Lead contamination and associated disease in captive and reintroduced red kites Milvus milvus in England

Pain, Deborah J.; Carter, I.; Sainsbury, A. W.; Shore, Richard F.; Eden, Paul; Taggart, Mark A.; Konstantinos, S.; Walker, Lee A.; Meharg, Andrew A.; Raab, Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.01.062

Cited by 60 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Victims of ingestion of lead ammunition are often raptors feeding upon dead or injured game animals [2,7,8]. Lead poisoning has been reported for many raptor species, which is of conservation concern [8-13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lead toxicosis of captive vultures: case description and responses to chelation therapy

Pikula

Hájková²,

Banďouchová

et al. 2013

BMC Vet Res

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BackgroundLead, a serious threat for raptors, can hamper the success of their conservation. This study reports on experience with accidental lead intoxication and responses to chelation therapy in captive Cinereous (Aegypius monachus) and Egyptian (Neophron percnopterus) Vultures.ResultsSoil contamination by lead-based paint sanded off the steel aviary resulted in poisoning of eight Cinereous and two Egyptian Vultures. A male Egyptian Vulture developed signs of apathy, polydipsia, polyuria, regurgitation, and stupor, and died on the next day. Liver, kidney and blood lead concentrations were 12.2, 8.16 and 2.66 μg/g, respectively. Laboratory analyses confirmed severe liver and kidney damage and anaemia. Blood Pb levels of Pb-exposed Cinereous Vultures were 1.571 ± 0.510 μg/g shortly after intoxication, decreased to 0.530 ± 0.165 μg/g without any therapy in a month and to 0.254 ± 0.097 μg/g one month after CaNa2EDTA administration. Eight months later, blood lead levels decreased to close to the background of the control group. Blood parameters of healthy Pb-non-exposed Cinereous Vultures were compared with those of the exposed group prior to and after chelation therapy. Iron levels in the lead-exposed pre-treatment birds significantly decreased after chelation. Haematocrit levels in Pb-exposed birds were significantly lower than those of the controls and improved one month after chelation. Creatine kinase was higher in pre-treatment birds than in the controls but normalised after therapy. Alkaline phosphatase increased after chelation. A marked increase in the level of lipid peroxidation measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive species was demonstrated in birds both prior to and after chelation. The ferric reducing antioxidant power was significantly lower in pre-treatment vultures and returned to normal following chelation therapy. Blood metallothionein levels in lead-exposed birds were higher than in controls. Reduced glutathione dropped after CaNa2EDTA therapy, while oxidised glutathione was significantly lower in both pre- and post-treatment birds. A chick in an egg produced by a Cinereous Vulture female two months after lead toxicosis died on day 40 of artificial incubation. Lead concentrations in foetal tissues were consistent with levels causing avian mortality.ConclusionsThe reported blood parameters and reproduction impairment in captive birds may have implications for professionals dealing with lead exposure in wild birds.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lead poisoning has been reported for many raptor species, which is of conservation concern [8-13]. This is also the case for the globally threatened Cinereous Vulture ( Aegypius monachus ) population [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead toxicosis of captive vultures: case description and responses to chelation therapy

Pikula

Hájková²,

Banďouchová

et al. 2013

BMC Vet Res

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“…The liver concentrations in many individuals are relatively small and are thought to reflect sublethal exposures, but larger residues have been found in some individuals and SGARs diagnosed as the likely cause of death (eg., Barnett et al, 2005Barnett et al, , 2006Barnett et al, , 2007. The exposure pathways for different raptor species have not been clearly defined but red kites in Britain are known to scavenge common rats (Rattus norvgicus) and other carrion (Carter, 2001;Pain et al, 2007). Other raptors take few rats and are probably exposed by eating non-target small mammals such a s wood mice ( Apodemus sylvaticus), and bank voles (Myodes glareolus -former genus name Clethrionomys (Wilson et al, 2005;Pavlinov, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in tawny owls (Strix aluco) from Great Britain

Walker

Turk

Long

et al. 2008

Science of The Total Environment

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“…The potential exposure of Pb has been well documented in raptorial predators and scavengers which ingest projectiles or fragments embedded in their prey (Mateo et al 2001;Fisher et al 2006;Mateo et al 2007;Pain et al 2007;Hernández and Margalida 2009) in kidney of (b)) were omitted in statistical analyses because they may not correspond to biologically incorporated metals renal Pb in nine raptors, except a Common buzzard that died due to shot (594 ppm in kidney), were 50.2 ppm (ranged 26.6-72.0 ppm dry wt), which exceeds threshold (>25 ppm) levels of tissue Pb (Franson 1996). The concentrations of Pb recorded in these species are comparable to values suggestive of Pb poisoning in other raptorial species, including Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (Kaiser et al 1980;Reichel et al 1984;Craig et al 1990), Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) (Craig et al 1990;Wayland and Bollinger 1999), and White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) (Kenntner et al 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality factors and lead contamination of wild birds from Korea

Nam

Lee

2010

Environ Monit Assess

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Wild birds have frequently been found dead in their natural habitats, but little is known about what ecological stressors may impact health of wild populations. Here, we report the potentially harmful lead (Pb) levels in tissues along with necropsies on 69 individuals of cranes, raptors, and waterfowl found dead between 2000 and 2003 in Korea. In all samples diagnosed, trauma (n = 22), severe emaciation (n = 15), and infectious diseases (n = 11) were identified. In the survey, injury with Pb shot or bullet fragments was associated with three of the deaths; one of three showed lesions suggestive of Pb poisoning in the tissues. Of 69 birds, 12 had >25 ppm dry wt. (equivalent to 8 ppm wet wt.) in liver or kidney, which is known to be a potentially lethal level of Pb in wild birds. Three individuals had hepatic Pb levels of 101.3 ppm (Whooper swan), 120.4 ppm (Great white-fronted goose), and 1,059 ppm (Mandarin duck), with evidence of Pb pellets in their gizzard. This study suggests that many birds examined may be suffering from excessive Pb exposure that may be of health concern with respect to a potential cause of their mortality. The need for additional research is heightened when considering that some migrants are classified as a globally protected species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

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Lead contamination and associated disease in captive and reintroduced red kites Milvus milvus in England

Cited by 60 publications

References 25 publications

Lead toxicosis of captive vultures: case description and responses to chelation therapy

Lead toxicosis of captive vultures: case description and responses to chelation therapy

Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in tawny owls (Strix aluco) from Great Britain

Mortality factors and lead contamination of wild birds from Korea

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