Red Knot Sandpipers Battle Brevetoxicosis

The following story about red knots was shared with us by the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary of Florida.

In the week following Hurricane Ian, our hospital admitted nine red knot sandpipers who were all found down and exhibiting symptoms consistent with brevetoxicosis, or red tide. This is a near-threatened species.

The telltale symptoms of brevetoxicosis can be described as an ascending paralysis — a gradual loss of motor functions leading to the birds being unable to stand or walk, and a slowing of the gastrointestinal tract. This often leads to secondary complications including corneal ulcers, impaction, and aspiration of saliva. Immediate intensive treatment is key to a successful outcome for these patients.

Storms increase urban runoff into our waterways, and these excess nutrients can lead to the formation of harmful algal blooms. These storms can also lead to wastewater contamination. One of the red knots died within the first 12 hours, so we took samples and sent the carcass for testing to determine the exact cause. We are still awaiting the results but are confident that it was brevetoxicosis.

The remaining eight red knots were started on our shorebird protocol. This includes subcutaneous fluids, cleaning of the vent, eyes, and mouth, and gavage feeding every two hours for the first three days of EmerAid IC Piscivore that we mix with Hills Urgent Care a/d.

The birds were all admitted with relatively stable body conditions and weighed 110 grams (about 3.9 ounces), but due to their high metabolism it is critical to maintain a high caloric intake to prevent severe weight loss.

Once the birds begin to become more active and attempt to stand, we introduce live mealworms to encourage self-feeding while tapering off gavage feeding.

The eight red knots responded very well to treatment. Within five days they were all back on their feet and self-feeding.

After spending about three weeks in our care reconditioning their flight and gaining weight, they were released in Fort DeSoto Park on October 27 into the wildlife sanctuary.