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Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/cbc-pei-dead-crows-charlottetown-1.6315798
Investigators puzzled by large numbers of sick, dead crows in Charlottetown
Jessica Doria-Brown · CBC News · Posted: Jan 17, 2022 6:00 AM AT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago
A team at the Atlantic Veterinary College in P.E.I. is working to identify why large numbers of crows in Charlottetown are being found sick or dead in the Victoria Park area.
Scientists with the college estimate about 200 birds have been brought in over the past several weeks, either to AVC's wildlife clinic or to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative's pathology and microbiology lab for the Atlantic region, also located on AVC's campus.
Megan Jones, an assistant professor at AVC and Atlantic regional director of the cooperative, said mortality at this time of year happens regularly, but a few dozen dead crows would be the norm.
"We want to make sure it's not the beginning of a bigger thing," said Jones...
...People working on the investigation include pathologists, technicians and virologists, in addition to wildlife clinic staff.
Jones said it's not possible to examine each crow individually, but the sample selection has shown similar symptoms: abnormal gastrointestinal tracts — with disease affecting their intestines — and inflammation in other organs, such as the liver and spleen.
She said tests have confirmed it isn't avian flu. And the suspicion is that it could be a type of reovirus, something that's caused crow deaths in the past. She said it's important to keep working until a source of the deaths is confirmed, in part to help prevent other problems.
"Some of the viruses and other diseases that affect wildlife can affect domestic animals like poultry," said Jones...
Investigators puzzled by large numbers of sick, dead crows in Charlottetown
Jessica Doria-Brown · CBC News · Posted: Jan 17, 2022 6:00 AM AT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago
A team at the Atlantic Veterinary College in P.E.I. is working to identify why large numbers of crows in Charlottetown are being found sick or dead in the Victoria Park area.
Scientists with the college estimate about 200 birds have been brought in over the past several weeks, either to AVC's wildlife clinic or to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative's pathology and microbiology lab for the Atlantic region, also located on AVC's campus.
Megan Jones, an assistant professor at AVC and Atlantic regional director of the cooperative, said mortality at this time of year happens regularly, but a few dozen dead crows would be the norm.
"We want to make sure it's not the beginning of a bigger thing," said Jones...
...People working on the investigation include pathologists, technicians and virologists, in addition to wildlife clinic staff.
Jones said it's not possible to examine each crow individually, but the sample selection has shown similar symptoms: abnormal gastrointestinal tracts — with disease affecting their intestines — and inflammation in other organs, such as the liver and spleen.
She said tests have confirmed it isn't avian flu. And the suspicion is that it could be a type of reovirus, something that's caused crow deaths in the past. She said it's important to keep working until a source of the deaths is confirmed, in part to help prevent other problems.
"Some of the viruses and other diseases that affect wildlife can affect domestic animals like poultry," said Jones...
