Animal mortality

About: Animal mortality is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 526 publications have been published within this topic receiving 14887 citations.

Causes of calf mortality in peri-urban area of Nairobi, Kenya.

Abstract: The study reported data from 507 post-mortem records in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Kenya. The records were from carcasses obtained from the peri-urban area of Nairobi during a 20-year period between 1990 and 2009. Approximately 80% (393/507) of the calf carcasses had their diagnosis made through post-mortem examination, while the rest (114/507) were inconclusive. Just less than half (48.3%) of the calf carcasses presented had their age specified by the owners compared to 51.7% whose age was not specified. For calf carcasses whose age was specified by the owners, those indicated as more than 3 months were one-and-a-half times as many as those below 3 months old. The proportion of female carcasses (53.8%, 273/507) presented for post-mortem were slightly higher than the male carcasses (46.2%, 234/507). Diseases or conditions of the respiratory system were the most common 17.7% (97/507) while gastrointestinal tract (GIT) was second and affected 16.1% (88/507) of the cases. Another small number, 3.3% (18/507), died from bloat giving the total cases associated with GIT as 19.4% (106/507). Severe calf malnutrition and septicaemia were the third most reported causes of calf mortality in similar proportions at 14.3% (78/507) and 14.4% (79/507), respectively. Other minor causes of calf mortality were tick-borne diseases 8.6% (47/507), helminthiasis and poisoning, 2.9% (16/507) and 1.8% (10/507), respectively.

The role of parasitic diseases as causes of mortality in small ruminants in a high-potential farming area in central Kenya.

Abstract: A 15-year retrospective study was performed to determine the role of parasitic diseases in causing mortalities in small ruminants. In total, 115 (32 %) sheep were diagnosed as having been killed by parasitic diseases out of 366 that died as a result of disease. The major cause of mortality was helminthosis (63 %of all parasitic cases). Most of the helminthosis cases were attributed to haemonchosis (40 % of parasitic cases). Heartwater was the second most important parasitic disease (27 %of all parasitic cases). Ninety-five (26 %) goats were diagnosed to have been killed by parasitic diseases out of 365 cases presented at the post mortem facility. Helminthosis was the most frequent cause of mortality (55 % of the total parasitic diseases). Twenty-six goats were killed by haemonchosis (27 % of all parasitic diseases). Heartwater was the second most important parasitic disease, accounting for about 20 % of all parasitic diseases. These findings indicate that viable helminth and tick control strategies should be devised in order to reduce mortality caused by helminthosis and heartwater and thereby achieve improved productivity.

Mortality of large mammals on railway tracks

Abstract: As linear structures, railways (rail corridors) significantly affect life in the wild, have negative impact on animal population levels, and affect the very form and structure of inhabited biotopes. This article analyses and quantifies mammal mortality on the Plzeň– Horažďovice suburban railway line. The research was conducted over the 12 months from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009. During this period total 60 animals were run down, among them, 60% of collisions were with roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 17% with European hare (Lepus europaeus), 13% with pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), 5% with bird of prey, 3% with wild board (Sus scrofa) and 2% with red fox (Vulpes vulpes). The aim of the research was to analyse in detail individual sections of the track, whose land cover, land use, migration rate and wildlife-train collisions vary. The outcome of this work is to evaluate and assess the overall animal mortality and to determine the most affected wildlife species. The aforementioned results show that rail transport is dangerous for wild mammals, and it can be clearly said that the most endangered species is roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

An Overview of Early Anthrax Outbreaks in Northern Canada: Field Reports of the Health of Animals Branch, Agriculture Canada, 1962-71

Abstract: Between 1962 and 1971, six outbreaks of anthrax occurred in the bison herds of the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta. In response, the federal Health of Animals Branch dispatched staff veterinarians to oversee carcass disposal operations and later to take part in bison depopulation and vaccination programs. Recently, a collection of documents from that agency concerning the outbreaks was discovered in the federal archives. The collection includes field reports from the veterinarians that provide valuable, detailed, first-person accounts of the outbreaks and later programs, information which has generally been lacking in the published literature. The reports identify at least 1102 bison that died of anthrax during the six outbreaks, dozens more than reported previously. They also indicate that the disease spread into Wood Buffalo National Park in 1963, rather than in 1964, as reported previously. A minimum of 598 healthy bison were also killed in depopulation programs aimed at preventing the spread of anthrax into the Park, even though anthrax carcasses had already been discovered within the Park and the targeted regions would be repopulated within weeks. Coverage and revaccination rates were low throughout the vaccination program, and a further 828 bison died during the vaccine roundups.