!!! Some sad news about Kate just in this morning!
July 25, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Monday July 25th - 2011 - 11AM
We have only just received some bad news from Toronto Wildlife this morning regarding little Kate from the Toronto Sheraton nest site. In a telephone call this received this morning, we are told that Kate passed away early Saturday morning in her sleep.
While the results of the blood work that was done for blood parasites came back negative and the serious of chest x-rays didn’t show any real clear evidence of Aspergillosis,, Aspergillosis is highly suspect given her condition. She was very much underweight and simply had no energy or fire as we say. The young birds are especially vulnerable as they have yet to develop strong immune systems to fight off all of the usual nasty ailments they are exposed to while they are still growing and developing.
To explain Aspergillus in short:
Aspergillosis is a respiratory disease of birds caused by the fungus Aspergillus, which is found almost everywhere in the environment.
A. fumigatus is the most common species of the fungus to cause disease, although A. flavus, A. niger, and others can also cause problems. Aspergillus grows readily in warm and moist environments. The microscopic spores of the fungus become airborne, poor ventilation, poor sanitation, dusty conditions, and close confinement increase the chance the spores will be inhaled.
Usually, the fungus does not cause disease, however, if a bird does not have a healthy immune system, it can cause illness. Predisposing factors include other illnesses, stress, poor nutrition, poor husbandry or unsanitary conditions, another injury to the respiratory system (e.g.; airborne pollutants).
The combination of the number of spores in the environment and the presence of predisposing factors determine which birds are most at risk of disease.
Aspergillus is everywhere; it grows on everywhere, including on living tissue. Every speck of dust and dirt has spores of at least one species of Aspergillus. A bird does not usually succumb to the disease when it has a strong immune system. Over time it has built up antibodies strong enough to wage a proper war against the spores. But, a weakened immune system or ingestion of a huge amount of spores is what causes this disease. Every animal with lungs breathes in thousands of Aspergillus spores every day.
The spores cannot grow in the lungs of a healthy body, but a diseased lung can easily become a host. Aspergillosis can consume a bird with a weakened immune system. Poor nutrition, another illness, anxiety, loneliness, old age, unsanitary conditions or disturbed soil can also bring on this illness. A constant and gradual exposure can create a chronic (long term) infection and the causes are all too commonly found in places you would never expect.
Given the hot dry conditions we’re been having, this is an ideal environment for the airborne spores to spread around in the dry air.
We are truly saddened to receive this news this morning, and it’s very nice to see that little Cinnamon (another one of the Toronto Sheraton juveniles that we believed might not have made it given his small size and underdevelopment) that he is going strong today!!