TOP STORIES
ScienceDaily - www.sciencedaily.com (Source: Wiley-Blackwell/EurekAlert)
19 Aug 2009
Photo credit: iStockphoto/Michael Sacco
A new study into the social networks of Tasmanian devils may help prevent the further spread of an extinction-threatening disease.
The research, published in Ecology Letters, has produced an intricate social network of devil social relationships, revealing how disease can spread through a population.
The Tasmanian devil is the largest marsupial carnivore in existence, yet it is threatened with extinction from a unique infectious cancer known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD).
Fox carcass had rabies, but disease unlikely to spread: MNR
Mykawartha.com - www.mykawartha.com
18 Aug 2009
B MacEachern
Area: Pleasant Point, Ontario, Canada - Map It
A rabid red fox discovered on a Pleasant Point property was diagnosed with a strain of bat rabies Aug. 17, however the type of strain makes it unlikely that the disease was spread before the animal's death, said a Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) representative.
"As far as we know, there has never been transmission of the bat strain [of rabies] from fox to fox," said Dr. Rick Rosatte, senior research scientist with the MNR in Peterborough.
Most animals with bat rabies simply die, he added.
Russia tackles Siberia oil slickBBC News - news.bbc.co.uk
19 Aug 2009
Area: Yenisei River, Siberia, Russia - Map It
Chemical pollution from Monday's explosion at Russia's largest hydro-electric power station has killed fish and spread down a major Siberian river.
Russian officials say booms are being deployed on the Yenisei river to trap the transformer oil. Absorbents are being thrown from helicopters.
The mayor of Abakan, Nikolay Bulakin, said he had heard reports that many trout at fish farms had been poisoned.
Dead dog contains same toxin as sea slug sampleAuckland Regional Council - www.arc.govt.nz
14 Aug 2009
Photo credit: A Jamieson/Wild Earth Media
Area: Narrow Neck Beach, Auckland, New Zealand - Map It
Tests done by the Cawthron Institute have confirmed that the toxin found in the vomit of one of the dogs that died after visiting Narrow Neck Beach was also found in a sea slug sample taken from that beach.
The toxin has been identified as tetrodotoxin, which is also found in tropical puffer fish. How the sea slugs came to contain the toxin is not known and investigations are continuing.
. . . Reported deaths of pilchards, penguins and dolphins are still being investigated.
OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo credit: Robert Friel/Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009
Sneak peek: Veolia Environnement wildlife photographer of the year 2009
- How Mercury Becomes Toxic In The Environment
- China panda gives birth to twins: state media
- Pilot whale seen swimming in Raritan River dies in Perth Amboy - Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA - Map It
- Moose Hunting To Continue In MN
- Orphaned Gorillas Sent to Isolated Island [Gabon]
- Overpopulating paradise [Galapagos Islands, Equador]
WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Browse complete Digest publication library here.
Perfluorooctanoic acid stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis and gene transcription in rats
Toxicology. 2009 Jul 16. [Epub ahead of print]
MW Walters et al.
Disease threats to the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)
Vet J. 2009 Oct;182(1):114-24. Epub 2008 Jun 13
J Millian et al.
