«Diphtheritic Stomatitis in Chicks In November 2012 the breeding the season began with reports of a recurrence of mortalities in chicks aged 1-8 weeks. Corynebacterium amycolatum is usually isolated from these lesions, although this organism is considered to be a secondary invader.»
The most recent breeding season has not been a good one for the yellow-eyed penguins nesting on the Otago Peninsula (45 o 49’S, 170 o 44′ E). Two previously reported disease syndromes have recurred causing a large number of mortalities. Diphtheritic Stomatitis in Chicks In November 2012 the breeding the season began with reports of a recurrence of mortalities in chicks aged 1-8 weeks. Most of the 16 chicks examined post-mortem had varying degrees of fibrinopurulent exudate in their oral cavity. They were generally in poor body condition and were likely to have died from starvation or bacterial septicaemia.
Corynebacterium amycolatum is usually isolated from these lesions, although this organism is considered to be a secondary invader. Extensive laboratory testing for other possible initiating agents such as poxvirus and Trichomonas sp. has to date produced negative results. Diphtheritic stomatitis has been recognised as a problem in yellow-eyed penguin chicks since 2002 (Alley and others, 2004) and appears to have a biennial incidence.
Original title: «Severe Mortalities in Yellow-eyed Penguins, Megadyptes antipodes, During the 2012-2013 Breeding Season An Outbreak of Mortality in Adults». Authors: Maurice Rewi Alley et al. Full text here.
I wonder is Corynebacterium amycolatum primary causative agent of infection in penguins or just secondary invader? Still it’s not clear…