15 Nov 2024        15:23:19 pm

Environmental Ecology

Avian Botulism

Tags : Avian Botulism

Topic: Biodiversity

Why in the news?

• Contagious Bird Disease, avian botulism strikes at Sambhar salt lake of Rajasthan

Source: NDTV

About Avian Botulism:

• It is a neuro-muscular illness caused by Botulinum (natural toxin) that is produced by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum.
  • The bacteria is commonly found in the soil, rivers, and seawater. 
  • It affects both humans and animals.
  • It needs anaerobic (absence of oxygen) conditions and does not grow in acidic conditions.
• This disease affects the nervous system of birds, leading to paralysis in their legs and wings.
• The outbreaks of avian botulism tend to occur when average temperatures are above 21 degrees celsius, and during droughts.
• The possible causes for avian botulism at Sambhar lake are:
  • Reduced water levels: This might have increased salinity levels leading to the death of living organisms.
  • A bird-to-bird cycle: Since only insectivorous and omnivorous birds were affected and not herbivores, the birds feeding on dead birds could have been a possible cause of such mortality.
  • The possibility of external factors like water pollution and eutrophication are ruled out as no farming is being carried out in the vicinity of sambhar lake.

Sambhar Salt Lake:

• It is India\'s largest inland saltwater body located near Jaipur in Rajasthan.
• It is surrounded on all sides by the Aravali hills. 
• It is the source of most of Rajasthan\'s salt production.
• It has been designated as a Ramsar site as it is a key wintering area for tens of thousands of flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia.

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