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Possible involvement of microcystins in the unexplained mass mortalities of Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor Geoffroy) at Lake Manyara in Tanzania

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Abstract

Frequent mortality of Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) in East African alkaline saline lakes is a tragedy to the conservation of this nearly threatened species of birds. The objective of this study was to investigate the cause of Lesser Flamingo mortality in Lake Manyara during August 2008 and to determine if microcystins were involved. Pathological, microbiological and microcystin analysis was done to 11 Lesser Flamingo carcasses using standard procedures. It was found that carcasses were emaciated, the visceral organs were enlarged, haemorrhagic and the livers had nodular lesions. Tissue histopathological sections revealed that there was diffuse chronic inflammation, perisinusoidal haemorrhages, portal mononuclear cell infiltrations, necrosis and degenerative changes in the liver. Corynebacteria spp., Pasteurella multocida, Proteus spp. and Escherichia coli were isolated from the visceral organs in all carcasses. All the Lesser Flamingo carcasses contained detectable levels of microcystins. Three microcystin variants: MC-LR, -YR and -RR were detected with MC-LR having a concentration of 22 ± 16 μg/g wet weight in livers. Low concentrations of microcystins were detected in the kidneys, lungs and heart samples. Simultaneously, the high concentrations of microcystins in the livers together with the opportunistic bacterial infections could synergistically have caused effects to the stressed Lesser Flamingo which lead to their mortality.

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Acknowledgments

This study was kindly supported by The Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Higher Education (NUFU) PRO 07/10224. Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NVH) and National Veterinary Institute, Norway (NVI) played a facilitation role while the permission to conduct this study was granted by Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI). We thank the Director General of Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA). The kind assistance received from the Chief Park Warden at Lake Manyara National Park is highly acknowledged. Dr. Peter L.M. Msoffe is acknowledged for participating during hard field work and kind donation of his Flu Detect™ Avian Influenza Type A Antigen Test Kits to be used during this project. For field help, many thanks to: Mr. Emilian S. Kihwele, Ruben A. Lyimo, Kelvin Nkulila, Konnah, Makingi and many other staff at Lake Manyara National park.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania

    H. E. Nonga, R. H. Mdegela, G. L. Mwamengele & W. D. Semuguruka

  2. Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P. O. Box 8146 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway

    H. E. Nonga, E. Lie & J. U. Skaare

  3. National Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, 0106, Oslo, Norway

    M. Sandvik, C. O. Miles & J. U. Skaare

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  1. H. E. Nonga
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  2. M. Sandvik
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  4. E. Lie
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  7. W. D. Semuguruka
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Correspondence to H. E. Nonga.

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Nonga, H.E., Sandvik, M., Miles, C.O. et al. Possible involvement of microcystins in the unexplained mass mortalities of Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor Geoffroy) at Lake Manyara in Tanzania. Hydrobiologia 678, 167–178 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0844-8

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