Fowl Cholera in Waterfowl at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An epizootic of fowl cholera (Pasteurella multocida), in lesser snow geese (Chen h. hyperborea), blue geese (Chen caerulescens), mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and other waterfowl occurred on Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt County, Missouri, during early Jan. 1964. More than 1000 geese died in 1 night. Symptoms and previous case histories of fowl cholera, an infrequently reported disease among wild waterfowl, are reviewed. Pertinent field observations and methods of diagnosis are described. Observations indicated that mallard ducks were the probable early carriers of the disease. Snow, blue, and small Canada geese (Branta c. hutchinsii) were quite susceptible while large Canada geese (Branta c. interior and maxima) were not involved. Stresses caused by limited open water, overcrowding of birds, and inclement weather may have been conducive to the epizootic. Direct mortality from fowl cholera on wintering areas is not indicative of total mortality. Losses may continue along the migration routes. Secondary effects may results in loss of productivity.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: