Table 2 Details of sampling for bacteriology from mass mortality events in saiga 2010–2015

Borsy, West Kazakhstan

19–29 < May, 2010

25,000 / ~ 12,000 (Female - 64,0%, male – 0,4%, calves – 35,6%)

According to witnesses and video material: Depression, respiratory distress, bloody froth from nose, saliva discharge mouth, occasional bloat and diarrhoea, rapid death.

Carcasses were 1–2 days old. Pathology incomplete – probe samples.

3/blood, spleen, lymph nodes, lungs

Borsy, West Kazakhstan

20–29 < May, 2011

10,000 / ~ 500 (Female - 98,6%, male – 1,4%)

According to witnesses and video material: similar to above

Carcases were 1–2 days old. Pathology incomplete – probe samples.

2/blood, spleen, lymph nodes, lungs

Zhangeldinsky region, Kostanay

17–30 < May, 2012

40,000 / ~ 1000 (Female - 93,3%, male – 6,7%)

Depression, discharge from the nose and mouth, diarrhoea

haemorrhages subcutaneous tissue, lungs, endocardium but pathology incomplete –probe samples from fresh carcases.

14/blood, spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, liver, kidneys

Zholoba, Kostanay

< 11–19 May, 2015

70,000 / ~ 70,000 (Female - 98,2%, male - 1,8%, calves all died)

Depression, weakness, ataxia, frothy nasal fluid and/or saliva from the mouth, terminal diarrhoea, rapid death.

haemorrhages sub-cutaneous - serosal surfaces, epi- and endocardium, lung congestion and oedema, enteric congestion and catarrh, liver and kidney congestion, enlarged gall bladder

26/blood, spleen, lymph nodes, lungs

Ortakara, Kostanay,

< 20–26 May, 2015

8000 / ~ 8000 (Female - 90,2%, male −9,8%, calves all died)

Depression, weakness, ataxia, occasional nasal/salivary fluid, terminal bloody diarrhoea, rapid death.

haemorrhages sub-cutaneous- serosal surfaces, epi-and endocardium, lung congestion and occasional oedema, haemorrhagic lymph nodes, enteritic congestion and catarrh, liver and kidney congestion, enlarged gall bladder

6/blood, spleen, lymph nodes, lungs