VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe – Scientists have identified a rare and little-known bacterium as the cause of the mysterious deaths of dozens of African elephants in northwestern Zimbabwe three years ago.
According to researchers from the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area’s Animal Health Sub-Working Group, the bacterium, known as Pasteurellaceae Bisgaard taxon 45, was found in samples from six of the 15 elephants analyzed. The pathogen is closely related to Pasteurella multocida, which is known to cause deadly blood poisoning.
The deaths of the elephants brought light to the endangered state of African elephants, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The elephants were found to have enlarged spleens and livers, as well as extensive internal bleeding and tissue death, indicating the inflammatory bleeding of internal organs that can be caused by the identified bacterium.
The scientists ruled out other suspected causes of death, such as cyanobacteria and anthrax, and are now focusing on investigating how the bacterium infects elephants and whether environmental factors or stress play a role in making it deadly. The findings also raise concerns about the potential spread of the bacterium among African elephants.
Overall, the identification of Bisgaard taxon 45 as the culprit in the sudden deaths of the elephants adds to the growing list of pathogens that scientists need to watch out for when investigating mysterious deaths in African wildlife. The study highlights the need for further research to understand the role of the bacterium in the deaths of African elephants and its potential transmission among wildlife.