WA: Mass sea gull deaths at Port of Tacoma mystify biologists - Botulism?

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/arti...y-10891121.php


Mass sea gull deaths at Port of Tacoma mystify biologists
January 28, 2017 Updated: January 28, 2017 9:32am

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) ? A mysterious ailment that has killed or paralyzed sea gulls around the Port of Tacoma this week is baffling wildlife biologists.

About 50 sea gulls have been found dead or paralyzed from the neck down.

"We have never seen a situation like that," said state Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Michelle Tirhi. "It was a mystery to our biologists and veterinarians."

Ill birds have been found in a seated position with only their heads moving.

"One could walk up to them and pick them up," Tirhi said. "They can't fly, they can't walk, they can't move."

Port workers began finding dead and sick gulls Sunday night.

"By the time they got to work on the 23rd they were finding more dead and sick birds," Tirhi said. "Ground zero for this mortality event was Port of Tacoma."...

[Pathfinder]

More from Shiloh's link:

"The Tacoma bird deaths are not the only mass avian die-off in the state.

An outbreak of avian cholera has killed about 500 birds in the past week at McNary National Wildlife Refuge along the Columbia River, just downstream from the Tri-Cities.

?At this point there seems to be no connection to that mortality event,? Tirhi said.

Further test results on the Tacoma gulls will come in next week. Until then, ?It?s a complete mystery to us,? Tirhi said."

--------------------------------

WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
NEWS RELEASE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

January 27, 2017
Contact: Kyle Spragens, (360) 902-2522
Dr. Katie Haman, (360) 870-2135

Tests confirm outbreak of avian cholera
in dead ducks found near the Tri-Cities

YAKIMA ? State and federal wildlife-diagnostic centers have confirmed an outbreak of avian cholera near the Tri-Cities, where more than 1,200 dead ducks have been reported in the past week.

The disease was confirmed in dead ducks found near Burbank, Wash., and tested by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab. The birds tested negative for avian influenza, a different disease fatal to waterfowl and other birds.

Avian cholera is caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida and is one of the most common diseases among ducks, geese and other wild North American waterfowl, said Katie Haman, a wildlife veterinarian at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"Humans are not at a high risk for infection with the bacterial strain causing avian cholera, though infections in humans are possible," Haman said. "We advise people to avoid handling sick or dead birds, and to report any they find."

Reports can be filed online (http://wdfw.wa.gov/viewing/observations/sgcn/), by email (Wildlife.Health@dfw.wa.gov), or by calling 1-509-545-2201.

According to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, the bacteria kill waterfowl swiftly, sometimes in as few as six to 12 hours after infection. Live bacteria released into the environment by dead and dying birds can subsequently infect healthy birds. Avian cholera is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through bird-to-bird contact, ingestion of food or water containing the bacteria, or scavenging of infected carcasses.

"As a result, avian cholera can spread quickly through a wetland and kill hundreds to thousands of birds in a single outbreak," said Kyle Spragens, WDFW waterfowl manager. "The bacteria are hardy and can survive in water for several weeks and in soil for several months."

WDFW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working to minimize the spread of the disease through careful carcass collection and disposal to reduce the amount of bacteria in the environment.

Signs displayed by infected birds include lethargy, convulsions, swimming in circles, and erratic flight. They may also show mucous discharge from the mouth and nose, and soiling of the feathers around the vent, eyes, and bill.

Wildlife managers encourage waterfowl hunters in Walla Walla, Franklin, and Benton counties to clean and disinfect gear, such as waders and decoys to help minimize potential further spread of the bacteria.

A 10 percent bleach solution or warm soapy water can be used for disinfection. Leaving the gear in direct sunlight for several hours will also kill the bacteria. Waterfowl hunters are advised to use gloves when cleaning harvested birds, and if white spots are seen on the liver, err on the side of caution and discard the bird directly into a garbage bag.

Although bacteria from wild birds do not typically cause infections in mammals, dog owners should prevent contact between their pets and sick or dead birds encountered. Additionally, vehicles that have accumulated mud should be run through a commercial car wash.

For more information please visit: https://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publicatio.../chapter_7.pdf and https://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publicatio...lera091102.PDF

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/jan2717a/

[Emily]

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article129218069.html

Mass Gull Death at Port Stumps Scientists

30 Jan 2017
... Though other species, including crows and ducks, wing around the port, there have been no reports of other species affected. That could mean the gulls ate something that is causing the illness, Tirhi said.
... Port of Tacoma spokeswoman Tara Mattina said there have been no recent contaminations.
?I can confirm that there was no spill of any sort,? she said.
Tirhi said the sick and ill birds were clean.
?They have no odor or anything discernible on their body,? she said.
Initial screening by wildlife rehabilitators showed no elevated lead levels, but other heavy metals have not been ruled out, Wildlife Department officials said.
Sick birds are still being found. On Friday, Wildlife agency biologist Emily Butler picked up a sick gull at Owen Beach in Point Defiance Park.
It will join 19 others at PAWS Wildlife Center, an animal rehabilitation center in Lynnwood....

There's a zoo in Point Defiance Park.

https://www.porttechnology.org/news/mass_gull_death_at_port_stumps_scientists

Mass sea gull deaths at Port of Tacoma mystify biologists

By CRAIG SAILOR - Associated Press - Saturday, January 28, 2017 ...
According to Tirhi, sick birds were found at three shipping terminals and other points around Commencement Bay, including Ruston Way, Browns Point, Point Defiance Park and on Kent and Redondo Beach.
... ?A number of the gulls had significant breathing difficulties on arrival but have since stabilized with oxygen therapy,? said Dr. Bethany Groves, a wildlife veterinarian at PAWS.
No evidence of trauma has been found.
While some gulls are thin, others have a healthy body condition. That indicates a sudden onset of illness, Groves said...

[Emily]

Still not sure about the cause but PAWS likely will report it here if and when they do know:

https://www.paws.org/wildlife/patient-of-the-week/ Patient of the Week

Learn more about the wild patients treated at PAWS Wildlife Center through this weekly feature.
January 30: 19 Glaucous-winged Gulls

[Pathfinder]

FEBRUARY 9, 2017 1:45 PM

Gull deaths remain a mystery, but cause probably not harmful to humans
...
Whatever killed or sickened as many as 50 gulls hasn?t been found, but it mostly likely poses no risk to human health, the Department of Fish and Wildlife said Thursday.
...
?Based on what we know so far, water pollution or contamination is highly unlikely and there is little or no risk to human health,? Dr. Katie Haman said in a statement Thursday.
...
All of the victims were glaucous-winged gulls or glaucous-winged/western gull hybrids, according to Fish and Wildlife.

The last sick or dead birds were reported on Feb. 5.
...
Initial lab results have ruled out avian influenza virus and avian cholera, Wildlife said.

While lead poisoning was also eliminated, testing for other heavy metals is ongoing.

Marine algal toxins ? such as the well known paralytic shellfish poisoning ? are also unlikely because only gulls were affected. However, testing for those poisons continues.
...

Craig Sailor: 253-597-8541, @crsailor

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article131772079.html

[sharon sanders]

Botulism blamed for dozens of gull deaths near Port of Tacoma

snip

Initial testing ruled out avian influenza, avian cholera and lead poisoning, according to the Fish and Wildlife report. No evidence of algae toxins or water contamination was found.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article136121088.html