As I get Tweeters in digest form, I am often late on the draw. I apologise
if this information has already been posted.

One footnote that might be mentioned is that if this salmonella strain
does prove to be DT104, in England and Wales domestic cats have been shown
to be frequently involved in its persistence and transmission. Obviously,
there is a likely exposure of 'outdoor' cats to birds affected with
salmonellosis.


Tom Besser
Moscow ID
besser at turbonet.com

> ProMED Digest Tuesday, 28 April 1998 Volume 98 : Number 110
>
> Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 13:43:02 -0600
> From: Kim Miller <Kim_Miller at usgs.gov>
>
> Songbird mortality has been reported in 15 states and confirmed on bacterial
> culture in 12 of them (we received either carcasses and did the diagnostic
> work up in our lab or we received lab reports from other diagnostic labs).
> Once we confirmed the disease in songbirds from a state, we did not take in
> additional birds.
>
> We send our salmonella isolates to the National Veterinary Services Lab in
> Ames, Iowa for typing. They identified our isolates as _Salmonella
> typhimurium_. This is what is usually found in songbird salmonellosis
> mortality. The next question people usually have is whether it's the same
> strain as DT104 that we've been hearing about lately. The answer is that at
> this point the isolates have not been typed out to that extent. Our Center
> microbiologist is pursuing having this work done on our collection of
> salmonella isolates from various wildlife species.
>
> I've been checking in with the State biologists that I worked with on this
> dieoff to get an update on the status of things. I haven't talked with
> everyone yet but basically the biologists have told me that the dieoff seems
> to be tapering off. Bottomline is I don't think the mortality is completely
> over in all the locations in all 15 states but it does seem to be winding
> down.
>
> Below is (updated) information I provided to the Cornell Ornithology Lab and
> a public health dept person who'd requested information on the dieoff.
>
> - --
> Kim Miller, DVM
> Wildlife Disease Specialist
> Dept of Interior, US Geological Survey
> National Wildlife Health Center
> e-mail: Kim_Miller at usgs.gov
> - ----------------------------------------------------
>
> [Edited together into one coherent document. - Mod.MHJ]
>
> Salmonellosis has been confirmed as the cause of songbird mortality in the
> following states. (We received either carcasses or lab reports from other
> diagnostic labs): Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New
> Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Ohio.
>
> There have been reports of passerine mortality in Connecticut, Maine, &
> Massachusetts, [where] however, we have not received any carcasses or lab
> reports.
>
> We have received reports of passerine mortality at bird feeders in 15
> Midwestern and Eastern States. Goldfinches and pine siskins are the primary
> species reported in most areas but redpolls (in Vermont, Maine, Michigan and
> Wisconsin) and miscellaneous other species have been affected as well.
>
> Salmonellosis has been confirmed as the cause of death in 12 states.
> Although salmonellosis in songbirds in very common, a pattern of concurrent
> mortality over a large geographic area is not typical for the eastern half
> of the country. It is a more common scenario out west where every few years
> a die-off of that nature occurs (oftentimes it involves pine siskins). The
> last large salmonellosis mortality event in the east was in 1988 in New York
> and other New England states.
>
> As you know, the bacteria are shed in the feces. It can be spread
> bird-to-bird via direct contact or through ingestion of food or water
> contaminated with infected avian or mammalian fecal material. Good bird
> feeder maintenance is important anytime but particularly when there are sick
> and dead birds present. Cleaning feeders with a 10% bleach and water
> solution and raking up waste seed can help decrease the bacterial load.
> Storing birdseed in rodent proof containers helps prevent rodent droppings
> in the seed.
>
> People often ask if they or their pets might get sick from salmonellosis in
> songbirds. I tell them that there are more than 2,000 strains of salmonella
> bacteria and many different birds and mammals can be infected although
> various strains affect different animals. It is possible that the strain
> typically seen in songbirds could cause illness in humans. Practicing good
> sanitation should help minimize this risk. I tell them that anytime a person
> handles sick or dead animals or fecal material, it is a good idea to wear
> rubber gloves and wash their hands well afterwards. Cleaning the feeder in a
> bucket would be better than in the kitchen sink. Discourage pets from
> feeding on sick and dead birds. I also suggest they check with their
> physician or veterinarian if they have additional concerns. I hope this
> information is helpful.
> ....................................mhj/es