Pathomorphologc Findings of Lead Poisoning in White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons)

Abstract

Abstrac t. Nineteen lead-p oisoned white-front ed geese (Anser a/bifrons) , includi ng nine imm ature birds, were exami ned path ologically. Subacute lead poiso ning due to ingestio n of spent lead shots was diagnosed pat hologically and confi rme d by demo nstra ting high lead conce ntra tio n in the liver. Th e liver lead conce ntration ranged from 6.9 to 67.7 mg/kg wet weight. T he most suggestive gross lesion s were mo ttled bile-stai ned liver in eight geese and provent ricular impa ction and /or the presence of lead pellets in the gizzard. Histologic lesion s of the liver consisted of Kup fTer cell hemos ideros is, large bile plugs in dilated canaliculi, bile pigment ation in hepat ocytes, and bile extravasation and assoc iated hepati c necrosis. Seven geese of the rema ining II birds also had hepat ic necrosis in the liver, the greenis h disco lora tion of which was obscure macroscopica lly. The liver discolorati on was cons idered a jau nd ice du e to both rapid ove rprod uction of bile from increase d breakdown of erythrocy tes and intrah epat ic im paired excretio n of bile. The severity of lesion s was not cor related to the liver lead concentra tions. All exa mined geese had hemosiderosis of mononuclear phagocytic system cells in the spleen and hypoplasia or ede ma of the bone marr ow with increased numbers of polychrom atic erythro blasts. Th ese prom inent changes pro bably resulted from excess breakdown of erythrocytes, hypercholia followed by intrahepat ic cholestasis, and disrupt ed erythro poiesis in bone mar row caused by lead .Key words: An ser a/bifrons; bile extravasa tion; bile infarct; cho lestasis; jaundice; lead poison ing; waterfowl; white-fro nted geese.Lead poisoning due to ingestion a nd ret en tion o f spe n t lead sho t has been recogni zed as a co mmo n disease of wild waterfowl in hea v ily hun ted a reas in th e U n ite d St ates .5,30This co nd it io n has al so been re corded in 22 co u nt ries and is st ill a serious problem in waLake Miyaj ima is a sma ll lake (area = 0.36 krn-, maximum terfowl worldwide." In Japan , mortal ity o f wh ooper dept h = 2.4 m) in Hokkaido and is the north ernmost point swa ns (Cygnu s cygnus) a ffec te d with lead poi soning in in Japan where wild water fowl arrive in spring and fall every 198 9 ha s been reported." This m ortality associa te d year. Th ey usually stay for 3 to 4 weeks at the lake during the migrat ing season. Hunt ing has been allowed at the lake with lead poisoning was th e first o f it s kind in waterfowl since the 19th century, beca use wild wat erfowl usuall y prey in Japan , a lt ho ugh it was known to ha ve occurred spo-on grains grown on the nearb y farm land. Large nu mb ers of radi call y. I I spen t lead shot have probabl y accum ulated at the bott om of Lead poison ing in geese wa s initiall y noted in 1893 the lake, and swans that frequent the lake prob abl y have in N orth Carolina." Fi ve lead-poisoned C a nad a geese ingested th is shot. (Brant a canadensis) were reported in Mich igan in Eighty white-fronted gee...

Reproductive Parameters of Adult Birds and Morphophysiological Characteristics of Chicks in the Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca Pall.) in Technogenically Polluted Habitats

“…Thus, lead and cadmium at increased concentrations cause premature erythrocyte destruction, disturbances of erythropoiesis in the bone marrow, a decrease in blood hemoglobin, and the inhibition of some enzymes (Hoffman et al, 1985;Daskalova, 1989;Ochiai et al, 1993). Our data also show that parameters of the red blood, such as hemoglobin content and the ratio of mature and immature erythrocytes, are highly sensitive to chemical pollution, with toxic effects being more pronounced in nestlings than in adult birds.…”

Cholestasis and Seizure Due to Lead Toxicity: A Case Report

“…Hemosiderosis, bile plugs in dilated canaliculi, bile pigmentation in hepatocytes, and hepatic necrosis have been described in liver biopsies from such animals (17). Elevated serum levels of ALP, lactate dehydrogenase, and GGT have been reported in lead poisoning (10).…”

Hemoglobinuric Nephrosis and Hepatosplenic Erythrophagocytosis in a Dusky-headed Conure (Aratinga weddelli) After Ingestion of Garlic (Allium sativum)

“…37 Some infectious diseases, such as hemoparasites (Plasmodium, Aegyptianella, Hemoproteus, and Leukocytozoon species) and systemic hematogenous bacteria (Salmonella gallinarum and Borrelia anserina) may occasionally cause hemolytic anemia in birds. 38,39 The most frequently reported hemolytic anemias in birds have resulted from toxin exposure such as lead 40 ; zinc 41,42 ; copper 43 ; aflatoxins 44 ; petroleum products 30,31 ; propylene glycol 45 ; plants from the Brassica family 26 ; and topical treatments including ethyl methanesulfonate, paraquat, phenylhydrazine, n-butyl mercaptan, and n-butyl disulfide. [46][47][48][49] An acute, idiopathic hemolytic syndrome similar to lead toxicosis was reported in Amazon parrots, but neurologic abnormalities were not noted.…”