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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

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Procedures for Identifying Infectious Prions After Passage Through the Digestive System of an Avian Species
Published on: November 6, 2013
[Peracute mortality in common cranes (Grus grus)]
H Prange1, K Jonas, C Gottschalk
1Institut für Tierzucht und Tierhaltung mit Tierklinik, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg.
Berliner Und Munchener Tierarztliche Wochenschrift
|September 20, 2000
Summary
Acute crane mortality was linked to potential intoxication and significant endoparasite infections. Further analysis revealed intestinal, liver, and kidney damage in affected birds, suggesting complex health issues.
Area of Science:
- Avian pathology
- Wildlife toxicology
- Parasitology
Context:
- Investigates acute mortality in a nonbreeding crane population.
- Examines pathological findings in deceased cranes.
Purpose:
- To determine the cause of peracute death in cranes.
- To identify etiological agents and contributing factors.
Summary:
- Pathological examination revealed intestinal, liver, and kidney damage, suggestive of intoxication, though no specific poison was identified.
- Bacterial pathogens (E. coli, Cl. perfringens, Campylobacter jejuni) were detected but considered secondary.
- A high prevalence of endoparasite infestation (Porrocaeum spp., Eimeria pusilla, Echinostoma spp.) was found in most cranes.
- Emaciation was observed in several birds, potentially linked to migration stress.
Impact:
- Highlights the multifactorial causes of mortality in cranes.
- Underscores the importance of considering both toxicological and parasitic factors in avian health.
- Provides data on endoparasite prevalence in nonbreeding crane populations.

