Avian cholera on north coast California: distinctive epizootiological features.
Between 1945 and 2001, avian cholera (Pasteurella multocida infection) was confirmed at 27 epizootics in 18 different years on northcoastal California. Estimated mortality ranged from 1 to 6750 birds per site, with a median total mortality of about 1000 birds per year. Eight epizootics involved < 150 birds; thus, minor epizootics were common. Annual total wildfowl mortality ranged from 0.4% to 7.0% of estimated live populations; median annual mortality for American coots (Fulica americana) (11.5%) surpassed that of tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) (0.2%) and ducks (0.2%). Coots comprised > 50% of total wildfowl mortality in 16 of 17 epizootics. Overall, coots comprised 82% of known avian cholera mortality, but only 34% of the live wildfowl present; ducks and swans died much less frequently. Wildfowl at one site consistently died in a sequential pattern; there was no sequential mortality at other sites.
Botzler
Richard G
RG
Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521-8299, USA. rgb2@humbolt.edu
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D001717:Birds; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004372:Ducks; D010326:Pasteurella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D016979:Pasteurella multocida; D013045:Species Specificity