Ukraine - In Kherson region of the Ukraine the bird influenza is revealed

[Theresa42]

babelfished from Russian:

In Kherson region of the Ukraine the bird influenza is revealed
May 13, 2006

In the cormorants, that perished near Sivasha (Genicheskiy region of Kherson region), was discovered the virus of the bird influenza of sub-type H5.

Approximately 50 dead birds were discovered in that region at the end of April, reported on 12 May at the session of extraordinary anti-epizootic commission with oblgosadministratsii the chief for the administration for veterinary medicine in the region Sergey Kolomiyets.

As they reported in the press-service of oblgosadministratsii, the central laboratory of veterinary medicine confirmed the presence of virus (Kiev). The concrete strain of virus and its virulence (hazard level) for the birds and the people now is refined. It is known that from the birds to the man can be transferred the virus of the bird influenza H5N1.

Let us recall that the cases of the mass loss of poultry were observed in the Ukraine even during October of past year. However, information was quieted by local authorities until in one of the villages during several it was hour they did not die 2,5 thousand birds. Only on 3 December parliament affirmed President's Decree Victor Yushchenko about the introduction of state of emergency in some populated areas of the Crimea.

Strain H5N1, which presents fatal danger to the man, was for the first time revealed in Hong Kong into 1997. The second flash was fixed into 2003 in South Korea. From there virus was extended into China, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Indonesia, and then into Europe. From 2003. in Asia of the virus of "bird influenza" died not less than 68 people.

http://top.rbc.ru/index.shtml?/news/society/2006/05/13/13024006_bod.shtml

[HenryN]

Re: Ukraine - In Kherson region of the Ukraine the bird influenza is revealed

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/05130601/H5N1_Ukraine_Return.html

[Theresa42]

Cormorants in the Ukraine

Both the Great Cormorant and the Pygmy Cormorant can be found in the Ukraine:

http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp?lang=EN&pg=checklist&region=ua&list=clements

The Pygmy Cormorant doesn't appear to migrate very far during winter -- they move a bit south but apparently stay within their breeding range:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_cormorant

Great Cormorants do migrate from Western Europe to West Africa for the winter. I wonder if the ones in Ukraine head there, too?:

http://web.tiscalinet.it/sv2001/cormo_abstract/bull4_docs/Veldkamp.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Cormorant

Would be nice to know which sort of cormorants (maybe both?) were found to be infected in the Ukraine now.

[Theresa42]

OIE report on H5N1 in Great Cormorants in Ukraine

The first (not the final) report has been submitted to the OIE regarding the outbreak of H5N1 in cormorants in the Ukraine. Turns out they were Great Cormorants, not Pygmy Cormorants.

Great Cormorants in Western Europe migrate to Western Africa during the winters. I don't know if this includes the cormorants in the Ukraine, but I will do a little research. (Pygmy Cormorants do not do long-distance migration.)

MISCELLANEOUS: AVIAN INFLUENZA IN UKRAINE (IN WILDLIFE)
Immediate notification report

http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/A_CURRENT.HTM#Sec5

Information received on 12 May 2006 from Dr Ivan Yuriyovych Bisyuk, Head, State Department for Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Agricultural Policy, Kiev:

Report date: 12 May 2006.
Identification of agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5.
Date of first confirmation of the event: 9 May 2006.
Date of start of the event: 20 April 2006.
Clinical disease: yes.
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, post-mortem and laboratory.

Details of outbreak:
First administrative division (region) - Kherson
Lower administrative division (district) - Genicheskiy
Type of epidemiological unit - N/A
Name of the location - Strilkove
Date of start of the outbreak - 20 April 2006
Species - fau

Number of animals in the outbreak:
susceptible: --
cases: 56
deaths: 6
destroyed: 0
slaughtered: 0

* NA: not applicable

Description of affected population: great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo). The birds, dead or ill, were found on one of the islands of Sivash lake, 4 - 4.5 km from the village.

Diagnosis:

Laboratories where diagnostic tests were performed:
1) Donetsk Inter-regional State Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine for Avian Diseases
2) Central State Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine (Kiev)

Species examined:
1) fau
2) fau

Diagnostic tests used:
1) - haemagglutination inhibition - virus isolation
2) - haemagglutination inhibition - PCR(1)

Date:
1) 30 April 2006
2) - 9 May 2006 - 10 May 2006

Results:
1) positive
2) positive for subtype H5

Source of outbreak or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive.

Control measures undertaken:
- control of wildlife reservoirs;
- quarantine;
- movement control inside the country;
- screening;
- zoning.

Treatment of affected animals: no.

Vaccination prohibited: yes.

Other details/comments: within the 10-km-radius surveillance zone established around the outbreak, birds are permanently clinically monitored.

Final report: no.

(1) PCR: polymerase chain reaction

[Theresa42]

Some Great Cormorants from Ukraine migrate to Nigeria/Senegal

...some immature [Phalacrocorax carbo] sinensis birds born in Ukraine have proven to be long distance migrators, since one bird ringed on the Lebiazhy islets (Karkinitsky Bay, on the western Crimean coast) was recovered in Nigeria and another in Senegal (distance more than 5500 km) (Koshelev et al. 1997).


From GREAT CORMORANTS Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus AND OTHER PISCIVOROUS WATERBIRDS ON THE BANC D?ARGUIN, MAURITANIA IN
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1997

(...)

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

In West Africa, the great cormorant is a resident and winter visiter. Three subspecies occur along the Atlantic coast: P. c. sinensis is a winter visitor from Western Europe. P. c. lucidus breeds along the coasts from Mauritania to Guinea-Bissau. P. c. maroccanus is a resident in coastal north-western Africa from Morocco south to Mauritania.

P. c. sinensis

West European breeders of the continental race P. c. sinensis migrate chiefly south to south-west. Those ringed in The Netherlands are found abroad mainly in France, Iberia, Corsica and Sardinia. They also occur on the southern fringe of the Mediterranean (Munsterman & Van Eerden 1991). Birds were recovered from Algeria and many from Tunesia. There are also recoveries and observations from the Atlantic coast of Morocco (Speek & Speek 1984, Groen & Zomerdijk 1994). There are no observations of adult P. c. sinensis in Mauritania thus far. This is quite remarkable. It was calculated that the 1995-96 midwinter population of the European great cormorants P. c. sinensis and P. c. carbo was at least c. 720.000 birds (Veldkamp 1997a,b). The wintering places of some 300.000 great cormorants in Europe are known. Part of the population winters along the shores of the Mediterranean. Substantial numbers are reported from Tunisia, Egypt and Israel (totalling at least 50.000 birds). This means that the wintering places of at least 370.000 birds are still unknown. It is likely that many roots in the Mediterrean have never been counted. The flyway along the Nortwestern coasts of Africa seems to be of little meaning for the highly migratory continental subspecies of the great cormorant since only small numbers have been reported from Morocco (Kersten et al. 1983, Groen & Zomerdijk 1994). In January and February 1997 no adult sinensis-like birds were observed on the Banc d?Arguin. Since it is hard to distinguish between juvenile birds of the races sinensis and lucidus, one cannot be sure whether there were juvenile hidden birds in the large groups of great cormorants at the Banc d? Arguin. Because there were no birds observerved with colour rings, it seems not likely that the Banc d?Arguin Mauritania is an important winter area for West-European continental great cormorants.

West-European great cormorants probably don?t go further south than Morocco, some immature sinensis birds born in Ukraine have proven to be long distance migrators, since one bird ringed on the Lebiazhy islets (Karkinitsky Bay, on the western Crimean coast) was recovered in Nigeria and another in Senegal (distance more than 5500 km) (Koshelev et al. 1997).

P. c. maroccanus

Very little is known about of P. c. maroccanus, an intermediate between P. c. sinensis and P. c. lucidus. Cramp & Simmons (1977) give measurements of only one bird. In 1981 single individuals were seen regularly, flying over the Sidi Moussa area, Morocco but counts yielded no great cormorants at all. Six single birds were seen at sea between Sidi Moussa and El Jadida. The birds were white necked and probably belonged to the subspecies P. c. maroccanus (Kersten et al. 1983). During a survey of waders and waterbirds along part of the Atlantic Coast of Morocco during autumn 1991 and spring 1992 only few great cormorants were seen. In seven out of twelve wetlands visited, a maximum number of 114 birds were coumnted. A few birds in adult plumage which could closely studied in the lagoon at Oualidia on 19 December belonged to the subspecies sinensis. On 21 December an adult of the subspecies maroccanus (or perhaps lucidus) was obseved at Sidi Moussa (Groen & Zomerdijk 1994). On the Banc d?Arguin all adult great cormorants seemed to be white-breasted, suggesting that P. c. maroccanus does not winter in the National Park.

P. c. lucidus

Great cormorants wintering on the Banc d?Arguin probably all belong to the subspecies P. c. lucidus (Gowthorpe & Larmarche 1996). As table 1 reveals in 1997 a total number of 25.362 great cormorants were counted in the Banc d?Arguin. This was more than ever before. Late December 1971 3.000 were counted (P?t?tin & Trogtignon 1972) and in January-March 1980 9.395 birds were counted (Altenburg et al. 1982). Arel with 7.550 birds was the main roost. In 1997 17.000 birds used Arel as a roost.

http://web.tiscalinet.it/sv2001/cormo_abstract/bull4_docs/Veldkamp.htm

However, some Great Cormorants winter over in Kherson, Ukraine (mouse over 'European distribution' map):

http://www.birdguides.com/html/vidlib/species/Phalacrocorax_carbo.htm