disease patterns in the detroit zoo: a study of the avian population from 1973 through 1983. | a retrospective study was conducted to evaluate disease patterns in birds at the detroit zoo from 1973 through 1983. data were derived from the zoo's medical and animal census records; the mean (+/- sd) population of birds during the study period was 469 +/- 42. overall annual morbidity rates were 12.5% to 21.5%, with spring months having the highest morbidity rates. annual mortality rates were 3.1% to 15.2%; 23.9% of the deaths were caused by microbial agents (particularly erysipelothrix rhusio ... | 1985 | 3878351 |