NZ: Avian diphtheria hits yellow-eyed penguins

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/13...-eyed-penguins

Avian diphtheria hits yellow-eyed penguins
Home ? News ? Dunedin
By Rebecca Fox on Wed, 24 Nov 2010
News: Dunedin

An outbreak of avian diphtheria has hit southern Otago Peninsula yellow-eyed penguins.

The outbreak comes at a critical stage for chicks that have recently hatched and is requiring some hands-on care by the Department of Conservation.

Doc ranger Mel Young said avian diphtheria seemed to hit the penguins every second year and samples from as many chicks as possible were being sent to Massey University's wildlife unit for testing.

It appeared the chicks caught a virus and then contracted the diphtheria as a secondary disease. ..

[Shiloh]

Re: NZ: Avian diphtheria hits yellow-eyed penguins

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/region...gered-penguins

Avian diptheria killing endangered penguins
Updated at 8:23pm on 17 December 2010

An outbreak of avian diptheria has affected five breeding sites of the endangered yellow-eye penguin at the southern end of the Otago Peninsula, killing more than 30 chicks.

It is the fourth outbreak since 2002...

[Pathfinder]

Re: NZ: Avian diphtheria hits yellow-eyed penguins

Penguin diphtheria puzzle for scientists

By John Gibb on Sat, 18 Dec 2010

Further scientific research is needed to determine the cause of the avian diphtheria which has recently affected yellow-eyed penguin chicks on Otago Peninsula, the Department of Conservation says.

Five breeding sites, all at the southern end of the peninsula, have been affected by the outbreak.

Wildlife vets from the New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre at Massey University met Doc staff, local vets, Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust members and a scientist from Penguin Place in Dunedin this week to discuss the latest outbreak.

At Boulder beach, more than 60% of the chicks showed signs of infection, 33 chicks died and several were missing -amounting to about 36% losses.

Chicks were also affected at Sandfly Bay and dead chicks were sent to the Massey centre in Palmerston North for postmortem examinations.

More...

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/141292/penguin-diphtheria-puzzle-scientists