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PRINT: ISSN 2221-1896
ONLINE : ISSN 2223-0343
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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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Robert D. Fyumagwa1*, Zablon Bugwesa1, Machoke
Mwita1, Emilian S. Kihwele2,
Athanas Nyaki3, Robinson H. Mdegela4 and Donald G.
Mpanduji4
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1Tanzania
Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), P.O.Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania;
2Serengeti
Nattional Park P. O. Box 3134, Arusha, Tanzania;
3Ngorongoro
Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) P. O. Box 1, Ngorongoro, Aursha,
Tanzania; 4Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), P. O.
Box 3022, Morogoro, Tanzania
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| Abstract |
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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.
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Keywords:
Bacterial infection; cyanobacteria toxins; lesser flamingos; Soda lakes; Tanzania |
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To cite this article:
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(3), 80-85. |
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