OCCURRENCE OF POTENTIAL PATHOGENS IN WILD CARIBBEAN FLAMINGOS

This paper reports the s?rologie, bact?riologie, and parasitologic findings from Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) sampled during an episode of lead poisoning in Yucat?n, Mexico, that occurred March-April 1989. Blood samples and swabs were obtained from nine moribund flamingos. Of the nine sera tested, two were positive for neutralizing antibodies against Venezuelan equine encephalitis-Mena II virus, two were positive for Newcastle disease virus, one was positive for St. Louis encephalitis virus, and one was positive for avian cholera. The following bacteria were isolated from these and 18 additional flamingo carcasses: Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Pasteur ella multocida, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus spp. Among the endopar asites, Tetrameres americana was found in all nine flamingos examined. Possible disease implications in this flamingo population are discussed.