VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe – Scientists have identified a rare bacterium as the cause of dozens of African elephant deaths in Zimbabwe three years ago. The bacterium, known as Pasteurellaceae Bisgaard taxon 45, was found in samples from six of 15 elephants analyzed, according to a report published in Nature Communications on October 25.
This discovery solves part of the mystery surrounding the deaths of the African elephants, which are endangered according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and adds to the growing list of pathogens that scientists need to watch out for in cases of mysterious wildlife deaths in Africa. The elephants suffered from organ inflammation and deadly hemorrhaging, which is characteristic of infections caused by this bacterium.
The deaths of the elephants in Zimbabwe were initially suspected to be caused by cyanobacteria, but further analysis ruled out this possibility. Similarly, anthrax was also considered but was not found to be the cause of the deaths. After ruling out the known pathogen Pasteurella multocida, sophisticated lab testing confirmed that the culprit was the rare Pasteurellaceae Bisgaard taxon 45.
There are still unanswered questions surrounding this discovery, such as how the elephants became infected, the role of heat, stress, or other factors in the spread of the bacterium, and whether the highly social elephants can transmit the pathogen to each other. The researchers also suspect that the bacterium was responsible for the deaths of an additional 14 elephants that died suddenly in 2019.
It’s crucial for scientists to continue investigating which animals regularly carry the bacterium and their role in the spread of Bisgaard taxon 45 among African elephants to prevent future outbreaks of this deadly infection. This discovery highlights the importance of ongoing research and monitoring of wildlife diseases to protect the endangered African elephant population.