Avian Botulism | U.S. Geological Survey (2024)

Common loons (Gavia immer) staging on the Great Lakes during fall migration are at risk to episodic outbreaks of type E botulism. Information on distribution, foraging patterns, and exposure routes of loons are needed for understanding the physical and ecological factors that contribute to avian botulism outbreaks. Aerial surveys were conducted to document the spatiotemporal distribution of common

Authors

Kevin P. Kenow, Steven C. Houdek, Luke J. Fara, Brian R. Gray, Brian R. Lubinski, Darryl J. Heard, Michael W. Meyer, Timothy J. Fox, Robert Kratt

By

Since the 1960s, periodic outbreaks of avian botulism type E have contributed to large-scale die-offs of thousands of waterbirds throughout the Great Lakes of the United States. In recent years, these events have become more common and widespread. Occurring during the summer and autumn months, the prevalence of these die-offs varies across years and is often associated with years of warmer lake te

Authors

Karine Prince, Jennifer G. Chipault, C. LeAnn White, Benjamin Zuckerberg

By

Waterbird die-offs caused by Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type E (BoNT/E) have occurred sporadically in the Great Lakes since the late 1960s, with a recent pulse starting in the late 1990s. In recent die-offs, round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) have been implicated as vectors for the transfer of BoNT/E to fish-eating birds due to the round goby invasion history and their importance as prey.

Authors

David A. Essian, Jennifer G. Chipault, Brenda M. Lafrancois, Jill B.K. Leonard

By

Avian botulism type E is responsible for extensive waterbird mortality on the Great Lakes, yet the actual site of toxin exposure remains unclear. Beached carcasses are often used to describe the spatial aspects of botulism mortality outbreaks, but lack specificity of offshore toxin source locations. We detail methodology for developing a neural network model used for predicting waterbird carcass m

Authors

Kevin P. Kenow, Zhongfu Ge, Luke J. Fara, Steven C. Houdek, Brian R. Lubinski

By

Toxoplasmagondiiis a protozoan parasite transmitted by domestic cats (Felis catus) that has historically caused mortality in native Hawaiian birds. To estimate how widespread exposure to the parasite is in nene (Hawaiian Geese,Branta sandvicensis), we did a serologic survey forT. gondiiantibody and genetically characterized parasite DNA from the tissues of dead birds that had confirmed infect

Authors

Thierry M. Work, Shiv K. Verma, Chunlei Su, John Medeiros, Thomas Kaiakapu, Oliver C. Kwok, Jitender P. Dubey

By

Understanding causes of death can aid management and recovery of endangered bird populations. Toward those ends, we systematically examined 300 carcasses of endangered Hawaiian Geese (Nene;Branta sandvicensis) from Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai between 1992 and 2013. The most common cause of death was emaciation, followed by trauma (vehicular strikes and predation), and infectious/inflammatory

Authors

Thierry M. Work, Julie Dagenais, Robert Rameyer, Renee Breeden

By

During 2010 to 2013, waterbird mortality surveillance programs used a shared protocol for shoreline walking surveys performed June to November at three areas in northern Lake Michigan. In 2010 and 2012, 1244 total carcasses (0.8 dead bird/km walked) and 2399 total carcasses (1.2 dead birds/km walked), respectively, were detected. Fewer carcasses were detected in 2011 (353 total carcasses, 0.2 dead

Authors

Jennifer G. Chipault, C. LeAnn White, David S. Blehert, Susan K. Jennings, Sean M. Strom

By

The reemergence of avian botulism caused byClostridium botulinumtype E has been observed across the Great Lakes in recent years. Evidence suggests an association between the nuisance algae,Cladophoraspp., andC. botulinumin nearshore areas of the Great Lakes. However, the nature of the association betweenCladophoraandC. botulinumis not fully understood due, in part, to the complex food web

Authors

Chan Lan Chun, Chase I. Kahn, Andrew J. Borchert, Muruleedhara N. Byappanahalli, Richard L. Whitman, Julie R. Peller, Christina Pier, Guangyun Lin, Eric A. Johnson, Michael J. Sadowsky

By

Among seabirds, the fregatids stand out with a high prevalence of blood parasites. Four of 5 species in this family have been found to be infected with Haemoproteus; however, complete species descriptions with molecular phylogeny are lacking. Seventy-five samples from 4 species of frigatebirds, i.e., Fregata andrewsi, Fregata minor, Fregata magnificens, and Fregata aquila, were screened for infect

Authors

Santiago Merino, Janos Hennicke, Javier Martinez, Katrin Ludynia, Roxana Torres, Thierry M. Work, Stedson Stroud, Juan F. Masello, Petra Quillfeldt

By

Laysan Ducks are endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago and are one of the world’s most endangered waterfowl. For 150 yr, Laysan Ducks were restricted to an estimated 4 km2 of land on Laysan Island in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In 2004 and 2005, 42 Laysan Ducks were translocated to Midway Atoll, and the population increased to approximately 200 by 2007. In August 2008, mortality due to botuli

Authors

Thierry M. Work, John L. Klavitter, Michelle H. Reynolds, David S. Blehert

By

Common loons (Gavia immer) staging on the Great Lakes during fall migration are at risk to episodic outbreaks of type E botulism. Information on distribution, foraging patterns, and exposure routes of loons are needed for understanding the physical and ecological factors that contribute to avian botulism outbreaks. Aerial surveys were conducted to document the spatiotemporal distribution of common

Authors

Kevin P. Kenow, Steven C. Houdek, Luke J. Fara, Brian R. Gray, Brian R. Lubinski, Darryl J. Heard, Michael W. Meyer, Timothy J. Fox, Robert Kratt

By

Since the 1960s, periodic outbreaks of avian botulism type E have contributed to large-scale die-offs of thousands of waterbirds throughout the Great Lakes of the United States. In recent years, these events have become more common and widespread. Occurring during the summer and autumn months, the prevalence of these die-offs varies across years and is often associated with years of warmer lake te

Authors

Karine Prince, Jennifer G. Chipault, C. LeAnn White, Benjamin Zuckerberg

By

Waterbird die-offs caused by Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type E (BoNT/E) have occurred sporadically in the Great Lakes since the late 1960s, with a recent pulse starting in the late 1990s. In recent die-offs, round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) have been implicated as vectors for the transfer of BoNT/E to fish-eating birds due to the round goby invasion history and their importance as prey.

Authors

David A. Essian, Jennifer G. Chipault, Brenda M. Lafrancois, Jill B.K. Leonard

By

Avian botulism type E is responsible for extensive waterbird mortality on the Great Lakes, yet the actual site of toxin exposure remains unclear. Beached carcasses are often used to describe the spatial aspects of botulism mortality outbreaks, but lack specificity of offshore toxin source locations. We detail methodology for developing a neural network model used for predicting waterbird carcass m

Authors

Kevin P. Kenow, Zhongfu Ge, Luke J. Fara, Steven C. Houdek, Brian R. Lubinski

By

Toxoplasmagondiiis a protozoan parasite transmitted by domestic cats (Felis catus) that has historically caused mortality in native Hawaiian birds. To estimate how widespread exposure to the parasite is in nene (Hawaiian Geese,Branta sandvicensis), we did a serologic survey forT. gondiiantibody and genetically characterized parasite DNA from the tissues of dead birds that had confirmed infect

Authors

Thierry M. Work, Shiv K. Verma, Chunlei Su, John Medeiros, Thomas Kaiakapu, Oliver C. Kwok, Jitender P. Dubey

By

Understanding causes of death can aid management and recovery of endangered bird populations. Toward those ends, we systematically examined 300 carcasses of endangered Hawaiian Geese (Nene;Branta sandvicensis) from Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai between 1992 and 2013. The most common cause of death was emaciation, followed by trauma (vehicular strikes and predation), and infectious/inflammatory

Authors

Thierry M. Work, Julie Dagenais, Robert Rameyer, Renee Breeden

By

During 2010 to 2013, waterbird mortality surveillance programs used a shared protocol for shoreline walking surveys performed June to November at three areas in northern Lake Michigan. In 2010 and 2012, 1244 total carcasses (0.8 dead bird/km walked) and 2399 total carcasses (1.2 dead birds/km walked), respectively, were detected. Fewer carcasses were detected in 2011 (353 total carcasses, 0.2 dead

Authors

Jennifer G. Chipault, C. LeAnn White, David S. Blehert, Susan K. Jennings, Sean M. Strom

By

The reemergence of avian botulism caused byClostridium botulinumtype E has been observed across the Great Lakes in recent years. Evidence suggests an association between the nuisance algae,Cladophoraspp., andC. botulinumin nearshore areas of the Great Lakes. However, the nature of the association betweenCladophoraandC. botulinumis not fully understood due, in part, to the complex food web

Authors

Chan Lan Chun, Chase I. Kahn, Andrew J. Borchert, Muruleedhara N. Byappanahalli, Richard L. Whitman, Julie R. Peller, Christina Pier, Guangyun Lin, Eric A. Johnson, Michael J. Sadowsky

By

Among seabirds, the fregatids stand out with a high prevalence of blood parasites. Four of 5 species in this family have been found to be infected with Haemoproteus; however, complete species descriptions with molecular phylogeny are lacking. Seventy-five samples from 4 species of frigatebirds, i.e., Fregata andrewsi, Fregata minor, Fregata magnificens, and Fregata aquila, were screened for infect

Authors

Santiago Merino, Janos Hennicke, Javier Martinez, Katrin Ludynia, Roxana Torres, Thierry M. Work, Stedson Stroud, Juan F. Masello, Petra Quillfeldt

By

Laysan Ducks are endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago and are one of the world’s most endangered waterfowl. For 150 yr, Laysan Ducks were restricted to an estimated 4 km2 of land on Laysan Island in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In 2004 and 2005, 42 Laysan Ducks were translocated to Midway Atoll, and the population increased to approximately 200 by 2007. In August 2008, mortality due to botuli

Authors

Thierry M. Work, John L. Klavitter, Michelle H. Reynolds, David S. Blehert

By