Fungus killed nearly 900 geese

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http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=23712

Fungus Blamed For Death

Wildlife officials say a fungus apparently killed nearly 900 geese

at the Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge in White County. U.S. Fish

and Wildlife officials said the cause of the deaths of 869 snow

geese was determined by necropsies on several of the dead geese.

The officials identified the killer as aflatoxicosis, produced by

the fungi Aspergillus. The toxin is found in cereal grains,

including corn, which was found in the crop and gizzards of the

collected geese.

The dead geese were discovered on Jan. 9. The geese apparently fed

on the affected corn and flew back to the refuge where they died

from the toxins.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. .)

Kat , Producer

Created: 2/9/2006 5:51:03 AM

Updated: 2/9/2006 11:05:55 AM