Over 5 months in 1999, all 26 birds in a colony of 21 African black foot penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and 5 macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) died. Clinical and post-mortem signs were non-specific. Although avian malaria has been implicated, there were no classic post-mortem signs nor was a parasitemia detected. Anti-malarial therapy failed to elicit a response. A Type 2 Birnavirus and a Reovirus species were isolated from several birds. Since re-stocking the colony with Humboldts penguins(Spheniscus humboldti) there have been only minor health problems. However, monitoring of the birds and of their environment has helped shed more light on the previous mortalities.
展开▼
