Tracking the next pandemic: Avian Flu Talk |
Idaho duck die off |
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Thank you 7Laws:
I really don't know what to think...How convenient. You would think they'd find the source of the moldy grain. I would really feel more confident if they said that the H5N1 test were negative. I would even like to know how many were tested and all were negative.
I happy to hear this but until I get more information I'm not buying it.
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http://www.avianflutalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13337&KW=Idaho&PID=117627#117627 Anharra By the end of August 2006... ................................................................................................................................ [3] USA - CDC/Arbonet
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Hold your judgement until the tests are completed. All I see there is likely to be aspergillosis. I want to see the tests. The symptoms do match perfectly. I think they released this because of the pressure they were getting.
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stockmama
Adviser Group Joined: March 17 2006 Status: Offline Points: 100 |
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It's me.... I was in Iowa during the 2005 outbreak there, and now I'm in Idaho...my fault! The weather in southern Idaho has been fairly mild, but I would not go so far as to say "warm" by any means. I'm gonna wait and see as well. It's 8 hours south of us or better...keeping my fingers crossed. I'm not saying we are not advanced here, but remember, this is a fairly sparse state in population, and we are all kind of "hicks"--in a GOOD way!!
Stockmama
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Chloe
Valued Member Joined: October 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 199 |
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The only thing that seems odd to me is that it is confined only to mallards. It seems they are more susecptible than other birds but with that large of a number dying you would think there would be at least a few mortalities in other birds.
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If it truly was fungus like aspergillosis, I would expect at least one or two other types of birds to be also infected. A fungus normally would not be so specific. On the other hand H5N1 has demonstrated a persistent tendency to target like species in a specific area as it mutates and the longer it takes to determine a specific cause, the more I get nervous. There is too much at stake here at home for me to expect any realistic admission of H5N1. Get ready for the ticker tape propaganda parade.
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So it was a mass duck suicide!? As an investor I am used to the ticker tape propaganda parade. We have to make our own decisions here. They wouldn't want to prematurely ruin the chicken industry. |
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Chloe
Valued Member Joined: October 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 199 |
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No not mass duck suicide, the kid that went to Thailand and got dengue fever ran all the way to that stream and poisoned it with his morphine drip Sorry all I couldn't resist:)
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vinace04
Valued Member Joined: December 12 2006 Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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THATS FUNNY!!!!!!!! LOL
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WAZZZ UP!!!!
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- Chloe, good timing!
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Judy
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillosis
Wikipedia's information on aspergillosis:
Aspergillosis has been the culprit in several recent rapid die-offs among waterfowl. From December 8-14, 2006 over 2,000 Mallards died in the Burley, Idaho area, an agricultural community approximately 150 miles southeast of Boise. Moldy waste grain from the farmland and feedlots in the area is the suspected source. A similar aspergillosis outbreak killed 500 mallards in Iowa in 2005. Moldy grain was the cause in that case. Mallards and other ducks are particularly susceptible to Aspergillosis as they will often resort to poor food sources during bad weather. Albeit relatively rare in humans, aspergillosis is a common and dangerous infection in birds, particularly in pet parrots. While there is no connection between Aspergillosis and the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza (commonly called "bird flu"), the rapid die-offs it causes can spark fears of a bird-flu outbreak in the communities where the die-offs occur. There is no outwardly visible sign off the fungal infection as the cause; laboratory analysis is the only way to prove or disprove bird-flu or Aspergillosis. This is stated as a fact and not a "likely" reason for the die off. |
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If ignorance is bliss, what is chocolate?
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stockmama
Adviser Group Joined: March 17 2006 Status: Offline Points: 100 |
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Here is a history of the high temps in that area for the last month and a half. Is this consistent with the moldy grain? Thought someone would be able to use this.
Stockmama
NOV
15 47
16 49 17 47 18 51 19 54 20 58 21 58 22 52 23 50 24 45 25 44 26 49 27 40 28 25 29 29 30 20 31 21
Dec 1 30
2 29 3 32 4 32 5 34 6 37 7 45 8 51 9 52 10 43 11 43 12 48 |
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gettingready
Valued Member Joined: October 11 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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Here's a good link for waterfowl diseases: http://www.ducks.org/Conservation/WaterfowlBiology/2693/UnderstandingWaterfowlWaterfowlDiseases.html
The article on the test "results" didn't describe what tests have been performed and what the specific results were, which is completely maddening. It says nothing other than a bacterial infection is the likely cause, which is based on observation, not diagnostic tests. Frankly, since low-path H5N1 has been found in Mallards this year in the US, I'm wondering if they didn't get a few positives and are busy ruling out high path right now.
Also wondering if secondary bacterial infection is possible in birds with H5N1 - doesn't seem that farfetched to me.
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Would all the ducks die? Would there be some waddling around? Would other birds show signs of infection? Lots of questions. I have a feeling we won't get any answers that we will be satisfied with or atleast I will be satisfied with. It would have been nice to go there and look into the eyes of whomever is in charge. Hard to get all the answers without being there. I guess what probably annoyed me the most was that they basically wrote off the idea that it could be H5N1 before they started. If there is another die off close by in the next week or two then....
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gettingready
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I agree 7laws - if there is another report, we will all be waddling around here.
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Based on my readings this die off is consistent with what they are saying.
Although I donot trust govt's are going to be forthcoming on this issue.
EXAMPLE PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
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I don't know why I'm surprised with there answer....According to stockmama the womens at the wildlife was getting annoyed at all the calls.
They had to say something and it does get people off there backs by giving panic people a plausible answer...
I in no way believe they ruled out H5N1....No way...I believe this was the first thing on there minds. This is politics and the first rule of thumb in a panic situation is to calm the people. Then get to work and find out exactly what happened. They can always come back and say after reviewing all the results our finding are: blah blah blah
If it were a farm we would here more details such as were, what town and how it was left out. I also believe sparrows and chows would be falling ill as well.
Now I believe if the test result were in for H5N1 we would here how many were tested and a positive or negative results and we haven't heard any of that yet.
JMHO
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Jhetta
Valued Member Joined: March 28 2006 Status: Offline Points: 1272 |
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The die off (green hazard icon) is located between the asio-american and pacific flyway's. The asio-american flyway is red on the map below and runs from Africa/Asia to Alaska.
Dying Duck Mystery Sparks Fears ~ 2,500 Mallard Ducks Die
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/dying-duck-mystery-sparks-fears/20061214145009990012 By JESSE HARLAN ALDERMAN, AP
BOISE, Idaho (Dec. 15) -- A bacterial or fungal infection might have caused as many as 2,500 mallard ducks to die in a bizarre cluster along an Idaho creek bed, a state game official said late Thursday.
The massive outbreak is vexing scientists because only mallard ducks are dying. Golden eagles, geese, magpies, crows and other birds in the area all remain healthy. Preliminary test results suggested the possibility of infection, but more tests are planned on water and grain in the area, said David Parrish, supervisor for the Magic Valley region of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Idaho and federal officials, including a representative of the Homeland Security Department, conferred by conference call late Thursday. Parrish declined to say specifically what was discussed, but didn't rule out the possibility that more ducks might die in the area. "We may have a few more, but that's a little difficult to predict right now until we can determine the exact cause of the mortality," he said. He said the die-off was not typical. "It's fairly uncommon, especially in these types of numbers and in such a confined area," he said. The battery of tests were being performed at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's national laboratory in Wisconsin, the University of Idaho and Washington State University. The ducks mysteriously began dying last week around Land Springs Creek, near the remote town of Oakley, about 180 miles southeast of Boise. Migratory mallards from Canada and their local cousins staggered and struggled to breathe before collapsing, Parrish said. He said every mallard in a radius of several miles has died - approximately 2,500, up from an earlier estimate of 1,000. "I've never seen anything like this in 20 years here," he said. "There were dead mallards everywhere - in the water and on the banks. It was odd, they were in a very small area." The outbreak is vexing scientists because only mallard ducks are dying. Golden eagles, geese, magpies, crows and other birds in the area all remain healthy.
Mark Drew, a wildlife veterinarian with the state Department of Agriculture, said earlier that investigators were not ruling out any cause of death, but bird flu virus remained unlikely. The symptoms - bacterial lesions in the lungs and hemorrhaging in the heart wall - probably point to a bacterial infection, he said. The ducks may have contracted a bacterial or fungal infection by eating grain treated with pesticides by local cattle farmers, Drew said. Farming chemicals might also have spilled into the small spring-fed creek, which measures just 3- to 6-inches deep. The agencies posted signs warning hunters not to eat any birds killed near the creek. LAS VEGAS (AP) - Federal lawmakers have approved a plan by southern Nevada water officials to build a reservoir to capture Colorado River water that otherwise flows into the Gulf of California. Language authorizing the reservoir was contained in a tax bill passed in the waning hours of the 109th Congress. It calls for the Las Vegas-based Southern Nevada Water Authority to pay to build the reservoir just north of the Mexico border to capture irrigation water sent from Lake Mead to Southern California farmers. Officials say that during rainy weather, water that would go to farms currently flows to Mexico. For the $84 million reservoir, southern Nevada will gain rights to up to 40,000 acre-feet of water a year for seven years. An acre-foot is about enough water for two families per year. The authority sought the legislation with hopes of avoiding an environmental fight over the reservoir. Environmentalists have delayed a similar project in San Diego. 12/15/06 01:48 EST |
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Albert
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Until they officially rule out HPAI, or confirm the cause, we will have to continue to follow this. I would be surprised if the results were not out sometime this morning
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thanks to stockmama for the temps.
here is a recap" 1. ducks likely died of mold infection from moldy grain. 2. this mold is most prevalent in warm moist conditions. 3. Birds with comprimised immune systems are more at risk of this infection. 4. It has not been warm for at least 6 weeks or more in that area. 5. Mallard ducks are one of the few ducks that develope symptoms from H5N1 6. The kill area is a radius of several miles 7. Most farmers might notice thousands of ducks eating their feed grain 8. No source of moldy grain has been identified 9. No definative results have been anounced, just the words "likely died from moldy grain" 10. If they had negative test results for H5N1 they would certainly announce that. 11. they can't say it is Lopath with all the dead ducks 12. I think they have positive test results for H5N1 since thay haven't said those results were negative, and it must be hipath since the ducks are dead. 13. they could come out and say the birds died of moldy grain, and the reality could be they are H5N1 positive with comprimised immune systems that allowed the mold to kill them. In tests it has been shown that mallard ducks show symptoms but can recover from hipath H5N1 infection. 14. It is highly unlikely 2,500 Mallards with compromised immune systems chose one small area in Idaho to consume moldy grain and die. 15. "The ducks may have contracted a bacterial or fungal infection by eating grain treated with pesticides by local cattle farmers, Drew said." probably just poor reporting |
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gettingready
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quote from the article: "The ducks may have contracted a bacterial or fungal infection by eating grain treated with pesticides by local cattle farmers, Drew said."
So, mach, I guess you can add this to your list: Bird can get bacterial and/or fungal infections from being poisoned.
Alrighteethen......
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14. It is highly unlikely 2,500 Mallards with compromised immune systems chose one small area in Idaho to consume moldy grain and die.
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Albert
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It's difficult to diagnose the cause of any bacterial fungi through blood tests. Since they may not be able to confirm the type of bacteria, they will have to go the route of looking for things that they are able to detect, so they can rule out. This means that they will have to test for avian influenza along with giving the results. This could make things interesting. |
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nettie4263
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I lived in Boise for two years. It is NEVER moist there, btw. Very dry climate.
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Thanks for the recap mach!
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Judy
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Mach: I too think it is strange that no one saw thousands of Mallard ducks and their U.S. "cousins" eating their grain. Also that none of the other birds in the area ate any of it all. Seems like the U.S. counterparts would have already died from it. But at least it is obvious from the photos that the creek wasn't frozen.
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If ignorance is bliss, what is chocolate?
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We are all painfully aware of the shenanigans China has pulled in the past when reporting their H5N1 activites and here in the good old USA we can do things better than any other country especially China so I fully expect we will bamboozle our way through this ordeal with flying colors!
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Heidi
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Ok it's official - (but is it true?)UPDATE: Fish & Game Determine Cause of Duck DeathsFish and Game officials in Boise have received confirmation it was a fungus that killed over 3,000 mallard ducks near a creek in Cassia County. |
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Life is Good!
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It does add up though...
Aspergillosis is the most common fungal infection in birds caused by aspergella fumigates. Although birds are commonly exposed to the spores of this fungus, they develop the disease only under certain conditions. If a bird's immune system is suppressed by a concurrent illness, malnutrition or stress, it may become sick after exposure. Stress-induced Aspergillosis is frequently seen in birds subjected to surgery, reproduction, environmental changes, capture, confinement or shipping. Aspergella, as well as other fungi, grows readily in damp, dark conditions with poor ventilation. Encrusted fecal matter, damp feed, dirty feeding utensils and food that falls through cage grates all encourage mold growth. Interestingly, we see a high incidence of Aspergillosis in birds in the southwest where the environment is dry and not conducive to fungal replication. The speculation is the low humidity, coupled with the dusty environment, interferes with the normal mucous secretion in the birds' respiratory tracts and predisposes them to mycoses. |
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stockmama
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Something just does not sit right with me on all of this. I can see this happening in the summer months, even in Southern Idaho where it is relatively dry. But as the temps that I post indicated, there is no way, unless the grain had been rotting for a long time, that it could have gotton moldy in those conditions. Another thing, don't you think that 3000 ducks feeding on grain would be noticed? And how much grain would 3000 ducks have to ingest to get sick? Curiouser and curiouser. Since I live in Idaho, I'm a little wigged about this one.
stockmama
PS....I actually did get some stockpiling done with the 3 year old in the front of the cart and the baby in her carrier in the main part of the cart--not room for a whole lot...but candles and lamp oil don't take up much room-- Prep on!!
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Albert
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Diagnosing:
Aspergillosis can be very difficult to diagnose since the signs of disease mimic those of many other illnesses, especially in the chronic form. The veterinarian will need a detailed history of the course of the illness, and an accurate description of the diet and husbandry of the bird. Radiographs, a complete blood count, and a chemistry panel may help support a diagnosis. Endoscopy can be used to view lesions in the syrinx or trachea, and a sample can be taken for culture and microscopic examination, either of which can confirm a diagnosis. A diagnosis can also be made based on a specific blood test used to detect antibodies to Aspergillus in the blood. Sometimes, however, the test can be falsely negative, especially if the bird's immune system is suppressed.
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roni3470
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I find this all very interesting. I am sure they were using all precautions in case it was bird flu. I wonder now that the scare is over, how they are acting in the area. For whoever it was that lived there, have you heard anything about the area such as are they quaranteening (sp) other birds or anything? Also, why again did other birds not get sick and die. If possible, explain it as opposed to posting an article, I usually don't have time to read all the way through all the articles! Thanks!
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NOW is the Season to Know
that Everything you Do is Sacred |
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stockmama
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I'm just trying to picture 3000 "stressed out" ducks poor immune systems. Sorry, but that's wayyyy too many birds to get sick from one source other than a virus IMHO. I'm not a vet though, and I may be way off base...but I'm stepping things up a bit. Too close to home!
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roni3470
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stockmama, I couldn't agree more...its just too many birds in one place...its scary. I wish some news person in Idaho would go under cover and find out the real scoop! haha.
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NOW is the Season to Know
that Everything you Do is Sacred |
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Albert
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Since the birds did not have any bleeding or discharge from the eyes or nostrils, that's a good sign that it's not AI. Although, they should get in the habit of testing for it either way, and it would be nice if Fish & Game was properly trained in this area (testing and handling). Like I said, if nothing else we will see how the process is handled. |
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I still haven't seen anything that said H5N1 tests came back negative. Did I miss it, or did it not happen?
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Despite Heidi's post, which I am not sure I believe (that is I don't believe the news report, not that I don't believe Heidi!!), I am posting the following article.
I suppose the investigators might find moldy feed in some of the ducks' stomachs, and so explain their failure to diagnose H5N1. They may just report the mold and ignore any findings of lo or hi path AF. Or they may be telling the truth. If this is the case, why don't they tell us what tests were used, and why don't they tell us that tests have ruled out H5N1, or at least hi path H5N1?
Thousands of ducks mysteriously dying in Idaho
Friday, 15 December 2006 Source: http://www.enn.com Officials scrambled Wednesday to determine what has caused the deaths of thousands of mallard ducks in south-central Idaho near the Utah border. Although wildlife experts are downplaying any links to bird flu, they have sent samples to government labs to test for the deadly H5N1 flu strain, among other pathogens. Officials with the federal Bureau of Homeland Security have been also called in to help with the probe. "We think the possibility of avian flu is very remote but we're not ruling anything out at this point in time," said Dave Parish, regional supervisor for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. "We want to make sure all the bases are covered." Wildlife officials are calling the massive die-off alarming, with the number of dead mallards rising from 1,000 Tuesday to more than 2,000 by Wednesday afternoon. "We've never seen anything like this -- ever," Parrish said. continued at following link http://www.sustdev.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1603&Itemid=49 |
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Fungal Infection May Have Killed Ducks
The Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho -- A fungal infection likely killed 2,500 mallard ducks in a mysterious cluster along a tiny southeastern Idaho creek, a federal wildlife biologist said Friday. The chances are "extremely high" that Aspergillosis, which can create a fungal toxin on moldy grains and rotting corn, caused the mass die-off, Paul Slota, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis., told The Associated Press. Aspergillosis will not spread from bird to bird. All the dead mallards probably ate from the same tainted food source, Slota said. "We've seen that before with birds that feed heavily on grains," he said. "Never in Idaho, but there have been enough reports elsewhere in North America. Aspergillosis die-offs are not a terribly uncommon thing. It happens." The Wildlife Health Center has already screened nine intestinal tissue swabs from the dead ducks. Each sample showed fungal plaque in the lungs typical of Aspergillosis and tested negative for avian influenza, Slota said. Scientists at the Wisconsin laboratory were still testing additional tissue swabs and eight mallard carcasses shipped from Idaho. They were waiting to cross-check their results with tests performed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa, before making an official diagnosis. The testing was expected to definitively rule out all strains of avian influenza virus, including the much-feared H5N1 Asian bird flu, Slota said. Officials from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies also were awaiting test results on water samples and grain from nearby farm depots that may have become moldy and poisoned the birds. Farmland surrounds the backwoods creek near the remote town of Oakley, about 180 miles southeast of Boise. A cattle feedlot is close by. There are no factories in the area that discharge toxins into local streams and rivers. Wastewater does not run into the spring-fed creek, said David Parrish, the regional supervisor for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The ducks began dying last week. On Thursday, state workers cleared the last remaining carcasses and brought them to a nearby incineration site. Local mallards and migratory ducks from Canada staggered and struggled to breathe before collapsing, Parrish said. The symptoms _ bacterial lesions in the lungs and hemorrhaging in the heart wall _ are consistent with Aspergillosis, Slota said. Parrish said every mallard in a radius of several miles died. The massive outbreak had puzzled scientists because scavenger birds feeding on the dead ducks were not showing signs of illness. Golden eagles, geese, magpies, crows and other birds in the area all remained healthy. Among the 2,500 mallards, wildlife officials found one pintail duck, said Kelton Hatch, a spokesman for Idaho Fish and Game. Slota said biologists also tested an American Wigeon that died near the creek, which also showed symptoms of Aspergillosis. Last year, about 500 mostly mallard ducks died in similar circumstances at a pond in Waterloo, Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said the ducks likely died from Aspergillosis. Iowa wildlife officials said the ducks likely all ate from the same store of discarded grain that festered in melted snow. And no other bird or mammal ate the discarded grain? Not a sparrow, a pigeon, a squirrel or rat?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aflatoxin
http://cbs2chicago.com/nationalwire/DeadDucks_a_a_-----/resources_news_html
"...The symptoms lesions in the lungs and hemorrhaging in the heart wall likely point to a bacterial infection, not avian flu, said Dave Parrish, regional supervisor for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game...."
"...Migrating mallards from Canada and their local cousins were still perishing at Land Springs Creek near Oakley, about 180 miles southeast of Boise. Birds stagger and struggle to breathe before collapsing, said Parrish...." One purpose of the meeting is to develop new initiatives that are needed to advance food safety and agricultural biosecurity. Aflatoxin, Anthrax, Avian Influenza, Botulism, BSE, Brucellosis, Exotic Newcastle Disease, Foot and Mouth, Norovirus, Listeriosis, Plague, Q Fever, Rift Valley Fever, Rinderpest, Salmonella, SARS, Tularemia, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever, West Nile Virus Adassa Roe 2006-12-08T17:09:00-06:00
High-level aflatoxin exposure
produces an acute necrosis, cirrhosis, and carcinoma of the liver exhibited by hemorrhage, acute liver damage, edema, alteration in digestion, and absorption and/or metabolism of nutrients.
No animal species is immune to the acute toxic effects of aflatoxins including humans; however, humans have an extraordinarily high tolerance for aflatoxin exposure and rarely succumb to acute aflatoxicosis. Chronic, subclinical exposure does not lead to as dramatic of symptoms as acute aflatoxicosis. Children, however, are particularly affected by aflatoxin exposure which leads to stunted growth and delayed development[citation needed]. Chronic exposure also leads to a high risk of developing liver cancer, as the metabolite Aflatoxin M1 can intercalate into DNA and alkylate the bases through its epoxide moiety. Medical research indicates that a regular diet including apiaceous vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, celery and parsley, reduces the carcinogenic effects of aflatoxin[3].
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/training/historyofbt/06vhf.asp
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gettingready
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The following information is from a field manual (www.nwhc.usgs.gov) and supports their conclusions. I'm still disturbed with the way these events are approached and reported. There should be a blow-by-blow account,including all testing and results, available to anyone who wants it. We've all seen too much guesswork, misdiagnosis and botched testing not to be suspicious.
Aspergillosis
Cause Aspergillosis is a respiratory tract infection caused by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, of which A. fumigatus is the primary species responsible for infections in wild birds (Fig. 13.1). Aspergillosis is not contagious (it will not spread from bird to bird), and it may be an acute, rapidly fatal disease or a more chronic disease. Both forms of the disease are commonly seen in free-ranging birds, but the acute form is generally responsible for large-scale mortality events in adult birds and for brooder pneumonia in hatching birds.
Seasonality
Most aspergillosis outbreaks in waterfowl happen in fall to early winter; individual cases can occur at any time, Epizootic aspergillosis and brooder pneumonia outbreaks
are often characterized by sudden deaths of previously healthy birds. Sick birds show acute respiratory distress and failure. Infection that reaches the brain
can result in obvious loss of muscular coordination and twisting of the head and neck so that the head is held in unnatural positions. Field Signs
The typical aspergillosis-affected bird is emaciated, and it frequently exhibits severe and progressive difficulty in breathing by gaping or rapid opening and closing of the bill Gross Lesions
Birds infected with the more typical chronic form of aspergillosis usually have variously sized lesions in their lungs and air sacs. Typically, these lesions appear as flattened, yellow plaques with a cheesy appearance and consistency Aspergillosis has broken out in mallards feeding in fields
that were previously covered by discarded moldy corn and silage. Diagnosis
Whole carcasses should be submitted for necropsy by qualified diagnosticians. Diagnosis is based on finding the typical lesions and on isolating the fungus from the tissues. Aspergillus sp. can be identified by microscopically examining material from fungal mats and from tissue sections that have been specially stained. |
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roxy
Valued Member Joined: February 27 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 534 |
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I want to thank everyone for posting the news, and info ,for all of us, roxy
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Chloe
Valued Member Joined: October 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 199 |
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I am not sure I am convinced that aspergillosis is what actually caused them to die, I think that they probably had chronic aspergillosis and something else caused the die off but I do not beleive it was H5N1. |
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Chloe
Valued Member Joined: October 18 2006 Status: Offline Points: 199 |
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As an example of emerging diseases in animals.........
Sept. 27, 2005 — A newly discovered virus has killed dogs in at least seven states, and veterinarians, kennel operators and pet owners are concerned because researchers say there is no vaccine and dogs do not have immunity to the new flu. Dr. Cynda Crawford, an immunologist at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine, said in an audio interview posted on the university Web site that the disease is only deadly in rare cases — about 10 percent in puppies and old dogs — but is of concern because it is spreading rapidly. It is believed that the new virus may have mutated from an equine influenza strain, she said. Like most flu viruses, it can be spread by air, as well as by contact, and the populations of dogs most at risk are those in shelters, kennels, boarding operations or other situations where a lot of dogs are housed under one roof, she said. The disease could also spread in parks where pet owners let their dogs off the leash to socialize, vets say. Dog parks are a perfect playground for contagious diseases because when animals share toys and water dishes, they also are sharing germs. The symptoms of the disease include coughing and sneezing, and there is concern that it could be spread in vet waiting rooms, Crawford said. "When you bring a bunch of dogs together under one roof, if a dog happens to be infected, then the virus will spread rapidly," she said. She compared the situation to what happens with young children in school. As yet, there is no test for the flu that vets can administer, she said. The virus is too new for any dogs to have developed immunity to it, so pet owners should watch their dogs carefully for any symptoms. "The concern is that the dog population on the North American continent is wholly 100 percent susceptible," Crawford said. Seattle veterinarian Dr. Kenneth McKim recently treated some dogs with "kennel cough," but said the new virus is different. "It's a more severe disease (with) high fever," McKim said. "It's got more complications with pneumonia and congestion." There have been outbreaks of this new dog flu in kennels, race tracks and shelters along the East Coast. But not on the West Coast, yet.
"It's something that we're going to be watching for in the Northwest," McKim said. "There have been no reported cases of it here yet, but I think it's something that veterinarians are going to be on the watch for."
The majority of the deaths have occurred at greyhound tracks in Florida, Massachusetts, Arizona, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Texas and Iowa, but there have been documented cases in some kennels and shelters.
Vets stress that the flu is no reason for pet owners to panic, but they should take some precautions. If you take your dog to a dog park, bring the dog's own water dish and toys, they say.
If you kennel your dogs, or take them to a doggie day care, vets say you should make sure the facility is clean, well-ventilated and requires all dogs to be current on their shots.
ABC News affiliate KOMO-TV in Seattle contributed to this report. |
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muriel46
Valued Member Joined: December 22 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 123 |
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