Desert bighorn sheep mortality due to presumptive type C botulism in California
During a routine telemetry flight of the Mojave Desert (California, USA) in August 1995, mortality signals were detected from two of 12 radio-collared female desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in the vicinity of Old Dad Peak in San Bernardino County (California). A series of field investigations determined that at least 45 bighorn sheep had died near two artificial water catchments (guzzlers), including 13 bighorn sheep which had presumably drowned in a guzzler tank. Samples from water contaminated by decomposing bighorn sheep carcasses and hemolyzed blood from a fresh bighorn sheep carcass were tested for the presence of pesticides, heavy metals, strychnine, blue-green algae, Clostridium botulinum toxin, ethylene glycol, nitrates, nitrites, sodium, and salts. Mouse bioassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected type C botulinum toxin in the hemolyzed blood and in fly larvae and pupae. This, coupled with negative results from other analyses, led us to conclude that type C botulinum poisoning was most likely responsible for the mortality of bighorn sheep outside the guzzler tank.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2000 |
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Title | Desert bighorn sheep mortality due to presumptive type C botulism in California |
DOI | 10.7589/0090-3558-36.1.184 |
Authors | P. K. Swift, J. D. Wehausen, H. B. Ernest, R. S. Singer, A. M. Pauli, H. Kinde, Tonie E. Rocke, V. C. Bleich |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Journal of Wildlife Diseases |
Index ID | 1003710 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | National Wildlife Health Center |