gb wildlife disease surveillance partnership quarterly report · 2019-08-30 · gb wildlife disease...

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and also works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government.

Editors Paul Duff, APHA Penrith

+ 44 (0) 3000 600012 [email protected]

Catherine Man, APHA Penrith +44 (0) 3000 600012

[email protected]

GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership quarterly report Disease surveillance and emerging threats

Volume 25: Q2 – April-June 2019

Highlights Page Rabbit haemorrhagic disease in wild rabbits 7 Mass mortality or arctic terns in the North of England 12 Summary of wildlife submissions from APHA, IOZ and SRUC in 2018

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Contents

Introduction and overview .................................................................................................... 1

Notifiable diseases ............................................................................................................... 1

Zoonotic diseases ................................................................................................................ 4

Ongoing new and re-emerging diseases, unusual diagnoses and horizon scanning ........... 6

UK Priority and Conservation Concern Species ................................................................ 12

Appendix 1 ......................................................................................................................... 19


Vol 25: Q2 April – June 2019

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Introduction and overview The GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership comprising the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), SRUC Veterinary Services, Institute of Zoology (IoZ), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (CEFAS), the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Natural England (NE), the Forestry Commission England (FCE) and the Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) project produces the GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership Quarterly Reports:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wildlife-disease-surveillance-reports-2018

It has been a long-term aim of the GB Partnership that Partners’ data on wildlife submissions including diagnostic data would be collected and analysed together using shared data processing. Appendix 1 of this Report shows the early results; where APHA Diseases of Wildlife Scheme (DoWS), SRUC and Garden Wildlife Health submission data are presented together for the year 2018. In a subsequent Quarterly Report we will provide the diagnostic data from these three organisations for 2018.

Issues and trends The warm and wet weather this summer may be one reason behind suspected outbreaks of avian botulism in water-bodies in England. APHA DoWS also investigated the second significant mortality of arctic terns (Stena paradisaea) at a breeding site. A previous outbreak, when the suspected cause was avian botulism, occurred in Wales in 2016.

Paul Duff, APHA Diseases of Wildlife Scheme (DoWS)

Notifiable diseases

Avian Influenza (AI) Virus Great Britain AI Wild Bird Surveillance (AIWBS): April – June 2019

Total wild bird surveillance

Following the 2018 amendment to threshold criteria for collections and submission of found dead wild birds, it currently remains at three or more for waterfowl target species – specifically wild geese, wild ducks, swans, and gulls, one or more for birds of prey, and five or more of any species, found at any mass mortality event.




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Q1-2019 saw 0 positive birds for generic Influenza A Virus (IAV) detection via PCR. This is mirrored in Q2-2019 with 201 birds submitted and 0 positives for generic IAV detection.

Number of wild birds tested and results in GB – 2nd Quarter

*Number of birds tested (figure may be slightly different from other reports due to exact query run on dataset). Figures for April - June 2018 are shown in brackets Data query used for this report-date ‘M gene approval’ Members of the public are asked to remain vigilant and report findings of target species in addition to mass mortality incidents to the Defra Helpline: 03459 33 55 77. The criteria for a mass mortality incident are five or more wild birds of any species at any location (irrespective of county) in England, Scotland and Wales.

Warden Patrol Scheme

The main emphasis is on AIWBS in found dead wild birds, including mass mortality incidents, and patrols of designated reserves by skilled wild bird ecologists and wardens. These Warden Patrols continue all-year-round, but are also seasonally targeted in the winter and spring periods (October to March) each year.

During the period 1st April – 30th June (Q2-2019), a total of 178 Warden Patrols were performed at sites across GB. This compares with a total of 176 Warden Patrols performed during the same period in 2018 (Q2-2018) in GB. During Q2-2019, the Warden Patrols were mainly performed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Warden Patrols were also carried out by one other voluntary organisation. In total during Q2-2019, 78 wild birds found dead were tested, with no HPAIV detections. This compares with a total of 65 wild birds found dead and tested during the same period of 2018.

In Q2-2019, Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) ducks were the most common target species found, and birds were most commonly found in the South West region of England with none submitted from the Midlands and Scotland. This is similar to Q2-2018, where Mallard ducks were also the most common target species found and birds were most commonly found in South East England with none submitted from the Midlands, North East and Scotland.

Current EU situation In Q2-2019, low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) of subtype H5 was detected on a poultry holding containing Mallard ducks in Denmark (25th June 2019 – origin is unknown). LPAIV H3N1 has also been confirmed in both Belgium and France during the quarter. The virus originated in Belgium and the current reported number of outbreaks is 71 with 6 confirmed as H3N1. Three outbreaks in France have been reported since

Surveillance activity

Number of birds tested*

Positive AI virus result and species of bird Comments

Found dead/injured

201

(276) None

Scanning surveillance All-year-round



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22/05/2019. The virus is poultry adapted and there is no evidence to show that wild birds are involved. It is mainly affecting the breeding and laying poultry sector. APHA, in collaboration with Defra, monitors the international situation and distribution of avian influenza detections: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animal-diseases-international-monitoring. Current UK Situation

At the time of writing, July 2019, there have been no outbreaks of HPAI of any kind in commercial or captive poultry or birds in the United Kingdom in 2019. Whilst the H3 threat from France and Belgium is a concern, epidemiological assessments indicate the risk to the UK is considered to be very low.

At all times, poultry keepers are advised to maintain robust biosecurity measures, vigilance for clinical signs of disease and to promptly report suspected cases of notifiable avian disease in poultry to APHA:

• In England – call the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. The Helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm and there is an out of hour’s facility on the same number for reporting suspicion of disease in animals.

• In Scotland and Wales, contact your local APHA Field Services Office: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening.

Further information regarding avian influenza in poultry and wild birds is also available:

• Avian influenza guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu.

• When and how to register your poultry flock, and which species must be registered in Great Britain: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/poultry-registration.

• Information about the chargeable testing scheme offered in GB by APHA that enables veterinarians to request ‘Testing for Exclusion of notifiable avian disease’ in chicken and turkey flocks, in circumstances that would not require the implementation of statutory disease control measures (Gibbens and others, 2014): http://ahvla.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/tte/nad.htm

Avian influenza and Newcastle disease/PPMV-1 events, including H5 HPAI internationally, are also summarised in GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership quarterly reports.

References

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/608529/ai-birdflu-factsheet-170413.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animal-diseases-international-monitoring

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-and-opening


https://www.gov.uk/guidance/poultry-registration







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https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-in-wild-birds

Gibbens, N., Brown, I, H. & Irvine, R.M. (2014) Testing for exclusion of notifiable avian disease. Veterinary Record, 174:534-535, doi:10.1136/vr.g3412, available online: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/21/534.3.full.pdf+html [accessed 24 October 2016]

Rowena Hansen, Avian Virology, APHA Weybridge

Joanna Tye, Department of Epidemiological Sciences, APHA Weybridge

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s (WWT) role in GB Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance (AIWBS):- April-June 2019

Summary: Threats - HPAIV, targeted active surveillance of wetland birds

As part of the GB AIWBS partnership, WWT continued to carry out avian influenza surveillance throughout this quarter. Between April and June 2019 a total of 87 dead wild birds were found. Of these, 78 birds (which included 35 mallards Anas platyrhynchos) were sampled for avian influenza virus, as some were unable to be swabbed due to heavy predation or advanced decomposition. Sampled birds originated from seven WWT reserves located in Gloucestershire, Carmarthenshire, West Sussex, Greater London, Norfolk, Lancashire, and Tyne and Wear.

Sampled birds comprised 15 different species, 14 of which are currently of surveillance priority. These included species of swans, geese, ducks, gulls and rails, as well as a black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa limosa). One non-priority species, an Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca), was also sampled.

All samples taken during this quarter tested negative for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. Please see the APHA report for further details of HPAI surveillance results from across Great Britain.

WWT

Zoonotic diseases

APHA Diseases of Wildlife Scheme (DoWS); Salmonellosis in wildlife; April-June 2019 APHA did not detect any salmonellae in wild mammals or birds during the last quarter. Salmonellae associated with wild garden birds were not detected in domesticated species.

Paul Duff, APHA Diseases of Wildlife Scheme

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-in-wild-birds

http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/174/21/534.3.full.pdf+html



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Report from Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group; 2nd Quarter; April-June 2019 Summary - threat: Zoonotic, farmed, pet animal and international trade risk

Passive surveillance for lyssaviruses in UK bats

One hundred and fifty six bats were tested for lyssavirus under passive surveillance. One serotine bat originating from Dorset was found to be positive for European Lyssavirus 1 (EBLV1). This represents the third confirmed case of EBLV1 in serotine bats in UK since the first positive case was detected in 2018. All others were negative.

Three zoo bats were tested in this quarter for lyssaviruses. All were negative.

Rabies diagnosis

No samples were received from quarantined animals or from humans for rabies diagnosis.

Rabies surveillance in terrestrial wildlife

Vigilance continues for this notifiable disease in UK wildlife but no samples from terrestrial wildlife were submitted for testing this quarter.

West Nile Virus (WNV) surveillance in wild birds SV3045

Brain and kidney tissue from 82 wild birds received from APHA Veterinary Investigation Centres, the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) and ZSL were tested by TaqMan PCR for WNV during this period with negative results.

Usutu virus surveillance in wild birds SV3045

Brain and kidney samples from 6 birds (owls and blackbirds) were tested by TaqMan PCR for Usutu virus with negative results.

WNV surveillance in Equids

One serum sample, from a horse exhibiting neurological signs, was tested for WNV by cELISA (detects both IgM and IgG) as part of differential diagnosis during this period with negative results.

Paul Phipps, Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector Borne Disease Research Group, APHA Weybridge



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Ongoing new and re-emerging diseases, unusual diagnoses and horizon scanning

Wildlife Diseases, horizon scanning; points for interest and threats associated with wildlife and wildlife disease. Very brief summaries are given, including possible wildlife disease threats to human, livestock and biodiversity health

• Arctic tern (Stena paradisaea) mass mortality occurred at a breeding site in the North of England. A similar incident occurred on the Welsh coast in 2016 when botulism was suspected. The incident is under investigation.

• British press report (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-48451094.) on the escape of two raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides), a canid species, from captivity in Nottinghamshire. Both animals were subsequently re-captured. Raccoon dogs are potential hosts to zoonotic pathogens, pathogens of canines and other vertebrates and are, in general terms, increasing their range in continental Europe.

Mammal reports

Wild mammal reports from IoZ In Q2 2019, we received 121 disease incident reports (DIRs) involving 130 hedgehogs (23 sick/107 dead) from 110 sites from England, Scotland and Wales. Post-mortem examinations (PMEs) were performed on 21 hedgehogs from 13 sites from England and Wales. Streptococcal disease Summary including possible threats – Point for Information (PFI); Threat to wild hedgehog health and welfare; Potential threat to public and domestic animal health In Q2 2019, a diagnosis of streptococcal disease was made in two hedgehogs examined post-mortem from separate sites in England. The aetiological agents involved were S. dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis in one case and Streptococcus pyogenes (emm type 28.15) in the other. [Editor’s note – emm sequence typing is used for defining group A streptococcal strains of bacteria].

This is the second hedgehog from which we have isolated S. pyogenes: the first was found dead in England in 2014 and gene sequencing characterised the isolate as emm 28 (Franklinos and others, 2015). To our knowledge, this is only the second known report of this bacterium from a free-living wild animal. In humans, S. pyogenes emm 28 strain can be associated with both superficial and invasive disease. Given the rarity of S. pyogenes



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infections in non-human species, it is hypothesised that these hedgehog cases might have occurred as a result of anthroponotic transmission.

References Franklinos LHV, Efstratiou A, Macgregor SK, John SK, Hopkins T, Cunningham AA, Lawson B (2015) Streptococcus pyogenes Infection in a Free-Living European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). EcoHealth 12:689.

IoZ

Wild mammal reports from APHA DoWS

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease in wild rabbits Summary including possible threats – Biodiversity threat, Public concern and press reporting

RHD2 was diagnosed as the cause of two mortality incidents at the end of May. In the first, a young animal submitted had mild pathology associated with the disease (including an enlarged spleen) and the diagnosis was confirmed by PCR undertaken by the Moredun Institute, for which APHA DoWS are grateful, and by histopathology. The location in the north of England also had cases of RHD2 diagnosed by APHA Diseases of Wildlife Scheme in 2010 and 2016. The 2010 case was diagnosed in retrospect and is noteworthy as it was the first case of RHD2 diagnosed in the UK (Westcott and others, 2015). It was diagnosed a very short time after the first ever cases of RHD2 were seen in rabbits in France in 2010. These findings give rise to some speculation; could the virus have been transported from France to the north of England (a relatively isolated location not close to motorways) without disease being seen in the intervening locations or, could the virus have evolved independently by mutation at both locations due to an as yet unknown environmental or climatic trigger? Also noteworthy was that despite the location’s history of RHD over 9 years, the wild rabbit population over these years has apparently remained stable and the animals have not disappeared.



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The second incident was a mass mortality at an unrelated, although also relatively remote, location again in the north of England. A site visit produced 11 carcases (see photo), mostly juveniles, found above ground however at the time apparently healthy adult and juveniles rabbits were also seen.

Reference

Westcott, DG, and Choudhury, B (2015) Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2-like variant in Great Britain. Veterinary Record 176, 74.

Photo 2 carcases and part carcases picked up from a site visit to a warren in the North of England. RHD2 was confirmed in three of the freshest carcases (DoWS).

Photo 1 young wild rabbit with RHD2, the enlarged spleen (displaced in this photograph for the sake of clarity) is the most consistent finding in wild rabbits with RHD2



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Avian Reports

Wild Bird report from the IoZ In Q2 2019, we received 900 DIRs involving 1197 birds (751 sick/446 dead) from 44 species and 463 sites from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. PMEs were performed on 29 birds from 26 sites from England, Scotland and Wales. Passerine Salmonellosis – update Summary including possible threats – Point for Information (PFI); Threat to wild bird health and welfare; Potential threat to public and domestic animal health In Q2 2019, salmonellosis was diagnosed in two birds, one siskin (Spinus spinus) and one house sparrow (Passer domesticus), examined post-mortem from separate sites in Scotland. The aetiological agent in both cases was suspected to be Salmonella Typhimurium, which is known to cause salmonellosis in Fringillidae and Passeridae species in Great Britain (Lawson and others, 2010). Salmonella Hessarek, meanwhile, has only been isolated on rare occasion from wild birds in GB. A recent study presented two cases involving two great spotted woodpeckers (Dendrocopos major) which were found dead in domestic gardens in Surrey, England, in 2013 and 2016 (Wilkinson and others, 2019). A Salmonella sp. was isolated from multiple tissues in both birds and histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed disseminated salmonellosis as the cause of death. Whole-genome sequencing and biochemical analyses putatively identified both isolates as a novel variant of S. Hessarek. Salmonellosis has seldom been reported in Piciformes, and, whilst S. Hessarek has been known to cause infrequent disease outbreaks in song thrushes and starlings in Europe and the Middle East, it has not been previously isolated from a piciform species. These findings, therefore, add to current knowledge regarding the range of wild bird species susceptible to this Salmonella serovar, and our understanding of the pathogens affecting great spotted woodpeckers, in particular. Continued surveillance is required to improve understanding of whether this novel S. Hessarek variant may be host-adapted to the great spotted woodpecker in GB. References Lawson B, Howard T, Kirkwood JK, Macgregor SK, Perkins M, Robinson RA, Ward LR, Cunningham AA (2010) Epidemiology of Salmonellosis in Garden Birds in England and Wales, 1993 to 2003. EcoHealth 7: 294. Wilkinson V, Rodriguez-Ramos Fernandez J, Núñez A, Macgregor SK, John SK, Dallman T, Cunningham AA, de Pinna EM, Lawson B. Novel Salmonella sp. Variant Associated with Mortality in Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos major). J Wildl Dis (in-press) IoZ



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Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) report:- April – June 2019

Passive surveillance of waterbirds

Post mortem examinations were performed on 44 wild birds which had been found dead this quarter. The 17 species from four WWT sites (Slimbridge, Gloucestershire; Arundel, West Sussex; Martin Mere, Lancashire; Welney, Norfolk) comprised mute swan (Cygnus olor )(3), whooper swan (C. cygnus) (1), greylag goose (Anser anser) (3), Canada goose (Branta canadensis) (1), shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) (1), mallard (17), northern pintail (Anas acuta) (1), moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (2), coot (Fulica atra) (5), black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) (2), European herring gull (Larus argentatus) (1), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa limosa) (1), carrion crow (Corvus corone) (1), rook (Corvus frugilegus) (1), Eurasian jackdaw (Corvus monedula) (1), wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) (2), and feral pigeon (Columba livia) (1). The primary causes of death are summarised below (Table 1).

As in the previous quarter, traumatic injuries were the main cause of mortality, affecting 34% (15) of the cases. A total of nine mallards (7 males and 2 females) had traumatic injuries consistent with mating-related intraspecific aggression, typical in this species at this time of the year (McKinney and others, 1983). Other causes of trauma included a mandibular injury, of unknown cause, in an adult female black-tailed godwit found dead in Norfolk. Four birds had heavy parasite burdens, including Syngamus trachea (gapeworm) infections in an adult carrion crow and rook, and heavy intestinal parasite burdens in a juvenile herring gull and mute swan. These birds were all in poor body condition, and no underlying diseases were diagnosed. Two birds (an adult coot and adult mallard) had avian mycobacteriosis. A juvenile female greylag goose from WWT Slimbridge was euthanased due to a growth-related limb deformity (angel wing; a disorder in avian wing anatomy); and an adult male mallard from Slimbridge was euthanased due to blindness – and was found to have a cataract in one eye (a previous cluster of cases of blindness in mallards at Slimbridge was described in more detail in a previous quarterly report – see previous GBWDSP WWT report April-June 2018).

Table 1. Confirmed & suspected causes of wild bird mortality (including morbidity meriting euthanasia on welfare grounds) at WWT reserves between January and March 2019; †n denotes juvenile birds, and number of juvenile birds; *n denotes euthanased birds, and number of euthanased birds.

Primary cause of death Total Species (and notes)

Trauma: Mating-related intraspecific aggression Other trauma

9 8

9 x mallard* 4



11

2 x mute swan†1, 1 x northern pintail, 1 x feral pigeon, 2 x wood pigeon*1, 1 x black-tailed godwit, 1 x coot

Parasite infestation

4

1 x mute swan†1*1, 1 x herring gull †1*1, 1 x carrion crow, 1 x rook

Aspergillosis 2 1 x whooper swan, 1 x jackdaw

Avian mycobacteriosis 2 1 x mallard, 1 x coot

Blindness (cataract) 1 1 x mallard*1

Growth-related wing deformity

1 1 x greylag goose†1*1

Other 7 3 x mallard, 1 x moorhen, 1 x shelduck, 1 x canada goose, 1 x greylag goose

No diagnosis (due to heavy predation, decomposition or lack of gross abnormalities)

10 3 x coot*1, 3 x mallard*1, 2 x black headed gull†1, 1 x moorhen, 1 x greylag goose†1*1

Project Godwit

This project, to reinforce the breeding population of black-tailed godwits on the Fens (see https://projectgodwit.org.uk/), is now in its third year. The project is using a technique called ‘headstarting’: each year, eggs are collected from the nests of wild pairs, the chicks are reared in captivity until fledging age (just over 1 month old), and released back into the wild to bolster the population. This year, in late June, a total of 48 birds were released, across two sites on the Ouse and Nene Washes. The birds screened negative for AI & NDV prior to release, and no significant pathogens were detected on routine faecal screening during the rearing process.

Sarcocystis surveillance project

The Muir and others (2019) paper below was submitted and accepted for publication with minor revisions in Veterinary Record, which included up to date surveillance data from the sarcocystissurvey.org.uk website.

Papers published

Cromie R, Newth J & Strong E (2019). Transitioning to non-toxic ammunition: making change happen. Ambio, 16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01204-y

https://projectgodwit.org.uk/

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01204-y



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Muir A, Ellis M, Blake D, Chantrey J, Strong E, Reeves J & Cromie R (2019). Apparent emergence of sarcocystosis in free-living UK wildfowl. Veterinary Record. (Paper accepted)

Newth JL, Lawrence A, Cromie RL, Swift JA, Rees EC, Wood KA, Strong EA, Reeves J & McDonald RA (2019). Perspectives of ammunition users on the use of lead ammunition and its potential impacts on wildlife and humans. People and Nature. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.30

Pain DJ, Dickie I, Green RE, Kanstrup N & Cromie R (2019). Wildlife, human and environmental costs of using lead ammunition: an economic review and analysis. Ambio, 16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01157-2

References

Mineau P, McKinney F & Derrickson SR (1983). Forced copulation in waterfowl. Behaviour, 86, 250-293. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853983X00390

WWT

UK Priority and Conservation Concern Species

Bird reports APHA Diseases of Wildlife Scheme: biodiversity threat; new variant of a disease

A mass mortality of several hundred adult arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) occurred at a large breeding colony on the north coast of England. Adult and chick carcases were submitted and the clinical history and the lack of gross pathology, other than empty gizzards, suggested a diagnosis of avian botulism. Examination of chick carcases, again showing empty gizzards and early pneumonia suggested that lack of parental care was the cause of death although botulism is again possible. Avian Influenza virus was not isolated however other laboratory examinations are in progress. Botulism in coastal environments is relatively unusual but it does occur. A mass mortality of arctic terns suspected to be caused by botulism and again involving deaths of hundreds of birds occurred in 2016 at a Welsh breeding colony (ref WQR or VR). In the current outbreak APHA DoWS are investigating differential diagnoses in addition to botulism.

https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.30

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01157-2

https://doi.org/10.1163/156853983X00390



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Deaths in chicks and juvenile lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) in a failing breeding colony in Cumbria were investigated. The wardens on the reserve had seen adults attacking juveniles this spring while in previous breeding seasons post mortem examinations had shown evidence of chick deaths due to attack. Two juveniles (this year’s birds) were submitted and both were in fair body condition with food in their gastro-intestinal tracts. Both had been killed by blunt, point trauma to the right side of the skull with extensive haemorrhage through the brains, one bird in addition had a similar wound in the dorsal neck region. The reason for colony failure is not known but may be due to local waste disposal sites being covered with no food available to scavenging birds, thus making the gulls reliant on natural foodstuffs. The wounds were consistent with heavy pecks from another bird (e.g. a gull) rather than attack by a mammalian predator, and the similarities of the wounds in the two juveniles suggested the possibility of learned behaviour in an individual bird.

Photo 3 dead arctic terns from a breeding colony in the North of England prior to sampling for Avian Influenza virus and post mortem. The birds were in reasonably good condition.



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Six female eider ducks (Somateria mollissima) were submitted from an island breeding colony on the north-west coast of England, accessible at low tide. In total, 11 carcases were found loosely collected in two piles and human involvement was suspected. At post-mortem the birds were all very fat and in excellent body condition (they incubate eggs on the nest without significantly feeding for three weeks), in fact they were significantly heavier that the reference body weight for female eiders. All birds had puncture wounds to their necks, back and occasionally to the breast, with no other pathology and little evidence of being eaten. The deaths were caused by a predator (foxes had caused significant mortality in colony in the past) and not humans.

Photo 4 one of two lesser black-backed gull chicks with identical head trauma lesions.

Photo 5 the two chicks showing significant cerebral haemorrhages



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Reptile reports In Q2 2019, we received 14 DIRs involving 24 reptiles (4 sick/20 dead) from 10 sites from England and Wales, comprising three dead adders (Vipera berus) , two sick grass snakes (Natrix natrix), and a dead green lizard (Lacerta viridis) form single sites, and 18 slow worms (Anguis fragilis) (three sick/15 dead) from 8 sites.

Photo 6 eider ducks in excellent body condition submitted from a breeding colony.

Photo 7 puncture wounds likely from a mammalian predator (photos: DoWS)



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Amphibian reports

Amphibian reports from the IoZ In Q2 2019, a total of 92 DIRs, involving 345 amphibians (110 sick/235 dead) were reported from 77 sites from England, Scotland and Wales. The majority of reports were of anurans only: 61 DIRs involving common frogs (Rana temporaria) from 53 sites (25 of which had multiple mortalities) and 12 DIRs involving common toads (Bufo bufo) from 10 separate sites (four of which had multiple mortalities). Nineteen DIRs involved urodeles, of which 4 were multiple mortality events, comprising: two reports involving great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) from separate sites, five involving palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus) from four sites, 11 involving smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) from eight sites, and three involving newts of unknown species from a single site. Post-mortem examinations (PMEs) were conducted on 13 amphibians from seven sites from England, comprising three common frogs, three common toads, two palmate newts and five smooth newts. Chytrid fungi and ranavirus surveillance Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal); potential threat to newt health, welfare and biodiversity if Bsal becomes established in the wild in GB; Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd); threat to amphibian health, welfare and potential threat to biodiversity; Ranavirus threat to amphibian health, welfare and biodiversity In Q2 2019, skin swabs/samples and liver samples were taken from each of the 13 amphibians examined post-mortem for real-time duplex PCR screening for Bd/Bsal and real-time PCR for ranavirus, respectively. All samples tested negative for Bd/Bsal and ranavirus. A recent study (Price and others, 2019) investigating whether climate change may be a driver of disease outbreaks studied the effects of historic and predicted temperature on ranavirus incidents in British common frogs. Using a combination of in vitro, in vivo and field studies, the results showed that higher climactic temperatures are likely to drive increasing severity of outbreaks. In wild populations, ranavirosis incidents were found to be more frequent and severe at higher temperatures, and their occurrence increased through a period of historic warming in the 1990s. Improving understanding of the mechanisms behind these findings, in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that higher temperatures increased ranavirus propagation, disease incidence, and mortality rate. When viewed alongside current projections for increasing global temperatures if emissions continue, these results predict severe ranavirosis outbreaks, potentially over wider geographic areas and with an extended seasonality, possibly affecting larval recruitment. This research has potentially serious implications for the conservation status of British amphibians, in particular common frogs, which have already undergone local declines as a result of ranavirosis (Teacher and others, 2010). References: Price SJ, Leung WTM, Owen OJ, Puschendorf R, Sergeant C, Cunningham AA, Balloux B, Garner TWJ, Nichols RA (2019) Effects of historic and projected climate change on the range and impacts of an emerging wildlife disease. Glob Change Biol. 25(8): 2648-2660.



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Teacher AG, Cunningham AA, Garner TW (2010) Assessing the long‐term impact of Ranavirus infection in wild common frog populations. Anim Conserv. 13(5):514-22. Dermocystid parasitic disease in amphibians Summary including possible threats – Point for Information (PFI); Potential public concern; From a single incident involving 9 palmate newts (six sick and three dead) in Devon, two were submitted for post-mortem examination. Both individuals showed multiple nodular blister-like skin lesions along the dorsal body (Figure 1). Histopathological examination confirmed parasitic skin disease consistent with an infection of either of the two dermocystid parasites, Amphibiocystidium sp. or Amphibiothecum sp. Surveillance indicates that these cases are sporadic in GB, typically involve individuals but can affect larger groups. Dermocystid skin lesions can occur anywhere on the body and differentiation between the two causative agents requires molecular testing and sequencing. Whilst infection can be apparently incidental, in severe cases, an infection with dermocystid parasites can lead to the death of an animal.

References

González-Hernández M, Denoël M, Duffus AJL, Garner TWJ, Cunningham AA, Acevedo-Whitehouse K (2010) Dermocystid infection and associated skin lesions in free-living palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus) from Southern France. Parasitol Int. 59(3):344–350.

Photo 8 Palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus) with nodular blister-like skin lesions on the dorsal body, indicative of dermocystid parasitic skin disease.



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Garden Wildlife Health disease factsheet, ‘Dermocystid parasites in amphibians’: https://www.gardenwildlifehealth.org/portfolio/dermocystid-parasites-in-amphibians-2/

IoZ

https://www.gardenwildlifehealth.org/portfolio/dermocystid-parasites-in-amphibians-2/



19

Appendix 1

Wildlife Report 2018

This report is based on wildlife submissions that have been collected and analysed together using shared data processing by three organisations: Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), SRUC Veterinary Services, Institute of Zoology (IoZ) in the calendar year 2018.

The report covers diagnostic submissions only. Submissions for monitoring and work related to specific projects are not included. Table of content

Overview of submissions by country and by organisation ---Page 19 Submission count at animal group level ---

Submission count at species level ---Page 20

Table 1 Summary of submission count by country and category

Country Animal Category APHA IOZ SAC Total ENGLAND Birds 192 111 2 305 Mammals 114 27 141

Amphibian, Reptiles 83 83

ENGLAND Total 306 221 2 529 WALES Birds 6 14 1 21 Mammals 2 5 7




20

WALES Total 8 25 1 34 SCOTLAND Birds 1 13 106 120 Mammals 1 20 21


SCOTLAND Total 1 15 126 142 Unspecified Birds 28 23 51 Mammals 28 4 32 Unspecified Location Total 56 27 83 Grand Total 371 261 156 788

Table 2 Quarterly summary

Category Quarter APHA IOZ SAC Total Birds 1 93 60 36 189 2 26 37 51 114 3 76 24 27 127 4 32 17 18 67 Birds Total 227 138 132 497 Mammals 1 41 1 5 47 2 17 12 7 36 3 43 7 8 58 4 43 13 4 60 Mammals Total 144 33 24 201

Amphibian, Reptiles

1 27 27 2 42 42 3 19 19

4 2 2 Amphibian, Reptiles Total 90 90 Grand total 371 261 156 788



21

Table 3 Summary of submission count by animal sub-category

Category Sub Category APHA IOZ SAC Total

Birds Bird of Prey 43 6 4% 86 65% 135 27% Game Bird 0% 0% 7 5% 7 1% Garden Bird 13 6% 132 96% 7 5% 152 31% Others 34 15% 0% 10 8% 44 9% Water Bird 137 60% 0% 22 17% 159 32% Birds Total 227 100% 138 100% 132 100% 497 100% Mammals Bat 6 4% 0% 0% 6 3% Deer 22 15% 0% 4 17% 26 13% Dolphin 1 1% 0% 0% 1 0% Fox 14 10% 0% 3 13% 17 8% Hare 14 10% 0% 9 38% 23 11% Hedgehog 10 7% 33 100% 1 4% 44 22% Mustelid 19 13% 0% 5 21% 24 12% Rabbit 4 3% 0% 1 4% 5 2% Seal 31 22% 0% 1 4% 32 16% Squirrel 23 16% 0% 0% 23 11%

7091 86

7038 36

5940

5632 39

25

34

6553

51

52 43

58

5350

6938

19

423

35

52

9

82 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180Ja

nuar

yFe

brua

ryM

arch

April

May

June July

Augu

stSe

ptem

ber

Oct

ober

Nov

embe

rDe

cem

ber

Subm

issio

n Co

unt

Calendar month

Submission by month and animal category

Birds Mammals Amphibian, Reptiles



22

Mammals Total 144 100% 33 100% 24 100% 201 100% Amphibian, Reptiles Frog 62 69% 62 69% Lizard 3 3% 3 3% Newt 16 18% 16 18% Snake 3 3% 3 3% Toad 6 7% 6 7% Amphibian, Reptiles Total 90 100% 90 100% Grand total 371 261 156 788

Table 4 Summary of submission count by species – Amphibian, Reptiles

Category Sub Category Group MasterSpecies Species_Latin_name APHA IOZ SAC Total Amphibian, Reptiles Land Lizard Slow-worm Anguis fragilis 3 3 Snake Adder Vipera berus 3 3 Toad Common Toad Bufo bufo 6 6 Water Frog Common Frog Rana temporaria 62 62

Newt Newt (species unknown) Lissotriton sp. 1 1

Palmate Newt Lissotriton helveticus 4 4 Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris 4 4 Unidentified newt Salamandridae sp. 7 7 Amphibian, Reptiles Total 90 90

Table 5 Submission count by Species –Mammals

Category Sub Category Group MasterSpecies Species_Latin_name APHA IOZ SAC Total

Mammals Land Bat Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus hipposideros 1 1

Natterers Bat Myotis nattereri 1 1 Pipistrelle Bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus 2 2 Unlisted Bat 1 1 Unspec.Bat 1 1 Deer Deer 1 1 Fallow Deer Dama dama 9 9 Red Deer Cervus elaphus 4 4 Reindeer Rangifer tarandus 2 2 Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus 6 4 10 Fox Fox Vulpes vulpes 14 3 17 Hare Brown Hare Lepus Europaeus 13 1 14 Mountain Hare Lepus timidus 3 3 Unspec. Hare 1 5 6 Hedgehog Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus 10 33 1 44



23

Mustelid Badger Meles meles 18 3 21 Otter Lutra lutra 1 1 2 Pine marten Martes martes 1 1

Rabbit Rabbit Oryctolagus cunniculus 4 1 5

Squirrel Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 5 5 Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris 18 18 Marine Dolphin Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1 1 Seal Common Seal Phoca vitulina 12 12 Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 13 1 14 Unspec. Seal 6 6 Mammals Total 144 33 24 201

Table 6 Submission count by Species –Birds


Birds Bird of Prey Hawk Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 1 1

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 2 2 4 Owl Barn Owl Tyto alba 3 1 4 Long eared owl Asio otus 1 1 Mixed Owls 1 1 Shorteared owl Asio flammeus 2 2 Tawny Owl Strix aluco 3 2 1 6 Unspec. Owl 1 1



24


Raptor Bird of Prey 6 6 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 12 40 52 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 6 6 Goshawk Accipiter gentilis 1 1 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 3 3 Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus 1 1 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 2 1 5 8 Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2 2 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 4 5 Red Kite Milvus milvus 5 5 10 Sea Eagle 6 6 Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 5 5 Unspec.Buzzard 9 9 White tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla 1 1

Game Bird Game Birds Others Pheasant Phasianus colchicus 2 2

Grouse Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus 2 2 Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus 2 2 Unspec. Grouse 1 1

Garden Bird Bunting Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 1 1

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella 2 2 Corvid Carrion Crow Corvus corone 2 2 Crow Corvus corone 2 2 Magpie Pica pica 1 1 Dove/Pigeon Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 8 8

Feral Pigeon Columba livia f. domestica 2 2

Feral Pigeon/ Rock Dove

Columba livia f. domestica 1 1

Unspecified Dove/Pigeon 6 2 8

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 2 1 3 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus 2 2 Dunnock Dunnock Prunella modularis 1 1 Finch Brambling Fringilla montifringilla 5 5 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 10 10 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 1 41 42 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 9 9 Greenfinch Chloris chloris 15 1 16

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes 2 2

Siskin Spinus spinus 3 1 4 flycatcher Robin Erithacus rubecula 1 1



25


Hatch Nuthatch Sitta europaea 1 1 Martin House Martin Delichon urbicum 1 1 Parakeet Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri 2 2 Sparrow House Sparrow Passer domesticus 2 2 Unlisted Sparrow 1 1 Starling Starling Sturnus vulgaris 3 3 Swallow Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 1 1 Swift Swift Apus apus 1 1 2 Thrush Blackbird Turdus merula 5 5 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris 1 1 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 1 1 Tit Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus 1 1 Coal Tit Periparus ater 1 1 Great Tit Parus major 2 2 Warbler Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 2 2 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 1 1

Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major 3 3

Water Bird Coot Coot Fulica atra 1 1 Cormorant Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 2 2 Duck Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 1 1 Goosander Mergus merganser 1 1 Mallard Duck Anas platyrhynchos 22 22 Mixed Duck (blank) 1 1 Shelduck Duck Tadorna tadorna 1 1 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 1 1 Unspec.Duck 2 1 3 White Duck 2 2 Goose Canada Goose Branta canadensis 15 15 Greylag Goose Anser anser 2 1 3

Pink Footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus 1 1

Unspec.Goose 1 1 Gull Black Headed Gull Larus ridibundus 4 4 Gull 2 2 Herring Gull Larus argentatus 5 5

Lesser Black-Backed Gull Larus fuscus 4 4

Mixed Gull 3 3 Seagull 4 4 Unspec.Gull 1 1



26


Lapwing Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 1 1 2

Other Water Bird Grey heron Ardea cinerea 1 1

Guillemot Uria aalge 1 1

Oyster Catcher Oyster Catcher

Haematopus ostralegus 1 1

Penguin Humbolt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti 1 1 Swan Mute Swan Cygnus olor 53 1 54 Unspec.Swan 11 7 18 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus 1 1

Tern Common Tern Sterna hirundo 1 1 Others 35 10 44 Birds Total 227 138 132 497



27

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The material in this report has been compiled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Surveillance Intelligence Unit in collaboration with the APHA Surveillance and Laboratory Services Department.

The report is available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animal-disease-surveillance-reports.

You may re-use information from the report (excluding logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence v.3. The licence can be reviewed on GOV.UK at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ or by emailing [email protected].

Images are governed by Crown Copyright except where specifically acknowledged to have been provided by others external to APHA. This does not include the use of the APHA logo which should be excluded, or only used after permission has been obtained from APHA Corporate Communications, who can be contacted by emailing [email protected].

Any enquiries regarding this report should be sent to APHA’s Surveillance Intelligence Unit by emailing [email protected].

More information about scanning surveillance reports is available on APHA’s Vet Gateway at http://apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/surveillance/index.htm.

APHA is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and also works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animal-disease-surveillance-reports

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animal-disease-surveillance-reports

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

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http://apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/surveillance/index.htm

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