Vaccines Offer Potential Protection against California Condor Threat from Avian Influenza Viruses.

With a wingspan of 9.5 feet, the California condor holds the title of being the largest bird in North America. However, it is also one of the most critically endangered species. The population of California condors has steadily declined over the centuries, hitting a record low of only 22 birds remaining in the wild in 1982. This decline can be attributed to various factors including hunting, lead poisoning, habitat loss, and the use of DDT. Adding to the list of threats, highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses now pose a new danger to these magnificent creatures. To combat this current hazard, conservation biologists are turning to the use of vaccines, a strategy commonly employed to protect ourselves from infectious agents.

Although the California condor remains on the endangered list, efforts to boost its numbers have been made since 1982. During that time, all wild condors were captured and placed in captive breeding programs. In the mid-1990s, conservation biologists started reintroducing captive-bred condors into the wild. Today, there are approximately 350 condors spread across five different flocks in the wild, with an additional 200 birds residing in captivity.

The threats of lead poisoning and habitat loss still persist for these birds. Now, with the emergence of avian influenza virus, their existence is under further jeopardy. Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses have become widespread since the early 2000s, causing significant effects on poultry populations. These viruses can quickly spread within a flock of chickens, resulting in high mortality rates. To contain the spread, poultry farmers often choose to cull the entire flock upon detection of an infected animal. In the United States alone, over 50 million birds have been culled since early 2022.

Wild birds, including the California condor, have also fallen victim to avian influenza. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 21 condors in Arizona, which accounted for about 20% of that flock, died between March and May 2023. Seventeen of them were found to have avian influenza virus. The virus is believed to have been transmitted from another bird to a condor. Fortunately, the virus has not been detected in condors present in Utah, California, or Baja, Mexico, and no further positive cases have been reported in Arizona since May.

To protect condors from this new threat, researchers are exploring the potential use of vaccines. In 2016, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, approved an influenza virus vaccine developed by Zoetis for use in animals. However, the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness in California condors had not been assessed.

A recent trial at the Carolina Raptor Center in North Carolina aims to investigate the usefulness of this vaccine in condors. The trial involves 28 black vultures, which were chosen due to their close relation to condors and their availability in the local area. Twenty vultures have been vaccinated, with ten receiving a single dose and ten receiving two doses spaced 21 days apart. The remaining eight vultures serve as controls and were not vaccinated. So far, no side effects associated with vaccination have been observed in any of the animals. Blood samples will be analyzed to measure the HPAI antibody titer, indicating the level of antibodies in the blood that react with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. If the vaccinated animals show elevated antibody titers, it would suggest that they have developed some resistance to the virus. If the vaccine proves to be safe and capable of generating specific antibodies, researchers will proceed with vaccinating condors in breeding colonies and eventually in the wild, providing much-needed protection against this deadly virus.

Why is this important?

Preserving California condors for the sake of future generations to witness their majestic flight may seem like a valid reason. However, Erin Katzner, the President and CEO of CRC, argues that the significance goes much deeper. Saving the California condor from extinction serves as a powerful symbol, demonstrating that when people collaborate, species can be saved. It reminds us that although humans often contribute to the problems faced by other species, we also possess the ability to find solutions. Furthermore, Katzner emphasizes that the challenges faced by raptors like the California condor often mirror our own challenges, whether it’s pollution, habitat loss, or infectious diseases like HPAI. She remarks, “When raptors thrive, we thrive. If we save raptors, we save ourselves.”

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