August 25, 2009

TOP STORIES

Genomic Study Yields Plausible Cause Of Colony Collapse Disorder
ScienceDaily - www.sciencedaily.com (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
25 Aug 2009
Photo credit: L. Brian Stauffer, University of Illinois News Bureau

Researchers report this week that they have found a surprising but reliable marker of colony collapse disorder, a baffling malady that in 2007-2008 killed off more than a third of commercial honey bees in the U.S.

Their study, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to identify a single, objective molecular marker of the disorder, and to propose a data-driven hypothesis to explain the mysterious disappearance of American honey bees.

The team included researchers from the University of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.




With Bat Extinctions Looming, 1.5 Million Dead, Group Says Feds Must Make Saving Bats First Priority
Center for Biological Diversity - www.biologicaldiversity.org
24 Aug 2009

Mounting evidence that several species of bats have been all but eliminated from the Northeast due to a new disease known as white-nose syndrome prompted a conservation group to send a letter today to Sam Hamilton, the new director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, urging that action on the bat epidemic be his first priority.

In the letter, Kierán Suckling, executive director of the national, nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, wrote: “…while we suspect you are still unpacking boxes in your new office, we feel compelled to spotlight a wildlife emergency of the highest order.

This crisis, the bat epidemic known as white-nose syndrome, cannot afford any delay before receiving your focused attention.”




World bovine tuberculosis experts gather
Scoop Independent News - www.scoop.co.nz (New Zealand Animal Health Board)
25 Aug 2009

World bovine tuberculosis experts gather in Wellington. Bovine tuberculosis experts from around the world are gathering in Wellington this week to attend the M.bovis 5th International Conference at Te Papa.

M.bovis is held every five years in different locations around the world and aims to share world best-practice applied knowledge in tuberculosis control. The 2009 event from 25-28 August is being hosted by the Animal Health Board.

New Zealand has a long history of Mycobacterium bovis (tuberculosis) infection in cattle and more recently in deer herds. This has been largely driven by wild animal infection, primarily in possums.




OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo credit: J.P. Krajewski




WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Browse complete Digest publication library here.

Journal of Wildlife Management - September 2009
Volume 73, Issue 7

Immunohistochemical and biochemical characteristics of BSE and CWD in experimentally infected European red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus)
BMC Vet Res. 2009 Jul 27;5:26 [free full-text available]
S Martin et al.

Assessing whether disinfectants against the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis have negative effects on tadpoles and zooplankton
Amphibia-Reptilia. 2009; 30 (3): 313-319
RB Schmidt et al.

Advancing ecological understandings through technological transformations in noninvasive genetics
Molecular Ecology Resources. 2009; 9(5): 1279 - 1301
A Beja-Pereira et al.

Sarcoptic mange in southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons): distribution and prevalence in the Murraylands of South Australia
Australian Journal of Zoology. 2009; 57 (2): 129-138
L Ruykys et al.

at Tuesday, August 25, 2009