Pathogenesis of lead shot poisoning in the mallard duck

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Cornell Vet.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5443102

Clemens, E T; Krook, L; Aronson, A L; Stevens, C E

Adult mallard ducks were administered steel pellets to determine the rate of excretion from the gastrointestinal tract. In separate studies the ducks were administered 5 number 6 lead pellets. Birds were examined for clinical signs and sacrificed at given intervals over a 20 day period to assess changes in tissue structure and concentrations of lead with time. The rate of steel pellet excretion on birds on a low fiber diet decreased with an increase in pellet size. Pellet excretion was greatly reduced in birds fed a high fiber diet. Administration of lead shot resulted in the development of green diarrhea, anorexia and weakness. It also produced high concentrations of lead in the blood, kidney, liver and bone with lower concentrations in skeletal muscle. The major lesions were destruction of the mitotically active proventricular epithelium and medullary osteocytes, destruction of pectoral muscle cells and the presence of intranuclear inclusion bodies in the proximal tubular epithelium of the kidney. Birds on the high fiber diet demonstrated more severe clinical signs and higher concentrations of lead in the tissues.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
• OSTI ID: 5443102
• Journal Information: Cornell Vet.; (United States), Journal Name: Cornell Vet.; (United States) Vol. 65:2; ISSN COVEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
ANOREXIA
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIRDS
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CLEARANCE
DIARRHEA
DIET
DISTRIBUTION
DUCKS
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
ELEMENTS
EPITHELIUM
EXCRETION
FOWL
INJURIES
KIDNEYS
LEAD
MATERIALS
METALS
MUSCLES
ORAL ADMINISTRATION
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
SKELETON
SYMPTOMS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TISSUES
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES