Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
Virus is likely cause of dozens of duck deaths
Posted Sunday, Jun. 12, 2011
By Terry Evans
tevans@star-telegram.com
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Dozens of ducks that lived in the Diamond Loch neighborhood have died, likely victims of a virus, officials said.
Residents in the North Richland Hills neighborhood said the population of Muscovy ducks dwindled from around 60 to about two over the course of a couple of weeks.
Muscovies -- distinguished by black-and-white bodies and red fleshy patches around their heads -- and other domesticated waterfowl are particularly susceptible to duck viral enteritis, experts said.
Though the disease can harm all waterfowl, the veterinarian who did a necropsy on a dead Muscovy wasn't surprised that wild ducks swimming with them were unaffected.
"Apparently this virus runs endemically in the migratory ducks and they have a natural resistance," said Dr. Susan Gwynn of North Richland Hills.
The virus shouldn't threaten humans or other animals, said Dr. Ian Tizard, a bird expert at Texas A&M University.
...
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/06/12/3146743/virus-is-likely-cause-of-dozens.html#ixzz1P9S15ZMW
Posted Sunday, Jun. 12, 2011
By Terry Evans
tevans@star-telegram.com
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Dozens of ducks that lived in the Diamond Loch neighborhood have died, likely victims of a virus, officials said.
Residents in the North Richland Hills neighborhood said the population of Muscovy ducks dwindled from around 60 to about two over the course of a couple of weeks.
Muscovies -- distinguished by black-and-white bodies and red fleshy patches around their heads -- and other domesticated waterfowl are particularly susceptible to duck viral enteritis, experts said.
Though the disease can harm all waterfowl, the veterinarian who did a necropsy on a dead Muscovy wasn't surprised that wild ducks swimming with them were unaffected.
"Apparently this virus runs endemically in the migratory ducks and they have a natural resistance," said Dr. Susan Gwynn of North Richland Hills.
The virus shouldn't threaten humans or other animals, said Dr. Ian Tizard, a bird expert at Texas A&M University.
...
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/06/12/3146743/virus-is-likely-cause-of-dozens.html#ixzz1P9S15ZMW