{"id":12838,"date":"2021-07-16T11:35:43","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T15:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qa.vet.purdue.edu\/news\/?p=12838"},"modified":"2021-08-05T08:51:39","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T12:51:39","slug":"addl-aids-investigation-of-mysterious-deaths-of-songbirds-in-several-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vet.purdue.edu\/news\/addl-aids-investigation-of-mysterious-deaths-of-songbirds-in-several-states.php","title":{"rendered":"ADDL Aids Investigation of Mysterious Deaths of Songbirds in Several States"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Indigo
Photo “Indigo Bunting” by Kurayba is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Natural resource management agencies in several states are working with diagnostic laboratories to investigate what is causing reports of sick and dying songbirds.  The Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has been helping with the investigation in Indiana, which is being led by the state\u2019s Department of Natural Resources<\/a> (DNR).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a multi-state summary statement issued recently, wildlife managers in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky began receiving reports in late May of sick and dying birds with eye swelling and crusty discharge, as well as neurological signs. Since then, additional reports have been received from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Tennessee as well as Indiana. While the majority of affected birds are reported to be fledgling common grackles, blue jays, European starlings, and American robins, other species of songbirds reportedly have been affected as well. No definitive cause(s) of illness or death have been determined as yet, and no human health or domestic livestock and poultry issues have been reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The natural resource management agencies in the affected states and the District of Columbia, along with the National Park Service<\/a>, are continuing to work with diagnostic laboratories to investigate the cause(s) of this event. In addition to the Indiana ADDL, those laboratories include the USGS National Wildlife Health Center<\/a>, the University of Georgia Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study<\/a> and the University of Pennsylvania Wildlife Futures Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the information gleaned so far is that the following pathogens have NOT<\/strong> been detected in any birds tested, based on results received to date: Salmonella and Chlamydia (bacterial pathogens); avian influenza virus, West Nile virus and other flaviviruses, Newcastle disease virus and other paramyxoviruses, herpesviruses and poxviruses; and Trichomonas parasites. Transmission electron microscopy and additional diagnostic tests, including microbiology, virology, parasitology, and toxicology are ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birds congregating at bird feeders and bird baths can transmit diseases to one another. Therefore, the agencies involved in the investigation recommend the following standard precautions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n