Search for Clostridium botulinum in the South Orkney and Falkland Islands

Smith, G R; Turner, AH; Wynn‐Williams, D. D.; Collett, G; Wright, Danielle; Keymer, I. F.

doi:10.1136/vr.121.17.404

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“…Keymer (1987) briefly outlined the methods used in investigating the mortality and recorded some preliminary results and conclusions. Since then more detailed results have been published, i.e., haematological (Hawkey et al 1989) and biochemical (Ghebremeskel et al 1989a,b, Williams et al 1989) results; as well as investigations on the possibility of botulism (Smith et al 1987). This paper completes the toxicological and parasitological results, but also records unpublished data and results of histopathological examinations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Health evaluation of penguins (Sphenisciformes) following mortality in the Falklands (South Atlantic)

Keymer¹,

Malcolm²,

Hunt³

et al. 2001

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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In the Falklands, heavy mortality of rock-hopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome occurred during the 1985-86 breeding season. Starvation was diagnosed as the primary cause of death, possibly caused by a shortage of euphausiid crustaceans (krill) due to unusual meterological conditions. 'Puffinosis' may possibly have been a contributory factor; otherwise no conclusive evidence of infectious disease or toxicosis was found and also no evidence of radioactive contamination. In the 1986-87 breeding season no unusual mortality occurred, but 99 apparently healthy penguins were examined, i.e., rockhoppers Eudyptes chrysocome syn E. crestatus, gentoos Pygoscelis papua and Magellanics Spheniscus magellanicus. Full necropsies were carried out on 54. Tissue examinations were made for cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, lead and zinc. High tissue cadmium concentrations found in healthy birds in 1987 were similar to those in penguins which died in 1986, and therefore not considered to be of pathological significance. Although there has been no repetition of the unusually hot 1985-86 breeding season in the Falklands, penguins and other seabirds have had fluctuating breeding successes since then. The precise cause, including the roles of meteorological conditions and overexploitation of some forms of prey species, is unclear.KEY WORDS: Penguins · Falklands · Puffinosis · Metals · Cadmium · Parasites · Euphausiids (Krill) Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 45: [159][160][161][162][163][164][165][166][167][168][169] 2001 Keymer (1987) diagnosed starvation as the primary cause of death of rockhoppers in 1986 and tentatively concluded that this may have been caused by a shortage of krill (euphausiid crustaceans) at the time of the penguins' post-breeding moult. Thompson (1993) found that euphausiid krill and hyperid amphipods plus small squid, notably Gonatus antarcticus, were the main constituents of the diet during egg laying, incubation and whilst rearing young. The southern summer of 1985-86 was unusually long and hot in the Falkland Islands and according to Boersma (1987) was analogous to the Pacific El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It was decided therefore to delay publication of further investigations, including toxicological results, in case the meteorological conditions were repeated in the Falklands, in the hope that it would then be possible to test the hypothesis that shortage of euphausiid crustaceans (krill) was associated with the unusually warm weather. The Pacific ENSO of 1982-83 was 'the strongest of the century' and weaker ones occurred in 1986 -87 and 1991 -93 (McPhaden 1994. A further severe one occurred in 1997-98. However, there has been no repetition of an unusually hot summer in the Falklands area since 1985-86. In addition to more frequent ENSOs possibly adversely affecting world climate, new threats to Falkland Island birds, especially penguins, have emerged. These include tourism, fires and oil exploration. In fact there was a...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%