%0 Journal Article
%T Lead toxicosis of captive vultures: case description and responses to chelation therapy
%A Jiri Pikula
%A Pavlina Hajkova
%A Hana Bandouchova
%A Ivana Bednarova
%A Vojtech Adam
%A Miroslava Beklova
%A Jiri Kral
%A Karel Ondracek
%A Jitka Osickova
%A Miroslav Pohanka
%A Jana Sedlackova
%A Hana Skochova
%A Jakub Sobotka
%A Frantisek Treml
%A Rene Kizek
%J BMC Veterinary Research
%D 2013
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1746-6148-9-11
%X Soil 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 ¦Ìg/g, respectively. Laboratory analyses confirmed severe liver and kidney damage and anaemia. Blood Pb levels of Pb-exposed Cinereous Vultures were 1.571£¿¡À£¿0.510 ¦Ìg/g shortly after intoxication, decreased to 0.530£¿¡À£¿0.165 ¦Ìg/g without any therapy in a month and to 0.254£¿¡À£¿0.097 ¦Ìg/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 causi
%K Aegypius monachus
%K Neophron percnopterus
%K Plumbism
%K Haematology
%K Biochemistry
%K Oxidative stress
%K Reproduction impairment
%K Treatment
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/9/11