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Oral lead bullet fragment exposure in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).
- Source :
-
Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology [Arch Environ Contam Toxicol] 2011 Nov; Vol. 61 (4), pp. 668-76. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Mar 01. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Lead (Pb) is a worldwide environmental contaminant known to adversely affect multiple organ systems in both mammalian and avian species. In birds, a common route of exposure is via oral ingestion of lead particles. Data are currently lacking for the retention and clearance of Pb bullet fragments in gastrointestinal (GI) tract of birds while linking toxicity with blood Pb levels. In the present study, northern bobwhite quail fed a seed-based diet were orally gavaged with Pb bullet fragments (zero, one or five fragments/bird) and evaluated for rate of fragment clearance, and changes in peripheral blood, renal, immune, and gastrointestinal parameters. Based on radiographs, the majority of the birds cleared or absorbed the fragments by seven days, with the exception of one five-fragment bird which took between 7 and 14 days. Blood Pb levels were higher in males than females, which may be related to egg production in females. In males but not females, feed consumption, body weight gain, packed cell volume (PCV), plasma protein concentration, and δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD) activity were all adversely affected by five Pb fragments. Birds of both sexes that received a single Pb fragment displayed depressed δ-ALAD, suggesting altered hematologic function, while all birds dosed with five bullet fragments exhibited greater morbidity.
- Subjects :
- Administration, Oral
Animals
Bird Diseases blood
Body Weight drug effects
Eating drug effects
Female
Immune System drug effects
Kidney drug effects
Lead blood
Lead Poisoning blood
Male
Porphobilinogen Synthase blood
Stomach, Avian drug effects
Stomach, Avian pathology
Bird Diseases etiology
Lead pharmacokinetics
Lead toxicity
Lead Poisoning etiology
Quail metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1432-0703
- Volume :
- 61
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21360077
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-011-9654-2