Critically assessing the utility of portable lead analyzers for wildlife conservation

Herring, Garth; Eagles‐Smith, Collin A.; Bedrosian, Bryan; Craighead, Derek; Domenech, Robert; Langner, Heiko W.; Parish, Chris N.; Shreading, Adam; Welch, Alacia; Wolstenholme, Rachel

doi:10.1002/wsb.892

Cited by 19 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…In fact, as far as we know, only one study has been conducted very recently with respect to birds (Herring et al 2018). In fact, as far as we know, only one study has been conducted very recently with respect to birds (Herring et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suitability of anodic stripping voltammetry for routine analysis of venous blood from raptors

González¹,

Camacho²,

Tiburón³

et al. 2019

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Lead (Pb) poisoning is a significant threat faced by raptors. Hence, rapid Pb diagnosis has become a priority during the admission of raptors in wildlife recovery centers, and bench‐top analyzers, such as LeadCare II ®, are routinely employed for this purpose. However, this device has been designed for conducting analyses of human blood Pb levels (BLLs), and the validity of this methodology for whole blood from raptors has, to date, rarely been assessed. In addition, a recent recall by the US Food and Drug Administration has recommended discontinuing the use of this analyzer for human venous blood because it may underestimate the BLL. We evaluated the precision of BLL measurements taken with LeadCare II by comparing them with those obtained with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Our sample contained venous blood from 105 raptors belonging to 4 species. The results showed a good correlation between the 2 techniques (Spearman's r = 0.927, p < 0.0001). The mean BLL with ICP‐MS was 19.6 μg/dL; it was found to be 18.7 μg/dL with LeadCare II. A Bland‐Altman analysis indicated that the bias between the mean differences was only 0.5 μg/dL, but it had a high standard deviation of bias (5.7 μg/dL) and 95% limits of agreement from –10.75 to 11.74 μg/dL. The present results indicated that LeadCare II has an overall sensitivity of 71.8% and a positive predictive value of 76.3%. The specificity of LeadCare II for detecting animals with low BLL (<3.4 μg/dL) was 96.4%, and the negative predictive value (the probability that a value below the limit of detection of LeadCare II has a true correspondence with the actual value) was 100%. The present results indicated that, although LeadCare II might be imperfect in the estimation of BLLs in raptors, it performs reasonably well and might be employed in the clinical setting to assess patients potentially suffering from Pb poisoning. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:737–747. © 2018 SETAC

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suitability of anodic stripping voltammetry for routine analysis of venous blood from raptors

González¹,

Camacho²,

Tiburón³

et al. 2019

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…The gold standard of lead analysis in blood or tissue is generally accepted to be graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (22). ICP-MS and GFAAS has been determined to be statistically equivalent when measuring BLLs for clinical use and biomonitoring (23, 24). Both methods are expensive and time-consuming and require laboratory involvement.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In studies comparing the LeadCare® systems with GFAAS or ICP-MS, the ASV analyzers had a negative bias (i.e., underestimation) when measuring the BLL of avian wildlife (27, 33) and cattle (29). Validation for each species has been proposed to verify the conversion rate when using the LeadCare® to monitor exposure (23). No significant difference was found between the different LeadCare® systems in birds (23).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Validation for each species has been proposed to verify the conversion rate when using the LeadCare® to monitor exposure (23). No significant difference was found between the different LeadCare® systems in birds (23). In the present study, the LeadCare® Plus (LCP) was used as it has the lowest detection range of the currently available LeadCare® analyzers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of the LeadCare® Plus for Use on Scandinavian Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)

et al. 2019

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Lead (Pb) exposure is associated with adverse health effects in both humans and wildlife. Blood lead levels (BLL) of sentinel wildlife species can be used to monitor environmental lead exposure and ecosystem health. BLL analyzers, such as the LeadCare®, are validated for use in humans, assessed for use in some avian species and cattle, and are increasingly being used on wildlife to monitor lead exposure. The LeadCare® analyzers use a technique called anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). Species-specific conversion equations have been proposed to approximate the levels found with gold standard measuring methods such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) because the ASV method has been shown to underestimate BLL in some species. In this study we assessed the LeadCare® Plus (LCP) for use on Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos). LCP measurements were correlated with ICP-MS with a Bland-Altman analyzed bias of 16.3–22.5%, showing a consistent overestimation of BLL analyzed with LCP. Based on this analysis we provide conversion equations for calculating ICP-MS BLL based on the LCP results in Scandinavian brown bears. Our study shows that the LeadCare® Plus can be used for monitoring of lead exposure by approximating gold standard levels using conversion equations. This enables comparison with other gold standard measured BLL within the observed range of this study (38.20–174.00 μg/L). Our study also found that Scandinavian brown bears are highly exposed to environmental lead.

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“…It is possible some of these admissions may have resulted from lead toxicity because the clinical signs can be vague, varying from malaise to profound neurologic consequences [34]. While lead analyzers are more frequently available in wildlife hospitals, they are expensive and specialized equipment not be readily available to most rehabilitators and veterinarians [35]. Toxicity-related presentations demonstrate potential large-scale health issues that may impacts species at the population level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species, causes, and outcomes of wildlife rehabilitation in New York State

Hanson

Hollingshead

Schuler

et al. 2019

Preprint

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24 Wildlife rehabilitation is a publicly popular though highly controversial practice. State wildlife 25 agencies frequently debate the ecological impact of rehabilitation. Analysis of case records could 26 inform that debate by clarifying and quantifying the causes for rehabilitation, species involved, 27 and treatment outcomes. This information could aid in the ability of regulatory agencies and 28 rehabilitators to make informed decisions and gain insight into causes of species decline. In New 29 York, rehabilitators are licensed by the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) 30 and thus, are required to submit annual reports. Between 2012Between -2014 individual wildlife 31 cases were seen by licensed rehabilitators comprising 31,229 (52.6%) birds, 25,490 (42.9%) 32 mammals, 2,423 (4.1%) reptiles, and 73 (0.1%) amphibians. We identified patterns among 33 taxonomic representation, reasons for presentation, and disposition. Major causes of presentation 34 were trauma (n = 22,672, 38.2%) and orphaning (n = 21,876, 36.8%), with habitat loss (n 35 =3,746, 6.3%), infectious disease (n = 1,992, 3.4%), and poisoning or toxin exposure (n = 864, 36 1.5%) playing lesser roles. The overall release rate for animals receiving care was 50.2%; 45.4% 37 were either euthanized or died during the rehabilitation process. A relatively small number 38 (0.3%) were permanently non-releasable and placed in captivity, and 4.1% had unknown 39 outcomes. In comparison to data from 1989, wildlife submissions have increased (annual mean 40 12,583 vs 19,790), as has the release rate, from 44.4% to 50.2%. Utilizing a large data set 41 allowed us to fill knowledge gaps, which can help inform management by both the rehabilitators 42 and the state agencies that regulate them, deepening understanding of the scope and impacts of 43 wildlife rehabilitation. 44 45 HANSON ET AL. WILDLIFE REHABILITATION IN NEW YORK STATE 3 46 Introduction 47 Ethical questions and skepticism over the ecological benefits have fueled debate on 48 rehabilitative treatment of wild animals [1,2]. The value of rehabilitation for individual animals 49 is also controversial, with little knowledge of release rates, and some arguing that stressors 50 placed on animals undergoing care at the rehabilitation facilities may be as traumatizing to the 51 animal as the inciting event [3-5]. In contrast, advocates urge that the need for rehabilitation 52 often arises from anthropogenic causes, and humans therefore have a moral obligation to rectify 53 their impact [6]. In addition, rehabilitation provides people with close contact with wildlife, 54 potentially increasing knowledge of wild species and factors contributing to their declines, which 55 can have positive impacts on local biodiversity conservation [6]. 56 Without basic quantifiable information, this debate has been left at a standstill. Here, we 57 report large-scale epidemiologic data to provide a foundation for understanding the scope and 58 potential impacts of wildlife rehabilitation. 59 Wildlife rehabil...

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Critically assessing the utility of portable lead analyzers for wildlife conservation

Cited by 19 publications

References 44 publications

Suitability of anodic stripping voltammetry for routine analysis of venous blood from raptors

Suitability of anodic stripping voltammetry for routine analysis of venous blood from raptors

Assessment of the LeadCare® Plus for Use on Scandinavian Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)

Species, causes, and outcomes of wildlife rehabilitation in New York State

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