(e) = estimate, ** Mortality estimate not available at this time.

Houston Zoo (HZ), Kentucky State Diagnostic Laboratory (KY), Kissimmee Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (KDL), Maryland Diagnostic Laboratory (MD), Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Diagnostic Lab (MT), New York State, DEC, Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources (NY), Oregon State Diagnostic Laboratory (OR), Other (OT), Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Lab System (PAD), Pennsylvania State University Animal Diagnostics Lab (PSU), Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCW), UC Davis (UCD), University of Illinois Lab (UIL), Unknown lab site (UNK), USGS National Wildlife Health Laboratory (NW), Various state lab sites (ST), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Health Lab (WI), Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WY).

Written and compiled by: Mark Jankowski - Eastern US, Krysten Schuler - Western US, and Jennifer Bradsby - Technician.

To report mortality or receive information about this report, please contact the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, WI 53711:

National Wildlife Health Center Quarterly Mortality Report

Second year of high American coot mortality in MontanaIn mid-September and for the second consecutive year, significant mortality due to exotic parasites has been observed in American coots on Georgetown Lake (Deer Lodge County: mortality ~200) and Smith Lake (Flathead County; mortality ~1500). The estimated mortality on Georgetown Lake is higher than the mortality estimates in 2006. American coots examined at the National Wildlife Health Center had intestinal impactions and were found to be infected with Cyathacotyle bushiensis and coccidia parasites. The intermediate host of the parasites is the exotic Bithynia tentaculata snail which was identified in the lakes in 2006.

West Nile virus in American white pelican chicks.West Nile virus outbreaks have occurred in American white pelicans in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Some locations have had ongoing botulism events. The events have resulted in total mortality estimates of over 1500 hatch-year pelican chicks. Birds were exhibiting signs of weakness: unable to stand, falling over, and inability to hold their head up. Mortality events appear to have ended around mid to late September. Biologists are encouraged to report morbidity/mortality and submit samples for diagnostics to determine cause-of-death because of the coincident outbreaks.

Avian cholera and Newcastle disease virus outbreak at atypical time and location.In northern Minnesota in early September, an avian cholera mortality event affected ring-billed gulls, herring gulls, American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, and Caspian terns. An estimated 400 birds were affected. There is no previous record of avian cholera in this area. Herring gulls exhibited enlarged livers and spleen, as well as pericarditis which is characteristic of Chlamydiosis, a potentially zoonotic bacteria. Subsequent bacterial cultures in herring gull and cormorant tissues were positive for Pasteurella multocida, the causative bacterial agent of avian cholera. Non-virulent Newcastle disease virus (nvNDV*) also was found in the cormorant, leading to the question of which infection developed first, and whether dual infection exacerbated the effects of either agent. This outbreak demonstrates the complexities of dual infections in a location frequented by multiple species.

Newcastle disease virus and botulism type C outbreak in Minnesota involving American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, and ring-billed gulls. During July, American white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, and ring-billed gulls died as part of a mortality event in southwest Minnesota that claimed an estimated 3,850 birds. Between 2002 and 2006, West Nile virus was identified as the cause of American white pelican mortality in this area, primarily in hatch-year birds. Although this mortality event was suspected as a continuation of this process, WNV was not detected. Instead, American white pelicans and ring-billed gulls died from botulism type C and double-crested cormorants were infected with non-virulent Newcastle disease virus (nvNDV*). It has not yet been determined whether nvNDV acted as the principal cause of death in these cormorants.

* The non-virulent (nvNDV) designation is determined by PCR test and refers to the virus' pathogenicity in poultry.