Cyanobacterial toxins and bacterial infections are the possible causes of mass mortality of lesser flamingos in Soda lakes in northern Tanzania
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Date
2013
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Abstract
During the mass die-off of lesser flamingos in Soda lakes of Tanzania in 2000, 2002 and 2004,
clinicopathological and toxicological investigations were made in order to elucidate the likely cause of mortality.
Water and tissue samples were collected from the lakes and from dead flamingos respectively. While water samples
were analyzed for pesticide residues, tissues were analyzed for pesticide residues and cyanotoxins. The significant
pathological lesions observed in fresh carcasses included oedema in lungs, enlarged liver, haemorrhages in liver
with multiple necrotic foci, haemorrhages in kidneys and haemorrhages in intestines with erosion of mucosa.
Analysis of cyanotoxins revealed presence of neurotoxin (anatoxin-a) and hepatotoxins (microcystins LR, RR).
Concentrations of microcystins LR were significantly higher (P = 0.0003) in liver than in other tissues. Based on
clinicopathological findings and concentrations of the detected cyanotoxins, it is suspected that cyanobacterial toxins concurrent with secondary bacterial infection were the likely cause of the observed mortalities in flamingos.
Description
Research Opinions in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 2013, Vol. 3(x) xxx
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Citation
Fyumagwa RD, Z Bugwesa, M Mwita, ES Kihwele, A Nyaki, RH Mdegela and DG Mpanduji, 2013. Cyanobacterial toxins and bacterial infections are the possible cause of mass mortality of lesser flamingos in soda lakes in northern Tanzania. Res. Opin. Anim. Vet. Sci., 3(x), xxx.