Greening Sabrina S, Ellis Julie C, Lewis Nicole L, Needle David B, Tato Cristina M, Knowles Susan, Shearn-Bochsler Valerie, Miller Jaimie L, Grear Daniel A, Lorch Jeffrey M, Blehert David S, Burrell Caitlin, Murphy Lisa A, Miller Erica A, Ogbunugafor C Brandon, Ayala Andrea J, Thomas W Kelley, Sevigny Joseph L, Gordon Lawrence M, Baillargeon Tessa, Mwakibete Lusajo, Kirchgessner Megan, Casey Christine L, Barton Ethan, Yabsley Michael J, Anis Eman, Gagne Roderick B, Klein Patrice, Driscoll Cindy, Sykes Chelsea A, Poppenga Robert H, Nemeth Nicole M
Department of Pathobiology, Wildlife Futures Program, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
Office of Fish and Wildlife Health and Forensics, New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife, Hampton, NJ 08827, USA.
Vet Sci. 2025 Jan 11;12(1):48. doi: 10.3390/vetsci12010048.
The ability to rapidly respond to wildlife health events is essential. However, such events are often unpredictable, especially with anthropogenic disturbances and climate-related environmental changes driving unforeseen threats. Many events also are short-lived and go undocumented, making it difficult to draw on lessons learned from past investigations. We report on the response to a mortality event observed predominantly in wild passerines in the eastern United States. The event began in May 2021 when wildlife rehabilitators and private citizens reported large numbers of sick and dead juvenile birds, mostly presenting as single cases with neurologic signs and/or ocular and periocular lesions. Early efforts by rehabilitators, veterinarians, state and federal wildlife agencies, and universities helped gather public reports and fuel rapid responses by government agencies. Collective efforts included live bird and carcass collections; submission to diagnostic laboratories and evaluation; information sharing; and coordinated messaging to stakeholders and interested parties. Extensive diagnostic evaluations failed to identify a causative pathogen or other etiology, although congruent results across laboratories have helped drive further investigation into alternative causes, such as nutritional deficiencies. This report highlights the strengths of a multi-agency, interdisciplinary investigation while exposing the need for an operational framework with approaches and resources dedicated to wildlife health.
迅速应对野生动物健康事件的能力至关重要。然而，此类事件往往不可预测，尤其是在人为干扰和与气候相关的环境变化引发不可预见的威胁的情况下。许多事件也是短暂的且未被记录，这使得很难借鉴以往调查的经验教训。我们报告了对主要在美国东部野生雀形目鸟类中观察到的一次死亡事件的应对情况。该事件始于2021年5月，当时野生动物康复者和普通民众报告了大量生病和死亡的幼鸟，大多表现为单个病例，伴有神经症状和/或眼部及眼周病变。康复者、兽医、州和联邦野生动物机构以及大学的早期努力有助于收集公众报告并推动政府机构迅速做出反应。共同努力包括活体鸟类和尸体采集；提交给诊断实验室并进行评估；信息共享；以及向利益相关者和有关各方进行协调的信息传递。尽管各实验室一致的结果有助于推动对诸如营养缺乏等其他原因的进一步调查，但广泛的诊断评估未能确定致病病原体或其他病因。本报告强调了多机构、跨学科调查的优势，同时揭示了需要一个具备专门用于野生动物健康的方法和资源的操作框架。
