Mysterious Powerful Pathogens in Wild Turkeys Worry Hunters

turkey with tumors from virusTurkey hunters are worried – and some are giving up the sport – because of pathogens and bacteria that have been found in Maine turkeys. One reader of this column emailed me a report on a recent study that I will share with you today.

That reader told me, “I am concerned that wild turkeys have pathogens that can affect human health (low pathology cancer causing retro-virus and (MRSA).  Hunters should know about this.  I am not sure that I want to hunt turkeys this spring until more research is completed.  IF&W is not saying anything about it. Could you make people aware of this through your blog.” Consider it done!

Before we get to that study, let’s hear from DIF&W’s wildlife staff. Here’s what Brad Allen, our top bird biologist, had to say in response to my questions about this concern.

Yes, the disease is prevalent in turkeys all across the east but I am not aware of any transmission to domestic poultry…..as there are lots of poultry diseases out there and the link for transmission of poultry disease between domestic and wild birds is rare, fortunately.  In fact, I’ve been concerned the opposite way. I don’t wish to have domestic infections affect the wild birds…I first worried about this when I saw chicken manure spread over fields where wild turkeys eventually forage…but so far no problem.

Brad does have a bigger concern that he shared with me. Personally I think this winter has been or will be VERY hard on our wild turkey population George….since birds have been back in Maine. I don’t believe we’ve seen a winter as “tough” as this one…this deep powdery snow must be really hampering their movements; not to mention subzero temperatures and birds sitting up in trees at night under these prolonged conditions….In my travels I’ve seen flocks in plowed roads that have led to road kills….but I presume it’s the birds back in the woods that are truly existing on minimal food resources….I will be curious to see what the spring brings.

Kelsey Sullivan, DIF&W’s turkey biologist, also answered my questions. Here’s what Kelsey had to say.

Maine turkey hunters should be aware of the viruses we detected in our birds. From what I have read and been advised, these viruses do not pose a direct risk to human health, but hunters should be cautious if they encounter a bird with lesions.  Secondary bacterial infections can co-occur with these infections and should be handled carefully.  Another consideration is the affect these viruses can and likely have had on our turkey numbers in areas of high density.  With disease ecology we see bird numbers grow to a point where disease spreads more rapidly, and total numbers begin to decrease.  It is a good example of trying to balance harvest with a disease outbreak, on top of two harsh winters.

We’ve instructed hunters to hold onto the bird, not register it and contact IFW to turn it in.  After they turn it in, they can go back and hunt another bird. This gives us an idea of how many hunters are encountering and also gets the infected bird out of the system.

Kelsey sent along DIF&W’s most recent advice for turkey hunters on this issue. I have attached that to the end of this column in George’s Outdoor News on my website. It includes phone numbers you should call if you kill a diseased turkey. If you hunt turkeys, you definitely should read this!

Now, here is the report that was sent to me by a reader of this column. I found the last sentence about antibiotic resistant MRSA to be particularly concerning.

Turkey Pathogens Report

Evidence of pathogens in Maine’s wild turkey population, including a low pathology cancer-causing retrovirus found in a large percentage of birds, has been documented by researchers at the University of Maine Augusta (UMA) and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW)

The research team, which was part of the five-year Sustainability Solutions Initiative (SSI) based at the Senator George J. Mitchell Center at UMaine, collected samples from feces, carcasses, and live birds around the state. In addition to the avian pox retrovirus (LPDV), the team isolated Staphylococcus bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a strain of bacteria that’s become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections.

“There were no wild turkeys in Maine for 30 years and they were successfully repopulated. Now we are looking at widespread LPDV in this population. Evidence of viral DNA has been found in birds located all over the state and we don’t yet know what that means,” said Peter Milligan, Associate Professor of Biology at UMA.

Milligan and colleagues examined the biology, genetics, and distribution of wild turkeys throughout the state to get a clearer picture of the birds’ actual and potential effects on Maine agriculture. Additionally, the team has spoken with farmers, sport hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, community members, and other stakeholders to gain an understanding of wild turkey acceptance. Team members include: Christopher Lage, Associate Professor of Biology at UMA; Catherine Turcotte, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Colby-Sawyer College; Joseph Szakas, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at UMA.

The big question: could the wild turkey population transfer pathogens to domestic turkeys and other avian livestock in the state? LPDV, which was not detected in the U.S. before 2009, is the main concern. Birds infected with LPDV may develop tumors on their heads, necks and legs. Although the extent of the pathogen’s threat is not yet known, the data collected by Milligan and a team of undergraduates led the DIFW to temporarily halt wild turkey relocation-repopulation programs.

“People want to know if the genes for the retrovirus are in domestic livestock,” Milligan said. “We’re seeing a high rate of infection in the wild population, so the question becomes: is it only in wild birds and if so how does that impact livestock practices.”

Working with vets across the state, Milligan said he has yet to locate a domestic bird infected with LPDV, though only about 20 have been tested so far. The researchers’ work on LPDV was featured on the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) website in the Science, Engineering & Education Innovation section which highlights NSF-funded projects that are advancing knowledge.

Milligan says other bacterial pathogens detected, such as antibiotic resistant MRSA, are also being studied to determine if these strains are similar to those that impact the human population.

Collaborators on the project include; Ann Lichtenwalner, Associate Professor and Director, UMaine’s Animal Health Laboratory; Kelsey Sullivan and Brad Allen, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Charles Lubelczyk, Maine Medical Center Research Institute and Justin Brown, Wildlife Veterinarian for the Pennsylvania Wildlife Commission.

Supported by National Science Foundation award EPS-0904155 to Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine.

George Smith

About George Smith

George stepped down at the end of 2010 after 18 years as the executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine to write full time. He writes a weekly editorial page column in the Kennebec Journal and Waterville Morning Sentinel, a weekly travel column in those same newspapers (with his wife Linda), monthly columns in The Maine Sportsman magazine, two outdoor news blogs (one on his website, georgesmithmaine.com, and one on the website of the Bangor Daily News), and special columns for many publications and newsletters. Islandport Press published a book of George's favorite columns, "A Life Lived Outdoors" in 2014. In 2014, George also won a Maine Press Association award for writing the state's bet sports blog. In 2016, Down East Books published George's book, Maine Sporting Camps, and Islandport Press published George and his wife Linda's travel book, Take It From ME, about their favorite Maine inns and restaurants.