Additional test results have clarified the cause of death for three tufted puffins that died earlier this summer at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and officials
Additional test results have clarified the cause of death for three tufted puffins that died earlier this summer at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and officials say there have been no additional cases and the risk to the public remains low.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said in a Tuesday news release that follow-up testing determined the birds were infected with a rare avian Chlamydia abortus strain, not avian psittacosis as initial July testing had suggested.
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Avian psittacosis is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci.
“There have been no additional infected birds identified since then,” the release said, adding that further environmental testing in the puffin habitat in early August did not detect the presence of the bacteria.
“Our puffin colony continues to be closely monitored and are receiving attentive care from our veterinary team,” said Dr. Karen Wolf, head veterinarian at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. “We’re working closely with our public health and veterinary partners to better understand this unusual finding, and we’ll reopen the puffin habitat to the public when we are confident it is appropriate to do so.”
Zoo and public health officials said they are still investigating how the puffins became infected. “While we don’t know how the bacteria entered the puffin habitat, exposure from a wild bird is a possible source,” the release said.
As part of that investigation, expanded environmental testing is planned at Point Defiance Park and at the zoo to determine whether the organism is present elsewhere in the surrounding environment. Officials said people may see representatives from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and the Washington State Department of Health wearing personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves while collecting environmental samples in Point Defiance Park in September.
Officials emphasized that the protective equipment is intended to protect staff handling bird feces. The zoo and park will remain open, and officials said the risk to the public remains low.
While avian Chlamydia abortus can infect humans, officials said there have been no identified human cases associated with this situation. The release noted that Chlamydia psittaci can infect humans, typically when people breathe in dust contaminated with bird secretions or droppings, or through direct contact with birds.
Symptoms can include cough, fever, headache, and muscle aches, and severe pneumonia and other complications can occur.
Officials said there are so few documented cases of humans infected with avian Chlamydia abortus that routes of infection are unconfirmed, but exposure to bird secretions or droppings is suspected as a possible route.
“This is an unusual finding, and we are working to learn as much as we can about where this strain may have come from,” said Dr. James Miller, health officer at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. “The additional environmental testing is a precautionary step that will help us better understand the circumstances and continue to protect public health.”
Officials said the zoo and health department are working with Parks Tacoma, the Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental samples will be tested at the University of Georgia Infectious Diseases Laboratory in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
The zoo also plans additional precautionary testing of some healthy birds in the puffin habitat, along with further environmental testing inside the exhibit, to help ensure the avian Chlamydia abortus bacteria are no longer detectable. Officials said they will provide updates if there are significant new findings.
