Botulism likely cause of deaths at The Lough

A STRAIN of botulism, caused by bacteria emitting lethal toxins, seems the most likely explanation for the large number of deaths of swans, ducks and fish at The Lough in Cork.

Cork City Council’s chief veterinary officer, Diarmuid Dooge, said both fowl and fish would be affected by Clostridium botulinum, a form of bacteria released from spores on the silt bed of the lake.

More than 30 previously healthy swans and ducks and five carp are suspected to have been killed by the toxic bacteria attaching to vegetation that is eaten by both the birds and fish at the picturesque wildlife sanctuary.

The sprouting of the spores, and the subsequent release of toxins that attack the fish and birds’ central nervous systems, may be attributed to the recent humidity and a lowering of the water level. These conditions will have encouraged the bacteria to “flower”.

It was initially thought that a virus had been transmitted to the resident fowl by a wild duck. But that has been ruled out following tests at the Regional Veterinary Laboratory at Model Farm Road.

Avian influenza, more commonly known as the dreaded bird flu, was also quickly ruled out, leaving Clostridium botulinum as the likely culprit.

Mr Dooge said it was vital that all dead carcasses were removed from the water and the central island as quickly as possible to prevent the lethal disease from attacking more wildlife.

He predicted more fowl would die before the situation was brought under control.

“It is vital we continue to remove all dead and dying birds. If maggots get onto a carcass they will concentrate the toxins and make them easier to spread,” he said.

As there is no laboratory in Ireland equipped to confirm cases of botulism – commonly known as a potentially lethal strain of food poisoning – samples will have to be sent to Scotland and it is expected it will take days before the results are known.

“We need confirmation of this. We need a scientific explanation,” Mr Dooge said.

He has also called in the aquatic services section at University College Cork to analyse the water quality at the nine-acre lake near Togher.

“It fits the pattern of Clostridium botulinum as both ducks and fish are susceptible to it. We want to get on top of this as soon as possible. It is a dreadful situation,” Mr Dooge said.

The chief veterinary officer has also held discussions on the problem with the coarse angling club, which stocks the lake.

The Lough is one of the premier carp fisheries in Ireland.

About 2,000 carp are in the lake and it attracts thousands of coarse anglers every year, providing a welcome financial boost to the local economy.