(e) = estimate; * = morbidity, not mortality

University of Arizona Diagnostic Laboratory (AZ), California Animal Health FS Laboratory Network (CAF), University of California Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CVL), Michigan State University (MSU), USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NW), New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NY), No diagnostics pursued (NON), Ohio Department of Natural Resources (OHD), Purdue University Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (PUL), Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Athens, GA (SCW), and Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WA)

Written and compiled by Rex Sohn -Western US, Kathryn Converse- Central US, Grace McLaughlin - Eastern US, NWHC. The Quarterly Wildlife Mortality Report is available at http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov. To report mortality or receive information about this report, contact the above NWHC staff, or for Hawaiian Islands contact Thierry Work. Phone: (608) 270-2400, FAX: (608) 270-2415 or e-mail: kathy_converse@usgs.gov. USGS National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, WI 53711.

USGS National Wildlife Heath Center’s Quarterly Wildlife Mortality Report

King Eider Mortality in Alaska
Wildlife biologists from the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management investigated a report of morbidity and mortality in king eiders at Point Hope on October 11, 2005.  The location, which is a favorite hunting site of aboriginal people, is a narrow, sandy spit that protrudes into the Arctic Ocean.  They found approximately 100 sick and dead king eiders, which was roughly 10 percent of the population of king eiders present at the site.  No other waterbird species appeared to be affected.  Specimens were submitted to the NWHC for diagnostic evaluation.  The primary gross pathology noted at necropsy was emaciation in all specimens and nephrosis in one bird.  Laboratory tests for liver lead, routine bacterial cultures, and viral cultures produced no significant results.  Histological examination showed no significant abnormalities other than large numbers of protozoal parasites of the genus Henneguya and roundworm ova in collecting tubules of the kidney of the bird with nephrosis.  Henneguya sp. are normally parasites of fish.

Suspected mycotoxicosis in snow geese and sandhill cranes.
Starting in late November, scattered reports of mortality in snow geese were received from Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas. Geese from Louisiana and Arkansas had gross and microscopic changes consistent with aflatoxicosis. No geese were available in good condition from Texas.  Many tests are in progress for these events.  In mid-December, sick and dead sandhill cranes were reported in the panhandle of Texas at two locations from a population of 80,000 cranes. Moldy peanuts were present in the ingesta of scavenged and necropsied cranes.  Cranes were observed with drooping heads and necks, even in flight. The cranes also had erratic flight patterns and unusually short flights. Necropsy examinations indicate mycotoxicosis and tests are pending.

Enteritis of American Crows in New York:
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation reported that mortality of American crows began in late December 2005 at winter roosts in the Hudson River Valley.  This marks the fifth year of winter mortality of crows along at least 150 miles of the river.  Necropsy findings consist primarily of severe necrotic enteritis.  Mortalities have ranged from fewer than 100 crows to 1000 or more, typically from mid-late December through January.  Clostridium perfringens and other Clostridium species have been isolated, along with a reovirus.  In some birds, coccidia have also been detected.  Efforts are underway to fully characterize the virus and determine the roles played by it, the clostridial bacteria, and coccidia in the development of the enteritis.