Only with 237 birds stayed in the wild saving New Zealanders endangered kakapo is one of the largest in a small country conservation projects. These giant green ones camouflage experts are threatened by predators, invasive species, human encroachment, and a debilitating disease colloquially known as cortical butt disease (exudative cloacite).
A crusting ulcer causes inflammation of the lower digestive and reproductive tracts. Birds that become infected with it may become infertileputting a strain on their already small population. It could also be in some cases fatal. Fire disease has been present in the endangered kakapo population for approximately two decades and is usually treated with pain relief, fluids and antibiotics. However, with antibiotics there is a risk of developing antibiotic resistance and changes in gut bacteria.
The good news for the world's only flightless parrots is that the birds have so far managed to avoid dangerous, antibiotic-resistant superbugs. The results are described in detail in study published this week in the journal Frontiers of Microbiology.
What is a kakapo?
Once widespread throughout New Zealand, silly are large flightless parrots that can weigh up to 8.8 pounds.. The birds were last found on the New Zealand mainland in the 1980s, and were hunted to near extinction. They now live on four offshore islands and in the Maungatautari (Mountain Sanctuary) Nature Reserve, a protected natural area in the Waikato region of New Zealand, south of Auckland.
Although kakapos cannot fly, they use their strong claws and beaks to climb high into trees to feed. They can also live more than 90 years.
Conservation efforts for kakapo include frequent doses of antibiotics to keep them healthy. Given the risk of antibiotic resistance, conservationists need to keep an eye on what's happening to their gut bacteria.
Into the guts
In this recent deep dive into the insides of a kakapoA team from the University of Auckland swabbed the cloaca (the cavity at the end of a bird's digestive tract) of 14 kakapo on two islands for signs of antibiotic resistance. They also focused on a male kakapo known as Joe, who was treated with antibiotics.
The team found that birds do contain some potential antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, these bacteria may have occurred naturally in their intestines, so careful antibiotic treatment can be continued when treating peptic ulcers or other conditions.
Additionally, antibiotics have not yet had any negative effects on birds and appear to remain effective. There is a risk that the microbes in kākāpō may develop antibiotic resistance as a result of antibiotic treatment or through transmission from other birds or even people who care for them. With such a small population and the potential for superbugs to spread, the team says they will keep an eye on the issue.
Amazon Prime Day Sale
