Booklets / Manuals

Type E Botulism Outbreaks: A Manual for Beach Managers and the Public. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Great Lakes National Program Office. Preparation and Editing contributions by, among others, Center for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services/U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Geological Survey/National Wildlife Health Center, and the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network (which includes Sea Grant programs in Illinois-Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan). 32 pp. (pdf) 3.6 MB file

This manual has been prepared to generate awareness and provide information to both beach managers and the general public regarding Type E botulism and how to control its spread throughout the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes basin has undergone a resurgence of Type E (or avian) botulism in recent years, characterized by dead birds and fish along the shores of the Great Lakes. The number of deaths and areas affected appear to be increasing to levels that induce concern about the ecological health of the Great Lakes nearshore waters.


Workshop Proceedings
First | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth

• March 2005: Fifth Workshop  back to top
  The workshop, sponsored by Sea Grant programs in New York and Pennsylvania, provided an opportunity to hear updates on 2004 botulism events and learn about ongoing research. Presentations include agency and research speakers from both the U.S. and Canada.
  
  Overview Presentations:
  
  Pennsylvania Update (pdf)
  Jim Grazio, Aquatic Biologist, PADEP
  
  New York Update (pdf)
  Ken Roblee, Senior Wildlife Biologist, NYSDEC
  
  Canadian Update (pdf)
  Jeff Robinson, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada / Dr. Kate Welch, Pathologist, Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre
  
  Research Presentations:
  
  Prevalence of Clostridium botulinum type E in the
  food chain in the Lower Great Lakes (pdf)
  Dr. Rod Getchell, Dr. Paul Bowser, Aquatic Animal Health Program, Cornell University
  
  Identification of Clostridium botulinum type E in Lake Erie Sediments and Benthic Invertebrates (pdf)
  Dr. Ted Lee, Dr. Alicia Pérez-Fuentetaja, Biology Department, SUNY-Fredonia
  
  Toxicity of Clostridium botulinum type E in Lake Erie Fish Species (pdf)
  Dr. Rich Moccia, University of Guelph
  
  
  
• March 2004: Fourth Workshop (pdf)  back to top
  Sponsored by Sea Grant programs in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio
  
  Contact Information (pdf)
  
  2004 Workshop Overview (pdf)
  
  Workshop Highlights 2001-2003 (pdf)
  
  Ohio Update 2003  (pdf)
  Presentation by: Frank Lichtkoppler, District Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant
  
  Pennsylvania Update 2003 (pdf)
  Presentation by: Bob Wellington, Erie County Health Department
  
  New York Update 2003 (pdf)
  Presentation by: Ken Roblee, NYSDEC
  
  The Round Goby - Botulism Connection (pdf)
  Presentation by: Renea A. Ruffing, Graduate Research Assistant, Penn State U.
  
  Diagnosing Botulism in Fish in the lower Great Lakes (pdf)
  Presentation by: Dr. Paul Bowser, Rod Getchell, Cornell University
  
  Interspecies Toxicity of Type-E Botulism in Fish (pdf)
  Presentation by: A.M.Yule, R.D. Moccia, J. Austin, and I.K. Barker
  
  Algal Pigments as Biomarkers Linking Fish and Benthic Organisms with Type-E Botulism (pdf)
  Presentation by: Katherine T. Alben, Wadsworth Center, NYS Department of Health; Dept. of Environmental Health Toxicology, SUNY Albany
  
  Conference Agenda (pdf)
  
  Evaluation Results (pdf)
  
  Attendees/ Contact List (pdf)
  
  
  
• April 2003: Third Workshop (pdf)  back to top
  Sponsored by Sea Grant programs in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio
  
  Contact Information (pdf)
  
  Introduction (pdf)
  Outlines workshop objectives, including the "Lake Erie Botulism List-Serve," an overview of the issue, and human health concerns
  
  Pennsylvania Update (pdf)
  Presentations by: Eric Obert, PA Sea Grant
  Mike Mumau, Assistant Park Manager, Presque Isle State Park, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks
  Bob Wellington, Erie County Department of Health
  
  New York Update (pdf)
  Presentations by: Ken Roblee, Senior Wildlife Biologist, NYSDEC / Don Einhouse, Senior Fisheries Biologist, NYSDEC
  
  Botulism in fish and wildlife in NYS waters of Lake Erie (pdf)
  Presentation by: Ward Stone, NYSDEC Pathologist
  
  Canadian Update (pdf)
  Presentations by: Jeff Robinson, Canadian Wildlife Service / Dr. Doug Campbell and Dr. Ian K. Barker, CCWHC - University at Guelph
  
  Environmental Paramaters associated with botulism outbreaks in eastern Lake Erie (pdf)
  Presentation by: Dr. Alicia Pérez-Fuentetaja, Biology Department, SUNY Fredonia
  
  Prevalence of botulism in fish in the lower Great Lakes (pdf)
  Presentation by: Dr. Paul Bowser, Aquatic Animal Health Program, Cornell University
  
  Comparative toxicity of type E botulism toxin in several Lake Erie fish species (pdf)
  Presentation by: Dr. Rich Moccia, University of Guelph
  
  Conference Overview: Type E botulism in the Great Lakes (pdf)
  Presentation by: Dr. Grace McLaughlin, National Wildlife Health Center, USGS
  
  Conference Agenda (pdf)
  
  Evaluation Results (pdf)
  
  Attendees / Contact List (pdf)
  
  
  
• February 2002: Second Workshop (pdf)  back to top
  Sponsored by Sea Grant programs in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio
  
  
  
• January 2001: FirstWorkshop (pdf)  back to top
  Sponsored by Sea Grant programs in New York and Pennsylvania

Other Publications

• Summer 2004
  Article: Botulism Update (pdf)
  
  
  
• Summer 2001
  Fact Sheet: Botulism in the Great Lakes and Sea Grant's Response (pdf)