TOP STORIES
Elephant seals beached at Pillar Point
Marine mammal experts are keeping a close eye on two elephant seals that have come ashore near Pillar Point in Princeton, one of which is known to be ill.
The seals were both reported by members of the public to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. One was called in to the center on June 6, while the other was reported on June 15. Both are said to be molting, which is the normal process by which elephant seals shed their old skin and hair. The seal found earlier in the month is said to have a mild case of an elephant seal skin disease, which causes it to shed an unhealthy amount of skin. It is common for elephant seals to contract this disease, but there are no treatments for it because there is very little known about it, according to Sausalito Marine Mammal Center Communications Manager Jim Oswald.
Half Moon Bay Review - www.hmbreview.com
17 June 2011
J Reis
Location: Pillar Point, California, USA - Map It
>>> FULL ARTICLE
17 June 2011
J Reis
Location: Pillar Point, California, USA - Map It
>>> FULL ARTICLE
Large Number Of Dead Carp Reported At Kensington Metropark
A large number of carp have died at Kent Lake in Kensington Metropark. Kensington is part of the Huron-Clinton Metropark system and park patrons and local listeners have reported seeing large numbers of dead carp floating in the water and all over the shores. Officials tell WHMI that they are working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on the issue.Communication Specialist Denise Semion says the fish kill could be from spawning stress and a rapid rise in water temperature or from other causes, such a virus that affects mostly carp. Semion says they will be meeting with the DNR and will provide more information once that happens but in the meantime, visitors may see dead carp in the lake.
Turtles strand with skin diseases
SCUD. When that term comes up, the veterinarian and the turtle hospital manager quit talking and look at each other. They're not researchers; they're not comfortable speculating about what's wrong with the loggerheads."The good news is that, for the most part, they are responding to therapy. That's our job, put them back in the water," South Carolina Aquarium veterinarian Shane Boylan says of the loggerheads.
SCUD is septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease, essentially skin rot. It can be deadly when it shows up in turtles. It's treated with antibiotics.
So far this year, 15 live stranding sea turtles have been admitted to the aquarium -- putting 2011 on a record pace for strandings. Eight of them had skin ulcers, lesions or had lost keratin, the soft tissue on flippers and necks. In 10 years of operation, the hospital never has admitted more than one or two turtles with skin problems, out of an average 20 admissions per year.
Fighting Massive Declines in Frog Populations With Bacteria and Fungicides
A microscopic chytrid fungus is causing massive declines in frog populations all over the world and even the extinction of certain species. Together with colleagues from Europe and the USA, researchers from the University of Zurich present methods as to how the chytrid fungus can be combated in the journal Frontiers in Zoology: namely with bacteria and fungicides. However, the possibility of vaccinating the frogs is also being considered. …While the causes of "normal" hazards for frogs are well known and it is clear how we can help the amphibians, in the case of the chytrid fungus there are no known counter-measures. Researchers from the University of Zurich therefore teamed up with colleagues from Spain, Australia and the USA to examine possible approaches to fight the fungus. "Treating individuals in a zoo, for example, is a piece of cake," says Schmidt; "fighting the fungus out in nature, however, is a different kettle of fish altogether."
Schmidt et al. see two particularly promising methods. The first involves using bacteria that live naturally on the frog's skin. Some of these skin bacteria block the chytrid fungus and can thus cure the frogs. "The approach works in the lab," explains Schmidt. "Now we need to test how the method can be used for frogs living in the wild." The second approach is simple: You catch frogs or tadpoles, treat them for the fungus and let them go again. "This also works fine in principle," says Schmidt. The only problem is how to prevent the animals from becoming reinfected as soon as you release them back into the wild.
Science Daily - www.sciencedaily.com
20 June 2011
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Cited Journal article
Douglas C Woodhams, et al. Mitigating amphibian disease: strategies to maintain wild populations and control chytridiomycosis. Frontiers in Zoology, 2011; 8 (1): 8 doi:10.1186/1742-9994-8-8
20 June 2011
>>> FULL ARTICLE
Cited Journal article
Douglas C Woodhams, et al. Mitigating amphibian disease: strategies to maintain wild populations and control chytridiomycosis. Frontiers in Zoology, 2011; 8 (1): 8 doi:10.1186/1742-9994-8-8
OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH-RELATED NEWS
Fish kills expected in Northwestern Wis. Lakes- Rabid Groundhog Found in Michigan
- Echinococcosis/hydatidosis, Fox - Sweden [Baggbo, Sweden - Map It]
- New Release Sites for "Class of 2011" Whooping Cranes (Courtesy of NWHC)
- First ladybird study shows decline in some species
- Climate change raising tick threat for northern moose: officials
- Multiple ocean stresses threaten “globally significant” marine extinction
