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Date: June 9, 2003
Posted by: Sandra Morrison (smorriso@region.waterloo.on.ca)

Here in Waterloo Region, we have submitted 6 Cedar Wax Wings to the 
Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre over the last 2 weeks. 
The first 3 were submitted on May 26 - a citizen woke up in the 
morning to find
3 dead in her driveway (not run over, no mauling).  The next 3 were 
found in a bus shelter (intact) on June 6, 2003.  As yet, no lab 
reports have come back from CCWHC.  Please keep me informed of any 
discoveries with
these birds. Thanks.

Sandra Morrison, B.A.Sc., CPHI (C)
Public Health Inspector
Region of Waterloo Public Health
99 Regina St.S., 3rd Floor
Waterloo, ON, N2J 4V3
(519) 883-2008 ext 5345

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Sent in response to:

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003
From: Tanya D. Graham <TANYA_LEMIRE@SDSTATE.EDU>

Does anyone on the list have any experience with rapid die-offs of 
cedar wax wings (Bombycilla cedrorum) as West Nile enters your area 
at the beginning of vector season?  We are experiencing a marked 
die-off of these birds (for the 2nd year in a row) in several 
communities across the state and our West Nile PCR tests are still 
pending (as is histologic examination of the brain and viscera from 
several birds).  We are also checking for pesticides /herbicides, and 
I cannot rule out botulism or cyanogenic compound(s) yet.
The fact that birds are dying very rapidly (with plenty of depot fat 
stores) suggest it's either West Nile or something in their diet 
(maybe a seasonal berry with toxic compounds).



Tanya D. Graham, DVM, Diplomate ACVP
Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory
South Dakota State University
Veterinary Science Department
Box 2175, North Campus Drive
Brookings, South Dakota  57007-1396
(605) 688-5643 (office)
(605) 688-6003 (fax)
http://ihc.sdstate.org


"A society that will trade a little freedom for a little security
will lose both and deserves neither." —Thomas Jefferson.

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