Scientists identify avian cholera as major cause of penguin deaths in Antarctica
The findings highlight an underrecognized threat to Antarctic wildlife and the importance of comprehensive disease investigations, particularly as H5N1 continues to raise concerns for seabird and marine mammal populations.
The findings highlight an underrecognized threat to Antarctic wildlife and the importance of comprehensive disease investigations, particularly as H5N1 continues to raise concerns for seabird and marine mammal populations.
The short version
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
- Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In March 2024, an international research expedition visited Antarctica's remote Danger Islands, home to more than 1.2 million breeding pairs of Adélie penguins.
- Researchers discovered thousands of dead penguins across two islands, along with carcasses of several other seabird species.
What happened
With H5N1 having recently reached the Antarctic Peninsula, bird flu was the initial suspected cause. However, laboratory testing and pathological examinations revealed that most of the investigated deaths were caused by avian cholera, a disease caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida.
Why it matters
The bacterium was detected in 46 of 49 animals sampled, while H5N1 was present in only a few.
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