Bacterium Identified as Cause Behind Mysterious 2020 Deaths of African Elephants in Zimbabwe and Botswana

Rare Bacteria Bisgaard taxon 45 Linked to Septicaemia in Elephants; Researchers Concerned About Further Outbreaks due to Social Nature of Elephants and Weather-related Stress.

• Scientists have identified a bacterium called Bisgaard taxon 45 as the cause behind the mysterious deaths of six African elephants in Zimbabwe in 2020 and possibly more in neighbouring countries.
• The investigation was challenging due to difficulties in locating and reaching the carcasses in time to obtain useful samples, initial uncertainty about the disease, and the task of undertaking post-mortem examinations on such large animals.
• Initial suspicions of anthrax and poisoning were ruled out after postmortem examinations and detailed toxicology analyses found no traces of such causes in the carcasses or nearby waterholes.
• The finding is particularly concerning as African savanna elephants are already an endangered species, with only 350,000 remaining in the wild and ongoing losses estimated at 8% annually due to varied threats.
• The bacterium is associated with septicaemia and was only discovered after bacterial isolation and genetic analysis, leading researchers to be concerned about further outbreaks due to the highly sociable nature of elephants and stress associated with extreme weather events.

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