July 16, 2013

A Mysterious Virus Is Infecting Dolphins and more wildlife disease news

Impacts of Human-Driven Change On Argentine Forests: Good for Parasites, Bad for Birds

Higher precipitation levels and deforestation leading to increased parasitism of developing chicks

A new report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Disease Ecology Laboratory of Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral, Argentina (ICIVET LITORAL, UNL-CONICET) shows that increases in precipitation and changes in vegetative structure in Argentine forests – factors driven by climate change and deforestation in the region – are leading to increased parasitism of young nesting birds by fly larvae (botflies) of the species Philornis torquans.

Newswise
15 Jul 2013


Cited Journal Article
Manzoli DE, Antoniazzi LR, Saravia MJ, Silvestri L, Rorhmann D, et al. (2013) Multi-Level Determinants of Parasitic Fly Infection in Forest Passerines. PLoS ONE 8(7): e67104. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067104


A Mysterious Virus Is Infecting Dolphins

In October 2010, the body of a young short-beaked common dolphin was found stranded on a beach in San Diego, Calif. The sickly female had lesions in its airway, and a necropsy showed that it died of so-called tracheal bronchitis, likely due to an infection.
Now, further investigation has revealed the dolphin's malaise was caused by a virus that scientists had never seen before, according to a new study.

The pathogen, which researchers propose should be named Dolphin polyomavirus 1, or DPyV-1, is still quite mysterious. Scientists say they don't know where it came from, how common it might be, or what threat it poses to wildlife.

Business Insider
12 Jul 2013
M Gannon


Cited Journal Article
Anthony SJ, St. Leger JA, Navarrete-Macias I, Nilson E, Sanchez-Leon M, et al. (2013) Identification of a Novel Cetacean Polyomavirus from a Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) with Tracheobronchitis. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68239. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068239


CWD Surveillance Results in Kansas Mapped

Our friends at the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism shared their latest map of chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance results for the state.

On July 1, 2013, they reported "A new season of surveillance begins today with the start of the new fiscal year. CWD surveillance for the 2013-2014 season will move to the Eastern Surveillance Zone".


Thank the friendly, hard working Kansas wildlife biologists for this information!



More CWD News


Professional Announcement: Wildlife Epidemiology Course Available Online

The Veterinary Public Health Management postgraduate program at the University of Sydney is pleased to offer the Wildlife Epidemiology course for veterinary and animal science professionals.

This course enables you to identify, discuss and evaluate issues relevant to disease determination in wildlife populations and also apply epidemiological concepts to wildlife scenarios. It is a formal unit of study in the Veterinary Public Health Management postgraduate program but has been opened for standalone non-award enrollments.

For more information, read this informational flyer or visit their website: http://sydney.edu.au/vetscience/vphmgt/

Do you have a professional announcement you would like to share with Digest readers? Send us the information at digest@wdin.org and we will broadcast your news near and far through our wildlife health community network!


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