Pathological study of lead poisoning in whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) in Japan.
During spring 1989, thirty-three whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) died at Lake Miyajima in Hokkaido, Japan; 15 were examined. The birds were diagnosed as having subacute lead poisoning due to ingestion of spent lead shot. The main gross findings were bile-stained liver, edematous or gelatinous bone marrow, bile-stained lining with hyperkeratosis and lead pellets in the gizzard, and proventricular impaction. Histopathologically, there was lead-hemolytic jaundice of the liver, hemosiderosis in the liver and spleen, and hypoplasia of the bone marrow with increased numbers of polychromatic erythroblasts. Acid-fast intranuclear inclusion bodies were seen in kidneys of seven swans. Under electron microscopy, inclusion bodies had frayed contours and consisted of high-electron-dense fine granules. The lead concentration of the liver ranged from 5.5 to 44.3 mg/kg wet weight. It was suggested that these changes resulted from excess breakdown of erythrocytes, inhibition of heme synthesis, and impaired erythropoiesis caused by lead shot.
Ochiai
K
K
Department of Comparative Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Jin
K
K
Itakura
C
C
Goryo
M
M
Yamashita
K
K
Mizuno
N
N
Fujinaga
T
T
Tsuzuki
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001717:Birds; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005895:Gizzard, Avian / Q000473:pathology; D007564:Japan; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
D007854:Lead