Crow die-off, India (2)

West Nile virus is one of the possibilities, but the stiff legs and wings
were not indicative of WNV-infected American crows - flaccid paralysis was
more common. WNV strains in the eastern hemisphere are not known to be
virulent for birds except for the Israel Goose strain that could be
introduce elsewhere besides North America. The easiest way to screen for
WNV in crows is to use the simple dip-stick test (VecTest) and test oral
and cloacal swabs from live and recently dead crows. See webpage at:
http://www.mas-inc.com/products/Vectest.htm PCR confirmatory tests
would be beneficial.
Bob McLean
__
Robert G. McLean, Ph.D.
Program Manager Wildlife Diseases
National Wildlife Research Center
WS/APHIS/USDA
4101 Laporte Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80521-2154
Telephone: (970) 266-6066
FAX: (970) 266-6138
e-mail: Robert.G.McLean@APHIS.USDA.GOV

-----

Subject: [WNV-L] Crow die-off, India (1)

Excerpted from ProMED-mail (Subject: Crow die-off - India (Mumbai,
Khar-Bandra), Id: 20050603.1549, posted June 3, 2005. ProMED
postings are searchable and archived at <http://www.promedmail.org>.

[1]
Date: 31 May 2005
From: T Jacob John <vlr_tjjohn@sancharnet.in>
Subject: Excess death of crows, possible West Nile

...I read in the Times of India, Hyderabad, 29 May 2005, that more
than 300 crows have fallen dead in the suburbs of Mumbai. This is
reminiscent of the West Nile virus outbreak in New York.

I have alerted the Indian Council of Medical Research, the National
Institute of Communicable Diseases (both in Delhi). My worry is that
people may not take the deaths of crows seriously. I have asked for
the immediate
virological study of dead crows to look for West Nile virus (WNV).
WNV is mosquito-transmitted (by _Aedes aegypti_) which is found in
plenty in India...

T. Jacob John
Virologist, retired professor and head
Department of Clinical Virology
Christian Medical College, Vellore
439 Civil Supplies Godown Lane
Kamalakshipuram
Vellore, TN, 632002, India
<vlr_tjjohn@sancharnet.in>


[2]
Date: Fri 3 Jun 2005
Source: Mumbai Newsline, Mumbai, India, 3 Jun 2005 [edited]
<http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=132144>

City environmentalists and doctors are concerned, both about the
growing number of crows dying in Mumbai as well as their inability to
determine the cause of these deaths.

According to environmentalist Sunjoy Monga, the reported toll has
reached 363 for Mumbai and over 150 in the Khar-Bandra area. "We
spotted 3 crows falling dead in a span of one hour, 2 at Kherwadi and
one near Bandra court," said Monga , who has been following the
rising body count of these black and grey birds in the city.

Observers so far have not been able to pin down why the deaths are
significantly higher in Bandra and Khar. "We've not been able to
explain that yet, and we've sent out samples of the dead birds for
testing," Monga
added.

The number of crows admitted at the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit
Hospital for Animals, Parel, doubled last month [May 2005]. "In May,
we had 12 crows admitted, as opposed to 4 or 5 in other months. All
the birds were found on the road, and surprisingly, none of them were
because of accidents," said Ashish Sutar, hospital manager at Petit.
According to Sutar, all the crows admitted were dehydrated, with
stiff legs and wings, and were unable to fly. "We couldn't save 6 of
them, while the others are on medication. It is some sort of viral
infection," added Sutar.

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), while stating it did not
have reports of any cases on crow deaths so far, said, in the event
the death toll increases, it would take action soon. Isaac Kehemkar,
public relations
officer, BNHS, said: "The crow deaths are in specific areas and could
be related to some kind of food poisoning. But if the toll is seen to
increase, we will take specimens and start studying them
scientifically."

[Additional information on the said observations, in particular any results
of laboratory investigations, will be appreciated. - Mod.AS]

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Received on Mon, 6 Jun 2005 22:56:41 -0400