Subject: pine siskin diseases
Date: Feb 1 10:09:01 1996
From: "J. Marrazzo" - jmm2 at u.washington.edu



In light of the recent discussion on local variations in the number of
pine siskins at feeders, I thought Tweets might find this info of interest.
It doesn't sound like anything of the magnitude described belw is going
on here, but the possible cyclic nature of the epidemic is interesting.
Did anything similar happen in the NW at the time that anyone knows of?

***************************************************************************
Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH phone (206)720-4370
jmm2 at u.washington.edu
University of Washington, Box 359928 fax (206)720-4371
Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 20:14:47 -0500
From: promed-digest-Owner at usa.healthnet.org
To: promed-digest at usa.healthnet.org
Subject: v96.n023

From: mehj2020 at bonnet.vetmed.lsu.edu (Martin Hugh-Jones)
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 96 17:47:54 CST
Subject: PROMED-AHEAD: Salmonella, finches - Colorado (USA)

Date: Tue, 30 Jan 1996 07:35:02 -0700 (MST)
From: David Getzy <dgetzy at vth1.vth.colostate.edu>

SALMONELLA, FINCHES - COLORADO (USA)
======================================

Subject: Re: PROMED-AHEAD: Salmonella, Finches - Austria

Two years ago, the western US experienced a significant epizootic of
salmonellosis in Pine Siskins and a few other types of finches. S.
typhimurium was isolated from most cases. The typical pathology included
a necrotizing ingluviitis (inflammation of the crop)- which was the most
consistent lesion. Observation of the birds revealed that the ill ones
(presumably also having ingluviitis) would regurgitate feed at bird
feeders and other birds would eventually pick up the infected seed or
other infectious material. It would not be uncommon to find multiple
birds at a single feeder dead or ill.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife and local birding societies distributed
information on clinical signs and what to do with dead birds. Also, they
provided reccomendations for stopping feeding where birds had been
affected, "sterilizing" the feeders, etc.

The efforts seem to have paid off (so far as we know) as there have been
a minimal number of cases since then. People who have been involved with
wildlife in Colorado say that there may be a long term cyclic nature to
this particular epizootic.

Regards,

Dave

*********************************************************************
* Dave Getzy, Director *
* Colo State Univ Diagnostic Laboratories *
* 300 West Drake, Fort Collins, Co 80523 *
* PHONE 970-491-1281 FAX 970-491-0320 *
* EMAIL dgetzy at vth1.vth.colostate.edu *
* http: //www.vth.colostate.edu *
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