Ecotoxicoparasitology of mercury and trace elements in semi-aquatic mammals and their endoparasite communities

Borchert, Ernest J.; Leaphart, James C.; Bryan, A. Lawrence; Beasley, James C.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.326

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 90 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The environment is exposed to different anthropogenic pollutants generated by industrial, domestic and agricultural activities, which increase the level of pollutants derived from natural sources (Richard et al, 2017;Vizuete, Pérez-López, Míguez-Santiyán, & Hernández-Moreno, 2018). Metals such as arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) do not degrade and these metals could easily accumulate throughout the trophic chain and persist in nature (Borchert, Leaphart, Bryan, & Beasley, 2019;Burger, Mizrahi, Tsipoura, Jeitner, & Gochfeld, 2018;Vizuete et al, 2018); at the same time, As, Cd, Pb and Hg have no established biological functions and are considered as contaminants (Hejna et al, 2018). The presence of HMs has been registered in tissues of wild birds (Bond & Robertson, 2015; Burger Mandal, 2019;Raychaudhuri et al, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic data reveal international lineages of critical priority Escherichia coli harbouring wide resistome in Andean condors (Vultur gryphus Linnaeus, 1758)

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Critical priority pathogens have globally disseminated beyond clinical settings, thereby threatening wildlife. Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus) are essential for ecosystem health and functioning, but their populations are globally near threatened and declining due to anthropogenic activities. During a microbiological and genomic surveillance study of critical priority antibiotic‐resistant pathogens, we identified pandemic lineages of multidrug‐resistant extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL)‐producing Escherichia coli colonizing Andean Condors admitted at two wildlife rehabilitation centres in South America. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of genes encoding resistance to hospital and healthcare agents among international E. coli clones belonging to sequence types (STs) ST162, ST602, ST1196 and ST1485. In this regard, the resistome included genes conferring resistance to clinically important cephalosporins (i.e., CTX‐M‐14, CTX‐M‐55 and CTX‐M‐65 ESBL genes), heavy metals (arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, silver), pesticides (glyphosate) and domestic/hospital disinfectants, suggesting a link with anthropogenic environmental pollution. On the other hand, the presence of virulence factors, including the astA gene associated with outbreak of childhood diarrhoea and extra‐intestinal disease in animals, was identified, whereas virulent behaviour was confirmed using the Galleria mellonella infection model. E. coli ST162, ST602, ST1196 and ST1485 have been previously identified in humans and food‐producing animals worldwide, indicating that a wide resistome could contribute to rapid adaptation and dissemination of these clones at the human–animal–environment interface. Therefore, these results highlight that Andean Condors have been colonized by critical priority pathogens, becoming potential environmental reservoirs and/or vectors for dissemination of virulent and antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria and/or their genes, in associated ecosystems and wildlife.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic data reveal international lineages of critical priority Escherichia coli harbouring wide resistome in Andean condors (Vultur gryphus Linnaeus, 1758)

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The SRS has a history of radionuclide and trace element contamination release into the surrounding environment due to anthropogenic activities. While wildlife inhabiting the site have been found to contain elevated concentrations of many of these contaminants, elevated lead concentrations have not been found in any of the biota inhabiting the site (Burger et al 2002;Oldenkamp et al 2017;Borchert et al 2019). Thus, we have no reason to believe the contaminants on site would have any effect on our results.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 69%

Lead Contamination Differences in the Muscle of Wild Turkeys Harvested with Lead and Copper-Plated Lead Shot

Tisdale

Martin

Beasley

2021

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite the known deleterious effects lead exposure can have on humans, lead remains the most common type of ammunition used to harvest big game and upland game birds. We sampled wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo breast muscle shot with standard lead and copper-plated lead pellets to quantify lead residue concentrations within the wound channel, and we sampled multiple adjacent locations to measure the extent lead contamination spreads through tissue of harvested turkeys. We found that samples taken from the wound channel contained more lead (mean = 3.76 μg/g dry weight) than both samples taken adjacent to the wound channel (mean = 0.20 μg/g dry weight) and samples taken from >5 cm away (mean = 0.15 μg/g dry weight). Additionally, we found that birds harvested with standard lead ammunition did not differ in lead concentrations from those shot with copper-plated lead, suggesting that copper plating does not aid in reducing lead exposure. Our findings suggest that wild turkeys harvested with either lead or copper-plated lead shot have the potential to expose consumers, especially children due to their lower tolerance, to low levels of lead that could exceed daily consumption limits set by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control. However, elevated lead levels were confined to the wound channel, and thus proper preparation of game to remove tissue surrounding wound channels may eliminate or substantially reduce lead exposure from harvested game birds.

show abstract

“…Because Hg contamination is pervasive throughout the southeastern United States, birds inhabiting other contaminated areas of the Southeast, chiefly riparian areas, may contain elevated Hg levels, and should be researched further. A negative correlation has also been found between distance from the coast and Hg levels in wildlife inhabiting the Southeast, likely due to the poor drainage and higher acidity of Coastal Plain soils, making Hg more bioavailable to organisms (Harris 1971; Guentzel 2009; Borchert et al 2019). Given that the majority of offsite samples were harvested relatively close to the Savannah River Site, additional sampling of wild turkeys inhabiting coastal areas is needed to determine whether variability in Hg concentrations exists in turkeys and other upland game birds across physiographic regions in the southeastern United States.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, elevated levels of trace elements have been found in numerous species on the Savannah River Site such as waterfowl ( Anas spp ., Aythya spp. ), wild pigs ( Sus scrofa ), bobcat ( Lynx rufus ), Virginia opossum ( Didelphis virginiana ), river otter ( Lontra canadensis ), and gray fox ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus ) (Cumbie and Jenkins 1974; Oldenkamp et al 2017; Borchert et al 2019). The Hg concentrations in raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) and American alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis ) have also been found to be greater in animals frequenting known areas of contamination on the Savannah River Site (Yanochko et al 1997; Lord et al 2002; Hernandez et al 2017).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation of Contaminants by Wild Turkeys and Potential for Consumer Exposure

Tisdale

Leaphart

Beasley

et al. 2021

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite their popularity as a game species across North America, little is known about contaminant burdens in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) inhabiting areas of environmental contamination, and their potential to expose human and wildlife consumers. We compared trace element concentrations and radionuclide activity in muscle and liver tissues of turkeys inhabiting the Savannah River Site (USA), an area with known anthropogenic contaminant inputs, with turkeys from uncontaminated areas offsite. In addition, we tested breast feathers from a subset of individuals for mercury (Hg) to assess the viability of nonlethal sampling for quantifying Hg concentrations. Finally, we quantified arsenic, Hg, and selenium (Se) in blood of live-captured turkeys inhabiting a coal ash basin on the Savannah River Site. Compared with reference samples, we found that turkeys inhabiting the Savannah River Site contained elevated Hg levels in both muscle and liver tissues, and lower concentrations of chromium. Turkeys from the ash basin also had elevated levels of Se. We found a positive correlation between breast muscle and feather Hg concentrations (F 1,59 = 267.5, R 2 = 0.82, p < 0.001), suggesting that feathers can potentially be used as a nonlethal sampling technique. All elements analyzed were below reference limits set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for safe consumption. Thus, our data suggest that turkeys likely are not an important pathway of contaminant exposure on the Savannah River Site or other areas with similar contaminant distributions.

show abstract

Ecotoxicoparasitology of mercury and trace elements in semi-aquatic mammals and their endoparasite communities

Cited by 13 publications

References 90 publications

Genomic data reveal international lineages of critical priority Escherichia coli harbouring wide resistome in Andean condors (Vultur gryphus Linnaeus, 1758)

Genomic data reveal international lineages of critical priority Escherichia coli harbouring wide resistome in Andean condors (Vultur gryphus Linnaeus, 1758)

Lead Contamination Differences in the Muscle of Wild Turkeys Harvested with Lead and Copper-Plated Lead Shot

Accumulation of Contaminants by Wild Turkeys and Potential for Consumer Exposure

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About