Nemeth Nicole M, Brush Janell M, Cox W Andrew, Hardman Rebecca, Piersma Brittany, Troiano Alexandra, Barron Heather W, Kunkel Melanie R, Goodwin Chloe C, Weyna Alisia A W, McKinney Amy S, Teo Xuan Hui, Radisic Rebecca, Shender Lisa A, Sanchez Susan, van Deventer Michelle
Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Department of Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Vet Sci. 2024 Nov 18;11(11):578. doi: 10.3390/vetsci11110578.
The black skimmer () is a state-threatened, colonially nesting seabird in Florida, USA. Conservation threats include habitat alteration, human disturbances, severe weather, and predation. During nest monitoring (May-September, 2020-2022), black skimmer juveniles at colonies on Fort Myers Beach and Marco Island, Florida, had polyarthritis and died or were euthanized due to severe illness. Similarly-aged skimmers from geographically distant (considered unaffected) colonies were evaluated for comparison (2021-2023). We documented field, clinical, radiographical, and pathological findings to characterize disease and purported pathogenesis. The majority were lame and lethargic, in poor nutritional condition, and dehydrated. Additionally, 8/23 of the skimmers with dermatitis and arthritis from affected colonies also had penetrating sandspurs associated with skin ulceration, scabbing, and/or hemorrhage. The affected joints were often in limbs (interphalangeal and hock; less commonly stifle, elbow, carpus). A postmortem evaluation and bacteriology revealed -associated dermatitis, arthritis, tenosynovitis, and/or osteomyelitis in 21/22 of the juvenile skimmers from southwestern nest colonies. dissemination to internal organs occurred in 10/13 of the skimmers tested. Among skimmers evaluated from distant colonies, 5/10 that were examined histologically had skin crusting and inflammation but lacked arthritis. Occasional coinfections were documented (e.g., West Nile virus, Gram-negative bacilli). The results suggest that staphylococcal joint disease originated from sandspur-induced skin damage, followed by hematogenous dissemination to the joints and, occasionally, the internal organs. Additional nest sites should be tested to evaluate disease risk and potentially contributing environmental factors. We recommend that site managers employ techniques that reduce the risk of skimmer interactions with sandspurs.
黑腹剪水鸌（）是一种在美国佛罗里达州受到州级威胁的、营群居巢的海鸟。保护面临的威胁包括栖息地改变、人类干扰、恶劣天气和捕食。在2020年至2022年5月至9月的巢穴监测期间，佛罗里达州迈尔斯堡海滩和马可岛聚居地的黑腹剪水鸌幼鸟患有多关节炎，因重病死亡或被安乐死。对来自地理上遥远（被认为未受影响）聚居地的同龄剪水鸌进行了评估以作比较（2021年至2023年）。我们记录了野外、临床、放射学和病理学发现，以描述疾病特征及推测的发病机制。大多数幼鸟跛行且嗜睡，营养状况差且脱水。此外，来自受影响聚居地的23只患有皮炎和关节炎的剪水鸌中有8只还伴有穿透性的沙刺，伴有皮肤溃疡、结痂和/或出血。受影响的关节通常在四肢（趾间关节和跗关节；较少见的是膝关节、肘关节、腕关节）。尸体剖检和细菌学检查显示，来自西南巢穴聚居地的22只幼剪水鸌中有21只存在与葡萄球菌相关的皮炎、关节炎、腱鞘炎和/或骨髓炎。在13只接受检测的剪水鸌中，有10只出现了病菌扩散至内部器官的情况。在对来自遥远聚居地的剪水鸌进行评估时，经组织学检查的10只中有5只存在皮肤结痂和炎症，但没有关节炎。偶尔会记录到合并感染（如西尼罗河病毒、革兰氏阴性杆菌）。结果表明，葡萄球菌性关节疾病起源于沙刺引起的皮肤损伤，随后通过血行传播至关节，偶尔也会传播至内部器官。应检测更多巢穴地点，以评估疾病风险和潜在的相关环境因素。我们建议巢穴管理者采用能降低剪水鸌与沙刺接触风险的技术。
