2 penguins die from unrelated illnesses at Calgary Zoo

Two more penguins have died at the Calgary Zoo bringing the total number of deaths up to four so far this year.

• 2nd penguin dies at zoo in as many days
• Meet Akemi, the Calgary Zoo's shoe-wearing penguin

A three-year-old Humboldt penguin namedEduardodied on Sunday after picking up a fungal infection that affected hisrespiratory system.

The post-mortem examination showed advanced and severe infection to his left air sacs and leftlung, while his right side was normal, saidsenior veterinarianDr. Doug Whiteside.

Owing to a birds very efficient respiratory system and also because animals are so adept athiding that they are not feeling well, unfortunately by the time Eduardo demonstrated signs ofillness, his disease was far too advanced for treatment to be effective.

The fungal infection, calledAspergillosis, is one of the most common causes ofdeath in both captive and wild penguins.

A Gentoo penguin Akemialso died of heart failure on Mondayafter getting avian malaria. Thethree-year-old bird had been treated for abumblefoot infection in the past.

The parasite is the second biggest killer of penguinsin captivity. Itis not a threat to humans as mosquitoes carrying the malaria and the parasites are species-specific.

Other penguins tested

One week ago Akemis blood showed no evidence of malaria;however, the parasite was detectedin the red blood cells yesterday, explained Dr. Whiteside.

Like the two Humboldt penguins welost in August, Akemi became ill suddenly and died within a very short period of timeless than48 hours. However, she is the first penguin where we have been able to demonstrate theparasite in red blood cells.

The zoo say they're testing the other penguins for avianmalaria andproactively treating all penguins for the fungal infection.

Zoo officials said in August the cause of two penguin deaths could be froman infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci.

It seems clear that there may well be an association between Akemis death and the twoHumboldt deaths in August as they all shared the outdoor exhibit. And with our wet and then hotsummer, were likely exposed to a greater number of mosquitoes carrying the parasite compared to ...the previous year concluded Whiteside.

We are still waiting for advanced parasitological teststo come back from a lab in the U.S. for the two Humboldts, which would confirm a connection.

Penguins have an average life span of roughly20 years.