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Guardian News - www.guardian.co.uk
12 Aug 2009
C Davies
Photo credit: RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP/Getty Images
Unique species on the Galápagos Islands are under threat from mosquitoes introduced by tourist planes and boats, according to research published today.
The southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, capable of carrying West Nile fever and avian malaria, is being transported from mainland Ecuador and breeding with existing populations on the islands, prompting fears of disease outbreaks.
The Galápagos giant tortoise and marine iguana, which are unique to the archipelago, may now be at risk, say scientists from the University of Leeds and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), who carried out the research in conjunction with the Galápagos national park and Charles Darwin Foundation.
West Nile may have killed young bald eagles
The Record - www.recordnet.com
12 Aug 2009
DM Nichols
Area: Pardee Reservoir, Amador County, California, USA - Map It
West Nile virus may have been what killed two young bald eagles whose bodies were found in their nest near Pardee Reservoir on July 23.
As recently as last week, scientists at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, said the decayed condition of the birds' bodies meant it might not be possible to determine a cause of death.
But the very last test conducted came back positive this week for West Nile virus in the kidney and brain tissues of one of the birds, according to Leslie Woods, a veterinary pathologist at the laboratory.
Manganese Damages Immune Response In Marine Animals, Research FindsScienceDaily - www.sciencedaily.com (Source: University of Gothenburg)
11 Aug 2009
Photo credit: University of Gothenburg
Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, in bottom waters is a well known environmental problem. New research at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden adds to the list of ill effects: hypoxia leads to increased levels of manganese, which damages the immune response in marine animals.
Water eutrophication and the resulting hypoxia is an ever-current issue, not least in connection with summer algal blooms.
A more recently acknowledged problem is that hypoxia, which occurs when algae is broken down, increases the release of toxic metals from bottom sediments. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have found that one of these metals, manganese, may damage the immune response in marine animals.
Avian influenza (49): Mongolia (AR) wild birds, H5 - Archive Number 20090811.2866
ProMED-mail - www.promedmail.org
11 Aug 2009
Area: Arkhangai Province, Mongolia - Map It
An official with Mongolia's Emergency Situations Ministry has confirmed to Xinhua on 11 Aug 2009 that avian influenza recently occurred in Arkhangai Province.
Mongolian disease control and prevention agencies found 56 dead swans, wild geese, and other kinds of birds in the area around Shelechagan [transliteration] Lake in Tsetserleg District of Arkhangai Province and after testing samples, confirmed that the birds had died of avian influenza virus. For the moment, it has been confirmed that the virus is H5 subtype.
Tiny Damselfish May Destroy A Caribbean ReefNPR - www.npr.org
11 Aug 2009
R Harris
Photo credit: Henry DeBey
Scientists say the world's coral reefs could go extinct during our children's lifetimes. Human activities are putting this beautiful ecosystem at risk. Some risks are obvious — such as global warming, which results in overheated seas. Others are more subtle. Consider the case of the damselfish:
Looking off the coast from the Caribbean island of Bonaire, the glistening, aquamarine sea looks peaceful. But just under the waves, there's a war going on. It's between the fragile and colorful corals, and a creeping menace: algae.
It's a turf battle for precious real estate. And it's a fight to the death.
>>>FULL ARTICLE 
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OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo credit: Guardian News
- In pictures: Heather Angel’s Wild Kew [London]
- Study Shows ARS Device is Highly Effective at Controlling Ticks that Spread Lyme Disease
- Changes proposed in CWD management [Wisconsin]
- Plague, pneumonic - China (06): (QH), WHO
- Sea turtle found dead buried on beach - South Bethany, Sussex County, Delaware, USA - Map It
- Earth Science From The Sky: The Next Generation
- Species climbing to new heights [Scotland]
- WILDLIFE OFFICIALS NEED YOUR HELP TRACKING INVASIVE SPECIES [New Jersey]
- Alarming Invasion Of Round Goby Into Great Lakes Tributaries: Impact On Endangered Fishes 'Serious'
- Water dispensaries keep mountain bighorn sheep alive [California]
- Restored Border Mires bog brings floods of joy for wildlife [United Kingdom]
- Cleaner Seine hosts salmon again [France]
- Conserving Big Cats Works: South African Leopard Field Study Yields Encouraging Results
WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Browse complete Digest publication library here.
Using Satellite Images of Environmental Changes to Predict Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2009; [Epub ahead of print][full-text availbale - pdf]
TE Ford et al.
Selenium Accumulation in Sea Ducks Wintering at Lake Ontario
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2009 Aug 4. [Epub ahead of print]
ML Schummer et al.
Tularemia
Veterinary Microbiology [Epub ahead of print]
JE Foley and NC Nieto
Usutu virus in wild birds in northern Italy
Veterinary Microbiology [Epub ahead of print]
G Manarolla et al.
Implications of Climate Change for Northern Canada: Freshwater, Marine, and Terrestrial Ecosystems
Ambio. 2009 Jul; 38 (5): 282–289
TD Prowse et al.
