Botulism in waterbirds: Mortality rates and new insights into how it spreads
Saturday, March 26, 2016 - 10:00
in Biology & Nature
Outbreaks of botulism killed large percentages of waterbirds inhabiting a wetland in Spain. The botulinum toxin's spread may have been abetted by an invasive species of water snail which frequently carries the toxin-producing bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, and which is well adapted to wetlands polluted by sewage. Global warming will likely increase outbreaks, say experts.