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Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 43(1), 2007, pp. 136-141
© Wildlife Disease Association  2007
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SHORT COMMUNICATION

First Detection of Bacillus anthracis in Feces of Free-ranging Raptors from Central Argentina

 Miguel D. Saggese1,9,11, Ramón P. Noseda2, Marcela M. Uhart3, Sharon L. Deem4,10, Hebe Ferreyra5, Marcelo C. Romano6, María C. Ferreyra-Armas7 and Martin Hugh-Jones8

1 Area de Animales No Tradicionales, Departamento de Producción, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires (1427), Argentina
2 Laboratorio Azul Diagnóstico, Av. 25 de Mayo 479 (7300), Azul, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3 Field Veterinary Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Estivariz 197 (9120), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
4 Field Veterinary Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, The Bronx, New York 10460, USA
5 Gaona 360, Alto Alberdi, Córdoba (5003), Argentina
6 Centro de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Ambiente Ecosur, Pasaje Sunchales 329 (2000), Rosario, Argentina
7 Wild-Lab Laboratorio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
8 Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA
11 Corresponding author (email: msaggese{at}cvm.tamu.edu)

ABSTRACT:   Prevalence of anthrax spores in feces of raptors was determined from samples collected in November–December 2000 and April–May 2001 in an agricultural region of Santa Fé province, Argentina. Feces were tested from 48 birds of six raptor species. One of 14 chimango caracaras (Milvago chimango) and one of eight road-side hawks (Buteo magnirostris) tested positive. The prevalence of Bacillus anthracis spores in feces for the six species was 4% (n=48). The prevalence was 7% (n=14) for chimango caracaras, 13% for road-side hawks (n=8), and 0% for the remaining species (Burrowing owl [Speotyto cunicularia] [n=17], Swainson’s hawk [Buteo swainsoni] [n=3], Aplomado falcon [Falco femoralis] [n=2], and American kestrel [Falco sparverius] [n=4]). Grouped by their feeding habits, prevalence for scavenger species was not significantly different than for predators (7% vs. 3%, P>0.999). This study provides evidence that in central Argentina scavenger and non-scavenger raptors may have a role in the epidemiology of anthrax. Long-term studies to determine the extent of this potential involvement in the epidemiology of anthrax in central Argentina are required.
  Key words:  Anthrax, Argentina, Bacillus anthracis, raptors.

9 Current address: Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA;

10 Current address: Department of Animal Health, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Ave., Washington, DC 20008, USA;






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