Heavy Rainfall, Sewer Overflows, and Salmonellosis in Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger).
Ecohealth
; 19(2): 203-215, 2022 06.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35655049
ABSTRACT
Extreme weather events, particularly heavy rainfall, are occurring at greater frequency with climate change. Although adverse human health effects from heavy rainfall are often publicized, impacts to free-ranging wildlife populations are less well known. We first summarize documented associations of heavy rainfall on wildlife health. We then report a novel investigation of a salmonellosis outbreak in a colony of black skimmers (Rynchops niger) in Florida, USA. During June-September 2016, heavy rainfall resulted in the discharge of millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into the Tampa Bay system, contaminating the water body, where adult skimmers foraged. At least 48 fledglings died, comprising 39% of the colony's nesting season's offspring. Of eight examined deceased birds from the colony, six had a systemic salmonellosis infection. Isolates were identified as Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. Their pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns were identical to each other and matched those from several human Salmonella sp. infections. Differences among whole-genome sequences were negligible. These findings and the outbreak's epidemic curve suggest propagated transmission occurred within the colony. A multidisciplinary and One Health approach is recommended to mitigate any adverse effects of climate change-driven stochastic events, especially when they place already imperiled wildlife at further risk.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Infecciones por Salmonella
/
Charadriiformes
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ecohealth
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article