Greenwald Katherine M, Gibble Corinne M, Miller Melissa A, Donnelly-Greenan Erica, Kudela Raphael M
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response, Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center, 151 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, California 95060, USA.
Current address: California Energy Commission, 1516 9th St, Sacramento, California 95814 USA.
J Wildl Dis. 2024 Jan 1;60(1):171-178. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-23-00008.
During 2018, a seabird mortality event occurred in central California, US, that affected Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis), Common Murres (Uria aalge), and Cassin's Auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus). An increase in beachcast birds were reported on standardized surveys in conjunction with an increased number of live-stranded birds admitted to rehabilitation centers. Neurologic symptoms were noted during intake examination for some birds. Coincident with the mortality event, increased levels of the harmful algal bloom toxins domoic acid and saxitoxin were recorded in Monterey Bay and Morro Bay. Birds that died in care and beachcast carcasses were submitted to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife-Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center for postmortem examination (n=24). All examined birds were emaciated. Examined Common Murres and Cassin's Auklets had no gross evidence of preexisting disease; however, all examined Northern Fulmars exhibited severe pyogranulomatous inflammation of the urogenital system at gross postmortem exam. Tissues from nine Northern Fulmars were examined by histopathology, and samples from two Northern Fulmars were tested for the presence of domoic acid and saxitoxin. Histopathology revealed moderate to severe kidney infection by Eimeria sp. and gram-negative bacteria, intratubular urate stasis, ureter rupture, and emaciation. Additionally, domoic acid and saxitoxin were detected simultaneously in tissues of some tested birds. This communication highlights a novel pattern of cascading comorbidities in native seabirds from a mass stranding event.
2018年期间，美国加利福尼亚州中部发生了一起海鸟死亡事件，受影响的有厚嘴海鸦（Fulmarus glacialis）、普通海鸦（Uria aalge）和卡辛小海雀（Ptychoramphus aleuticus）。标准化调查显示海滩上鸟类尸体数量增加，同时送往康复中心的活体搁浅鸟类数量也有所增加。在对一些鸟类进行入院检查时发现了神经症状。与死亡事件同时发生的是，蒙特雷湾和莫罗湾记录到有害藻华毒素软骨藻酸和石房蛤毒素的含量增加。在护理中死亡的鸟类和海滩上的尸体被送往加利福尼亚鱼类和野生动物部 - 海洋野生动物兽医护理与研究中心进行尸检（n = 24）。所有接受检查的鸟类均消瘦。接受检查的普通海鸦和卡辛小海雀没有明显的既往疾病迹象；然而，所有接受检查的厚嘴海鸦在尸检时均表现出泌尿生殖系统严重的脓性肉芽肿性炎症。对9只厚嘴海鸦的组织进行了组织病理学检查，并对2只厚嘴海鸦的样本检测了软骨藻酸和石房蛤毒素的存在。组织病理学显示艾美球虫属和革兰氏阴性菌引起中度至重度肾脏感染、肾小管内尿酸盐淤积、输尿管破裂和消瘦。此外，在一些检测鸟类的组织中同时检测到了软骨藻酸和石房蛤毒素。本通讯强调了大规模搁浅事件中本土海鸟级联合并症的一种新模式。
