Wildlife Disease News Digest

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Exotic Louse found on mule deer near Saratoga
Buckmasters - www.buckmasters.com (Source: Wyoming Game And Fish Department)
16 Jun 2009
Photo credit: John J. Mosesso/NBII.Gov
Area: Saratoga, Wyoming

An adult mule deer buck collected from hunt area 80 near Saratoga was found to have a heavy infestation of the exotic louse Bovicola tibialis. This is the first time this nonnative external parasite has been documented in Wyoming.

According to Dr. Terry Kreeger, supervisor of Wyoming Game and Fish Department veterinary services, the exotic louse is another threat to mule deer populations. "Although it appears that this current case is a rare finding, we expect the louse to spread slowly over time," Kreeger said.

The deer was collected for necropsy on Apr. 3, 2009, by Saratoga Wildlife Biologist Will Schultz and was necropsied by WGFD veterinarian, Dr. Cynthia Tate, the same day. Dr. Tate noted severe hair loss, skin inflammation and a heavy infestation of chewing lice.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Fish with lesions being caught around Mobile Bay
Mobile Press-Register - www.al.com
16 Jun 2009
B Raines and J Dute
Area: Mobile Bay, Mobile County, Alabama, USA - Map It

Although a dozen croakers had already been pulled aboard the Press-Register boat Thursday morning, something was clearly wrong with this particular fish.

Open red lesions were visible under its throat, the flesh raw and exposed with no sign of scales or skin beneath the wound.

A speckled trout caught later in the day also sported the distinctive wounds on its flanks and belly. Its skin appeared dull and seemed to hang loosely to the mushy flesh beneath.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

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Reported Wildlife Mortality Events to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center Updated
USGS National Wildlife Health Center
18 Jun 2009
Area: United States

USGS and a network of partners across the country work on documenting wildlife mortality events in order to provide timely and accurate information on locations, species and causes of death. This information was updated on June 16, 2009 on the USGS National Wildlife Health Center web page, New and Ongoing Wildlife Mortality Events Nationwide. Quarterly Mortality Reports are also available from this page. These reports go back to 1995.

>>> Updated Wildlife Mortality Event Table

Moran Statement on Study Providing Clues to Intersex Fish
American Chronicle - www.americanchronicle.com (Source: Congressional Desk)
16 Jun 2009
Area: United States

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Geological Survey´s (USGS) recent study that revealed clues as to the occurrence of intersex fish in the Potomac River.

The study found exposure to estrogen in fish reduces production of immune-related proteins, suggesting that compounds known as endocrine disruptors may make fish more susceptible to disease.

"This study provides new clues linking chemicals in our waters to the occurrence of intersex fish in the Potomac. Alarm bells go off when 80 percent of male bass in the Potomac River are found to produce eggs. The USGS study brings a narrow focus and sharp conclusion that estrogen chemicals are negatively affecting our aquatic life.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

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OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo credit: Holger Braun/BBC News