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Duck Die-Off in Idaho

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Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

"We have some preliminary results," he told The Associated Press,

and then he doesn't give any indication what the results are. Wish the MSM would ask the right questions...
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

EXPY37 said:
"We have some preliminary results," he told The Associated Press,

and then he doesn't give any indication what the results are. Wish the MSM would ask the right questions...

The fact that they can't say if it is bacterial or fungal means they are just blowing smoke and have no more data than they had previously (the indication is "there are farms with grain in the area").
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Ranch Owner Buries Ducks as Test Results are Pending

Questions still surround the cause of death of thousands of ducks in southern Idaho.

All of the dead mallards were found next to a creek. That could be the cause of infection that's killing the ducks, but the owner of the land believes it could be something else, "This is a natural spring it comes out of the ground," says Sander Elquist, "water temperatures are around 68 degrees all the time so it never freezes."

The Centers for Disease Control Prevention says a bird infected with a virus sheds it in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. All it would take was one infected duck in close quarters with the others to spread the disease and kill them.

The spring provides water to owner's cattle and their house, but thousands of dead ducks has not kept them from using the water, "Our drinking water comes from over here encased in a concrete trap to put it in the pipeline and we've continued to drink it. I don't think it's in the water," says Elquist.

Elquist continues to bury the dead birds he finds. A pile of dirt marks a seven foot deep grave for the animals.

Results from lab tests have not been released from Idaho Fish and Game as of yet. Stay tuned to Local News 8 for updates on this story as results become available.

Hunters are still warned not to eat the waterfowl from that area until the cause of death of these ducks is determined.




Story Created: Dec 14, 2006 at 10:43 PM MST
Story Updated: Dec 14, 2006 at 10:43 PM MST

http://www.localnews8.com/news/local/4924401.html

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Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Video inicates that they only news from the conference call was that future information would be comming out of Boise and not the local Fish and Game, again pointing to something more than a fungal infection.

The quote on transmission is from the CDC and relates to transmission of a VIRUS.
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

2,000 mallards die south of Burley
Bacterial infection is suspected cause of death
<HR>By STEVE BENSON
Express Staff Writer


The death of more than 2,000 mallard ducks along Land Creek Springs about 15 miles south of Burley near the town of Oakley remained under investigation Thursday afternoon but was suspected to be caused by a bacterial infection.
A hunter reported the phenomenon Dec. 8 to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, which immediately found the bodies of 10 birds in and around the springs. By Dec. 10, the number of dead mallards exceeded 500, and more than 1,000 had been counted by Tuesday.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Homeland Security, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Agriculture and South Central Health District joined Fish and Game in trying to determine the cause of death.
"All responsible agencies are doing everything in their power to ascertain the cause of mortality," said David Parrish, supervisor of Fish and Game's Magic Valley Region. "Tissue and water samples have been collected by local, state and federal investigators, and we are currently running tests."
Results were expected by Thursday evening.
Kelton Hatch, regional conservation educator for Fish and Game's Magic Valley Region, said avian influenza was "most likely not" the cause of death.
"That's very low on our radar right now," he said Thursday. "We're probably looking at some type of bacterial infection."
Still, the DEQ sent intestinal tract and water samples to the University of Idaho and Washington State University laboratories to examine the prospect of a bird flu infection.
Parrish said veterinarians in Boise found white and yellowish bacterial abscesses and hemorrhaging around the hearts of the birds?symptoms consistent with a bacterial infection.
Hatch said a handful of the infected birds that were still alive could not make any sound.
"Their bills were moving but there was no sound coming out," he said. "That goes along with a bacterial infection that takes away lung capacity."
He said that by Thursday the epidemic appeared to be on the "downward swing."
"We're hoping it has come and gone," he said.
It also appears that the epidemic is not affecting any other animals.
Hatch said Fish and Game officers witnessed two bald eagles and a number of other predator species, including hawks, coyotes and foxes, feeding on the carcasses of the dead mallards.
"We made quite a large loop around the area, and we're not finding any other animals dead," Hatch said.
If it is a bacterial infection, Hatch said it could clear up on its own.
"We just don't know yet, though," he said.
Parrish said he's never heard of an epidemic this size anywhere.
"Not to this magnitude, this number of ducks in such a small, confined area," he said.
He added that while the death of 2,000 ducks will hurt the local population, the region's overall population will not be impacted.
"Every year we count hundreds of thousands of ducks," he said.
People who observe dead ducks elsewhere in the state are encouraged to contact Fish and Game at (208) 324-4359.

http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?issue_date=12-15-2006&ID=2005113490
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Fish and Game Investigating 2500 Dead Ducks
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript>var wn_last_ed_date = getLEDate("Dec14,2006,9:22 PM EST"); document.write(wn_last_ed_date);</SCRIPT>Dec 14, 2006 06:22 PM PST
143931_g.jpg

Near Oakley, Idaho -- State and federal officials are trying to find out what killed 2500 ducks, mostly mallards, in south central Idaho.
A hunter first spotted the ducks on Dec. 8 along Land Creek Springs, about 15 miles southeast of Burley.
Fish and Game officials say the symptoms don't look like bird flu, but samples were sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lab in Wisconsin for testing.
The DEQ and Department of Agriculture have also sent intestinal tract and water samples to labs at the University of Idaho and Washington State University to screen for pesticides known to affect birds.
"We think it's either a fungal or bacterial disease of some sort. It's not a viral disease, it's not avian flu as best we can tell right now," said Tom Hemker with Idaho Fish and Game.
Fish and Game officers have posted signs in the area, warning hunters not to eat the waterfowl until the cause of death has been determined.
The agency is also collecting and disposing of the ducks.

http://www.fox12news.com/global/story.asp?s=5817867&ClientType=Printable
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

niman said:
Video inicates that they only news from the conference call was that future information would be comming out of Boise and not the local Fish and Game, again pointing to something more than a fungal infection.

The quote on transmission is from the CDC and relates to transmission of a VIRUS.
I can't find the video, can you post a link?

Edit: Never mind I found it. Sorry late night. :coffee:
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Ranch Owner Buries Ducks as Test Results are Pending
Questions still surround the cause of death of thousands of ducks in southern Idaho.

All of the dead mallards were found next to a creek. That could be the cause of infection that's killing the ducks, but the owner of the land believes it could be something else, "This is a natural spring it comes out of the ground," says Sander Elquist, "water temperatures are around 68 degrees all the time so it never freezes."

The Centers for Disease Control Prevention says a bird infected with a virus sheds it in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. All it would take was one infected duck in close quarters with the others to spread the disease and kill them.

The spring provides water to owner's cattle and their house, but thousands of dead ducks has not kept them from using the water, "Our drinking water comes from over here encased in a concrete trap to put it in the pipeline and we've continued to drink it. I don't think it's in the water," says Elquist.

Elquist continues to bury the dead birds he finds. A pile of dirt marks a seven foot deep grave for the animals.

Results from lab tests have not been released from Idaho Fish and Game as of yet. Stay tuned to Local News 8 for updates on this story as results become available.

Hunters are still warned not to eat the waterfowl from that area until the cause of death of these ducks is determined.
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Alright, that guy in the video is very risky. No PPE while buying the birds. I don't understand why the State or Federal Govt isn't handling it! Also, what is doing drinking that water??!, regardless.
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Didn't one of the vets say they think this is aspergillosis? The symptoms of the birds, and it only affecting mallards does not seem consistent with this. I think I read somewhere that Mallards are particularly susceptible to bird flu, and that other birds may be unaffected?

Here is a description of aspergillosis in birds.

Aspergillosis in Birds
Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.


What is aspergillosis and what causes it?

Aspergillosis is a respiratory disease of birds caused by the fungus Aspergillus, which is found almost everywhere in the environment.

A. fumigatus is the most common species of the fungus to cause disease, although A. flavus, A. niger, and others can also cause problems. Aspergillus grows readily in warm and moist environments. The microscopic spores of the fungus become airborne, and poor ventilation, poor sanitation, dusty conditions, and close confinement increase the chance the spores will be inhaled.
Usually, the fungus does not cause disease, however, if a bird does not have a healthy immune system, it can cause illness. Predisposing factors include other illnesses, stress, poor nutrition, poor husbandry or unsanitary conditions, another injury to the respiratory system (e.g.; smoke inhalation), and prolonged use of certain medications such as antibiotics or corticosteroids.

The combination of the number of spores in the environment and the presence of predisposing factors determine which birds are most at risk of disease. Aspergillosis appears to be more common in parrots and mynahs than other pet birds.

What are the signs of aspergillosis?

Aspergillosis can follow one of two courses - acute or chronic. Birds with acute aspergillosis have severe difficulty breathing, decreased or loss of appetite, frequent drinking and urination, cyanosis (a bluish coloration of mucous membranes and/or skin), and even sudden death. The fungus generally affects the trachea, syrinx (voice box), and air sacs. The lungs may also be involved. Diagnosis is generally made through a post-mortem examination.

Chronic aspergillosis is much more common, and unfortunately, much more deadly due to its insidious nature. The bird may not become symptomatic until the disease has progressed too far for a cure. The respiratory system is the primary location of infection. White nodules appear and ultimately erode through the tissue, and large numbers of spores enter the bloodstream. The spores then travel throughout the body, infecting multiple organs including kidneys, skin, muscle, gastrointestinal tract, liver, eyes, and brain.

Respiratory symptoms will be the first to occur but will depend on the location of the greatest areas of colonization. Difficulty breathing, rapid breathing and/or exercise intolerance are common. If the syrinx (voice box) is involved, a change in voice, reluctance to talk, or a "click" may occur. Nares may become plugged or you may see a discharge. Eventually, severe respiratory compromise may kill the bird.

Other signs and symptoms will vary, depending on the other organs involved. If any portion of the central nervous system has become involved, the bird may have tremors, an uneven or wobbly gait, seizures, or paralysis. With liver involvement, a green discoloration to the urates may be seen, and the veterinarian may feel an enlarged liver. Generalized, non-specific symptoms can include loss of appetite leading to weight loss, muscle wasting, gout (painful, inflamed joints due to urate deposits), regurgitation, abnormal feces or diarrhea, excessive urination, depression, and lethargy.

Spores can penetrate fresh or incubating eggs and will kill the embryos.
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

curious said:
Didn't one of the vets say they think this is aspergillosis? .

The aspergillis "evidence" is circumstantial (farms in the area with grain). I believe that fatal aspergillis involves MACROscopic mold on lungs, which would have been reported by now (there were 500 dead birds by Monday morning and the mold would be visible at necropsy).

The mold is from the "dead birds don't fly" crowd and is well into the ABBF (anything but bird flu) category.
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Thousands Of Dead Ducks Discovered In Magic Valley


dead_ducks.jpg

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Story Created: Dec 14, 2006

By Art Swift

<!-- test false --><!-- test false -->There were close to 2,000 in all. Up and down this creek.
Mallard ducks popping up dead here for the past week. A disturbing discovery for Fish and Game and the rancher who owns the land.

"Just dead ducks everywhere," Sander Elquist, the landowner, told CBS 2 News. "In the water, they come out and crawled on the bank and died."

It's happening along Land Creek Springs outside the small Magic Valley town of Oakley.
Sander Elquist's says he's seen dead ducks here before. Sometimes 40 to 50 in one period of time. But, he says never has seen this many before.
They're dying in the drinking water used by his livestock and his family. But, he believes the water is still safe.
A Fish and Game official says this scene was difficult to deal with.

"As you move down through the stream you could see more and more areas where they had washed together; there's piles of thirty to fifty birds in a pile," Kelton Hatch of Idaho Fish and Game told CBS 2 News. "It was really sad to see."

According to Fish and Game, most of the mallards in Oakley were in migration. And they didn't die right away, but between Saturday and Wednesday.

But, Fish and Game is claiming people in the area have no need to panic.

"Our best guess right now, this is not a viral disease, this is not avian flu," said Tom Hemker of Idaho Fish and Game. "We think it's a bacterial or a fungal disease of some sort."

"There were some waterfowl that were leaving the water that were still alive. A lot of times when they would take off, you'd see their bills move but no sound would come out," Hatch said. "So you knew most likely they were also infected."

And Fish and Game says this won't have a huge impact on waterfowl in other parts of the state.. but certainly will in this area.
To find out how to stop this.. will take solving the mystery of how these ducks died.

http://www.kbcitv.com/news/4920796.html

(video at above site)
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

hawkeye said:
Are birds still dying?

Fish and Game in Boise says deaths are down to a trickle. They are still waiting for results (maybe by end of the day).

Local PCR test for matrix gene was negative.
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Are the family and the cattle still drinking the water? Has it been tested for anything at all?
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

"Our best guess right now, this is not a viral disease, this is not avian flu," said Tom Hemker of Idaho Fish and Game. "We think it's a bacterial or a fungal disease of some sort."
"Guesses" are not helpful. What is known? Those ranchers disposing of dead ducks and treking through duck waste need to know what is going on. We all need to know. Any timetable for definative answers?

Dr. Niman,

Would you briefly explain what this test is?:
Local PCR test for matrix gene was negative.
 
Last edited:
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Niko said:
"Guesses" are not helpful. What is known? Those ranchers disposing of dead ducks and treking through duck waste need to know what is going on. We all need to know. Any timetable for diffinitive answers?

Dr. Niman,

Would you briefly explain what this test is?:

The PCR matrix gene test is a general test for infleunza A. It could be a false negative because of mismatched primers or bad samples.

It seems odd that test results for bacteria or fungi are not back yet and it is also odd that so many agencies are involved if they are convinced that the PCR negative is real.
 
Re: Duck Die-Off in Idaho

Would not bacteria and fungi tests need time to grow? more than, what, 24 hours now? Please excuse my ignorance of such tests.

J.
 
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