlife Disease News Digest

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Frog genome holds out conservation promise

Scientists have published the first genome sequence from an amphibian.... It has about 20,000 genes - about the same as a human - and scientists say it sheds new light on genetic evolution.

Conservationists say analysing the genes could lead to new ways of combating threats such as the often fatal fungal disease chytridiomycosis.

Presenting their results in the journal Science, the researchers also suggest it may lead to better understanding of the threat posed by endocrine-disrupting ("gender-bending") chemicals, to which amphibians are especially sensitive.

BBC News - news.bbc.co.uk
30 April 2010
R Black
Photo credit: C Showell

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Journal Article Cited

The Genome of the Western Clawed Frog Xenopus tropicalis. Science. 30 April 2010. 328(5978): 633-636.

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>>> University of Ottawa researchers help save frog populations

No oil found on 29 dead turtles in Gulf of Mexico

The head of an organization that cares for sick marine life is saying that oil has not been found on 29 dead turtles that washed up on Mississippi beaches.

Moby Solangi, director of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, said Tuesday necropsies had been completed on the turtles and found no oil.

Experts are still warning the turtles may have eaten fish contaminated by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

San Luis Obispo Tribune - www.sanluisobispo.com [Source: Associated Press]
04 May 2010
Photo credit: D Quinn/AP
Location: Mississippi, USA - Map It

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Columnaris Disease responsible for fish die-off in Little Detroit Lake

Dead fish infected with Columnaris Disease have been washing up on the shores of Little Detroit Lake the past week, according to Jim Wolters, DNR Fisheries Manager.

He said the bacterial disease naturally occurs in fish and affects them in the spring of the year when they are undergoing some stress from spawning.

In a normal spring, the DNR sees the disease growing on fish in mid-May to mid-June. Wolter said with this year’s early spring and warmer than normal water temperatures, the disease started earlier and has killed more fish than normal.

Northland Outdoors - www.northlandoutdoors.com
30 April 2010
Location: Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, USA - Map It

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OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo credit: P Sharpe/Institute for Wildlife Studies