Lead and eagles: demographic and pathological characteristics of poisoning, and exposure levels associated with other causes of mortality

We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate demographic and pathologic characteristics in 484 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and 68 golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) diagnosed with lead poisoning at the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center. As part of our analysis, we...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecotoxicology (London) 2014-11, Vol.23 (9), p.1722-1731
Main Authors: Franson, J. Christian, Russell, Robin E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adults
Animals
Aquila chrysaetos
autumn
Bald eagle
bile
Birds
Carcasses
death
Demographics
Eagles
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
emaciation
Environment
Environmental Management
Exposure
Female
females
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Health aspects
infectious diseases
juveniles
Kidney - pathology
lead
Lead (metal)
Lead poisoning
Lead Poisoning - veterinary
Liver
Liver - chemistry
Male
males
Models, Theoretical
Mortality
Myocardium - pathology
necrosis
nephrosis
Poisoning
Seasons
spring
summer
trapping
United States
wildlife
winter
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate demographic and pathologic characteristics in 484 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and 68 golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) diagnosed with lead poisoning at the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center. As part of our analysis, we compared characteristics of lead poisoned eagles with those that died of other causes. Odds of lead poisoning were greater for bald eagles versus golden eagles, females versus males, adults versus juveniles, and eagles from the Mississippi and Central flyways versus the Atlantic and Pacific flyways. In addition to spatial, species, and demographic associations, we detected a distinct temporal trend in the collection date of lead poisoned bald eagle carcasses. These carcasses were found at greater frequency in late autumn and winter than spring and summer. Lesions in lead poisoned birds included emaciation, evidence of bile stasis, myocardial degeneration and necrosis, and renal tubular nephrosis and necrosis. Ingested lead ammunition or fragments were found in 14.2 % of bald eagles and 11.8 % of golden eagles. The overall mean liver lead concentration (wet weight basis) for eagles diagnosed with lead poisoning was 28.9 ± 0.69 SE mg/kg in bald eagles and 19.4 ± 1.84 SE mg/kg in golden eagles. In eagles diagnosed with collision trauma, electrocution, poisoning (other than lead), emaciation, infectious disease, trapping death, other, and undetermined causes, average liver lead concentrations were low (
ISSN:0963-9292
1573-3017
DOI:10.1007/s10646-014-1337-0