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ITM researchers explain mysterious disease in wild birds in northern Europe

A paralysed herring gull (/Larus argentatus/) suffering from star-gazing and difficulty in keeping the wings folded along the side of the body. The specimen is dying while incubating, an abnormal situation.
The specimen was photographed in the condition in which it was found.

Wild birds of several species are dying in large numbers from a paralytic disease in the Baltic Sea area. A research team at ITM, led by Associate Professor Lennart Balk, recently found a relationship between this disease, breeding failure, and advanced thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency in eggs, young, and adults. The results are presented in the article “Wild birds of declining European species are dying from a thiamine deficiency syndrome”, published in the well-reputed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA (PNAS).

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