Thomas Cooley has a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Ecology from Michigan State University and a Master’s Degree in Pathology from Colorado State University.  Currently employed by the Department of Natural Resources at the Wildlife Disease Lab for the past 32 years, primarily responsible for cause of death determination through gross examination (necropsy) of specimens submitted by the public, personnel from Federal and State agencies, and personnel from the Wildlife Division.

Type E Botulism in Michigan: A Historical Review
Abstract: Type E Botulism is a re-emerging disease in the state of Michigan.  Historically, Michigan was the 1st Great Lakes State to attribute waterfowl mortality to this disease in 1963.  An exotic fish species, the Alewife, played an important role in the cycle of the disease.  Die-offs of waterfowl occurred occasionally between 1963 and 1983 in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and then did not occur again until 2006.  Several exotic introduced species are suspected of being responsible for the re-emergence of this disease in waterfowl in the state.  We will discuss the history of this disease in Michigan and the impact that exotic species are having on the Great Lakes.  Transmission (Food chain) routes, clinical signs of the disease, pathology, and laboratory procedures to confirm the disease will be discussed.

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