Abnormal terns, sick sea and shore birds, organochlorines and arboviruses in the Indian Ocean

Abstract

It has been suggested that congenital abnormalities and defects of feather growth of young terns along the east coast of the USA may be due to organochlorine pollution. Similar abnormalities are also found in young terns and neurological symptoms in terns and other species in the Indian Ocean, where there is still little pollution, in association with an acute infestation of ticks infected with arboviruses. It is postulated infection with the viruses provides an alternative explanation for the abnormalities seen in the birds.