Death Valley

Here are some more information for Death Valley:

Death Valley National Park, situated to the east of the panoramic Sierra Nevada Mountain range in northern San Bernardino County and southern Inyo County in California, is one of the most arid National Parks in the United States. A small part of the mountain range also extends into the southern and south-western counties of Nevada. With a total area of over 5,262 square miles (13,630 km2), the park is best known all over the world for its scenic beauty, picturesque mountain sceneries, wildlife, recreational activities, ghost towns, and several unsolved mysteries. If you are seeking a departure from your daily routine or a refuge from cold in winter, this place is an ideal holiday destination for you.

Established in 1933, the park encompasses a significant portion of the Panamint Valley, a part of the Saline Valley, entire Death Valley, and small parts of many other mountain ranges. A region of immaculate beauty and extraordinary scenic wonder, this National Park offers is very different from other U. S. National Parks in character; it is a region of extremes, featuring extreme temperatures, extreme panorama, extreme geology, and extreme history.

Wildlife:

The park is home to over 400 unique species of birds, 36 species of reptiles, 56 mammal species, and several species of amphibians and fish. If you are an animal lover, this park is certainly not to be missed.

Recreational Activities:

The most popular recreational activities inside the park include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and camping. The park features 9 designated campgrounds, complete with all the required facilities. Death Valley National Park is also very popular with star gazers as it has one of the darkest night skies in the U.S.

Ghost towns:

The area is also well-known as home to several ghost towns that date back to the 17th century. The Panamint City, founded by two notorious brigands, is one of the most interesting ghost towns in the area.

Sightseeing:

The best time to visit the park is from October 15 to May 15. Sightseeing can be done by a personal automobile, mountain bike, hiking, or a four-wheel drive. Apart from breathtaking viewpoints and miles of hiking trails, the park features a large number of historical points of interest. For instance, a costumed living history tour of the magnificent Scotty's Castle is a 'must-do' in the area.

The Death Valley National Park has a lot more to offer; find more detailed travel information on over 58 United States National Parks on USA Travel Pal.

Clinical Laboratory Outbreak of Sudden Death Syndrome in Broiler Chicken in Kathmandu Valley Nepal

Clinical Laboratory Outbreak of Sudden Death Syndrome in Broiler Chicken in
Kathmandu Valley Nepal

1: Dr.Kedar Karki Senior Veterinary Officer

Central Veterinary Laboratory in Kathmandu Tripureshwor, Nepal

2: Dr Esmeraldo M. Cabana, Veterinary Pathologist,

 Animal Health Laboratories, Diagnostic Services Branch Department of Primary Industries and Water, Tasmania, Australia,

ABSTRACT:

The incidence of sudden death of broiler birds above 40 days suddenly increased in the month of August 2008 in Kathmandu valley. Birds that were presented for post-mortem examination in Central Veterinary Laboratory Tripureshwor Kathmandu were usually found dead on their backs with wings out-stretched. Incidence rate was recorded between 1.5 to 2.5% of the flock. The mean mortality due to sudden death syndrome was 1.3 - 9.6% and mortality usually occurs after 6 week of age. There are no outstanding gross lesions on post mortem examinations, except for muscle oedema, pulmonary, renal and liver congestion, and congestive spleenomegally.

Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., Candida spp, E.coli, Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were the usual organisms isolated from culture samples of liver, lung, spleen and proventriculus. Reduction of mortality was achieved by feed restriction, supplementation of glucose containing electrolyte, liquid toxin binder, Immunomodulater, acidifier and antibiotic therapy. The condition seems to be related to fast growth rate. A practical approach seems to use diets with 5-7% reduction in nutrient density. The provision of more space and supportive treatment with anti-stress medicine may also be beneficial.

Key word:

Sudden death syndrome, broiler birds, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Background of outbreak of Sudden Death Syndrome in Kathmandu Valley.

During the first week of August 2008 there sudden increase in mortality of broilers above 6 week age (Table 1). There are no premonitory signs. Just before death, birds appear normal and it is common to observe the birds feeding, drinking or walking normally. Then suddenly, affected birds exhibit clinical signs such as extending their neck, squawk and start wing beating as well as leg extension before falling back on their back and die suddenly.

Table: 1. Epidemiology of Affected flock with sudden Death Syndrome in Month of August 2008:

Duration

no. of farm

Population at risk

Morbidity

(%)

Mortality

(%)

No. of samples examined

First week

22

16620

4250 (25.57%)

369

(2.22%)

44

Second week

14

15450

1235

(7.99%)

232

(1.50%)

28

Third  week

20

10260

848

(8.26%)

157

(1.53%)

40

Fourth week

30

15700

2380

(15.16%)

149

(0.94%)

60

Total

86

58030

8713

(15.01%)

907

(1.56%)

172

Postmortem finding of SDS birds:

Postmortem examination of birds that died of sudden death syndrome revealed showed no outstanding gross pathology. All birds were well fleshed, with muscle edema and general pulmonary congestion and edema. Feed was present along the entire digestive tract and the gall bladders of birds are usually empty. The liver and kidneys were usually slightly congested and have patchy sub capsular hemorrhage. Usually, the proventriculus contains a milky fluid, and intact food particles are present in gizzard. Congestive spleenomegally was observed in almost all birds. All these post mortem observations conform to the descriptions of the syndrome made by Ononiwu et. al. (1979).

Laboratory Finding of Mycobiota and Micro biota of Postmortem Tissue samples:

A total 86 tissue samples of lung, liver, spleen, Proventriculus and gizzard, were collected during postmortem examination and were subjected for both bacterial and mycological culture. Results of microbiological examination done are given in Table 2.

Table: 2.

No. of samples

Bacterial isolated

Fungi isolated

Positive no

negative no

86

E.coli,

Streptococcus,

Staphylococcus

59

27

86

Aspergillus,

Penicillium,

Candida

58

28

172

117

55

Treatment and Preventive measure given to the rest of birds in flock:

All birds remaining in flocks were subjected to restricted feed up to 8-10%, and feed to twice daily only. Supplementation with glucose containing electrolyte, liquid toxin binders, Immunomodulater, and simple broad-spectrum antibiotics were provided in water. Vitamin B complex supplementation was totally withdrawn. All birds remaining in all affected farms responded well to the above management and there were marked improvement in the overall condition of the flock.

Result and Discussion.

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is an acute heart failure disease that affects mainly male fast growing chickens that seem to be in good condition. Although a common condition in fast growing birds, the pathogenesis remains unclear (Ononiwu et. al. 1979). Cardiac arrhythmias are involved in the pathogenesis of SDS with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) being the most common observation representing premature ventricular contractions and fibrillation (Olkowski and Classen, 1997; 1998). It has been reported that broilers fed with high vitamin D3 diet above the recommended levels in an attempt to prevent commonly occurring leg problems were 2.5 fold more likely to succumb to acute heart failure and die of SDS (Nain et. Al. 2007). SDS was also experimentally induced by feeding diets containing the mycotoxin moniliformin that resulted to cardiac injury with subsequent alterations in cardiac electrical conductance (Reams et al, 1997) suggesting the possible role of chronic mycotoxicosis to the causation of SDS. Other implicated causes of SDS include continuous artificial lighting (Ononiwu et al, 1979b), deviations in dietary calcium and phosphorus (Scheideler et al, 1995),  feeding crumble-pellet diets (Proudfoot et al, 1982), dietary fat content (Rotter et al, 1985) and feeding frequency Bowes et al, 1988). The latter recommendation of restricted feeding supports well the previous observation that abdominal fat deposition increases the risk of SDS such that restrictions on calorie:protein ratio decreases the incidence of SDS (Mollison et al, 1984).

The present investigation indicates that broilers in good body weight condition when not harvested timely and remain in poultry shade for prolonged periods suffer stressful events and even sudden death. Also, it is possible that the increased humidity and hot season favors the growth of mold and fungus in stored feeds increasing the risk of birds to mycotoxicosis. This incidence of sudden death syndrome in birds in Kathmandu Valley was reported for the first time and needs to be investigated further.

References.

Bowes VA, R.J. Julian, S. Leeson and T. Stirtzinger (1988). Effect of feed restriction on feed efficiency and incidence of sudden death syndrome in broiler chickens. Poultry Science 67(7):1102-4

Mollison B., W. Guenter,and B.R. Boycott (1984). Abdominal fat deposition and sudden death syndrome in broilers: the effects of restricted intake, early life caloric (fat) restriction, and calorie: protein ratio. Poultry Science 63(6):1190-200

Nain S, B. Laarveld B, C. Wojnarowicz C, and A.A. Olkowski (2007). Excessive dietary vitamin D supplementation as a risk factor for sudden death syndrome in fast growing commercial broilers. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology 148(4):828-33

Olkowski, A.A., C. Wojnarowicz, S. Nain, B. Ling, J. M. Alcorn, and B. Laarveld (2008). A study on pathogenesis of sudden death syndrome in broiler chickens. Research in Veterinary Science 2008 Aug;85(1):131-40

Ononiwu, J.C., R.G. Thomson, H.C. Carlson, and R.J. Julian. (1979). Pathological Studies of “Sudden Death Syndrome” in Broiler Chickens. Canadian Veterinary Journal 20(3): 70–73

Ononiwu, J.C., R.G. Thomson, H.C. Carlson, and R.J. Julian. (1979b). Studies on effect of lighting on "Sudden death syndrome" in broiler chickens. . Canadian Veterinary Journal 20(3):74-7

Olkowski A.A. and H.L. Classen (1998). High incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in broiler chickens. Zentralblatt für Veterinärmedizin. Reihe A 45(2):83-91

Olkowski A.A. and H.L. Classen (1997). Malignant ventricular dysrhythmia in broiler chickens dying of sudden death syndrome. Veterinary Record. 15;140(7):177-9

Proudfoot FG, H.W. Hulan, K.B. McRae (1982). The effect of crumbled and pelleted feed on the incidence of sudden death syndrome among male chicken broilers. Poultry Science 61(8):1766-8

Reams R.Y, H.L. Thacker, D.D. Harrington, M.N. Novilla, G.E. Rottinghaus, G.A. Bennett , and J. Horn (1997). A sudden death syndrome induced in poults and chicks fed diets containing Fusarium fujikuroi with known concentrations of moniliformin. Avian Disease 41(1):20-35

Rotter B, W. Guenter, and B.R. Boycott (1985). Sudden death syndrome in broilers: dietary fat supplementation and its effect on tissue composition. Poultry Science 64(6):1128-36

Scheideler SE, D.V. Rives, J.D. Garlich, and P.R. Ferket (1995). Dietary calcium and phosphorus effects on broiler performance and the incidence of sudden death syndrome mortality. Poultry Science 74(12):2011-8

Acknowledgment:

We would like to thank Dr. Dev Raj Adhikari SVO and incharge of Central Veterinary Hospital Tripureshwor, Kathmandu for providining early indication of problem. Thanks are due to Dr.Pragya Koirala Veterinary Officer Mr.Bal Bahadur Kunwar Srnior Vet.Technician and Mr.Bhimsen Adhikari Vet.Technician of Microbioly Unit of Central Veterinary Laboratory for doing the microbiology works, Dr. Lin Tsang Long, Avian Pathologist, and Dr. Stephen B. Hooser, Stephen, Head, Toxicology Section and Assistant Director, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Purdue University U.S.A for their critique of the manuscript. Dr.Poornima Manandhar, Chief of CVL Tripureshwor deserves special thanks from this investigation team.

About the Author

Dr.Kedar Karki.M.V.St. Preventive Veterinary Medicine CLSU Philippines
Senior Veterinary Officer
Central Veterinary Laboratory
Tripureshwor
Kathmandu Nepal

Whats was the highest temperature ever recorded for Death Valley, in August?

Does anyone know what the hottest temperature in Death Valley was for the month of August NOT July but, August?

127 degrees F.

http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/upload/Weather%20and%20Climate.pdf

Skier's death returns spotlight to Squaw Valley
The contrasting sides of Squaw Valley were illustrated again this past week with the death of C.R. Johnson, a professional daredevil skier and X Games medalist.

Thanks for visiting!