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Diphtheritic stomatitis is a recently discovered disease and has thus far been reported only in Yellow-eyed penguins (''Megadyptes antipodes''). Its symptoms are similar to human diphtheria and is characterized by infecteous lesions in the mouth area that impede swallowing and cause respiratory troubles. The infection is caused by ''Corynebacterium amycolatum'', an aerobic Gram-positive bacterium and mainly affects very young chicks. However, it seems likely that a triggering agent (e.g. a virus) might be involved in which renders the corynebacterium a secondary pathogen. The disease has been a serious cause of mortality in the 2002 and 2004 Yellow-eyed penguin breeding seasons. It seems that only the New Zealand South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura were affected. ==Signs and symptoms== * Almost exclusively seen in Yellow-eyed penguin chicks * Heavy breathing and signs of weakness * Yellow caesous exudate within the beak and at the commisures of the mouth * Yellow diphtheritic membrane covers the hard palate, tongue and buccal mucosa * Mouth can often not be closed due to lesions, in serious cases tongue exposed 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Diphtheritic stomatitis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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