TUESDAY, Nov. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Vultures have developed highly specialized ways of dealing with the toxic bacteria they ingest when eating dead animals, researchers report.

The new research investigated the different types of bacteria found on the faces and in the guts of 50 turkey vultures and black vultures in the United States. On average, the faces of the vultures had more than 500 different types of microorganisms, compared with 76 in their guts, the study found.

The findings suggest that a vulture’s digestive system destroys most of the dangerous bacteria they consume, according to the researchers.

The birds — who regularly consume decaying flesh — also have a tolerance towards some of the deadly bugs, the researchers noted. In addition, they said some species of bacteria that could kill other animals appear to flourish in the vulture’s lower intestine.

The toxic bacteria residing in the vulture’s lower intestine break down the dead meat, providing the bird with important nutrients, the scientists explained.

The study was published Nov. 25 in Nature Communications.

— Robert Preidt

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SOURCE: University of Copenhagen, news release, Nov. 25, 2014