title: Hemograms for and nutritional condition of migrant bald eagles tested for exposure to lead.
abstract: Plasma proteins, hematocrit, differential blood counts were examined and nutritional condition was estimated for bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) trapped (n = 66) during antumn migration, 1994-95 at Galloway Bay (Saskatchewan, Canada), for the purposes of estimating prevalence of exposure to lead. Sex and age differences in hematocrit and plasma proteins were not observed; however, female eagles exhibited larger median absolute heterophil counts than males. Hematologic values were similar to those previously reported from eagles in captivity. Departures from expected hematological values from a healthy population of eagles were not observed in birds with elevated levels of blood lead (> or =0.200 microg/ml). Similarly, nutritional condition was not related to blood-lead concentrations. Therefore, it appears that lead exposure in this population was below a threshold required to indicate toxicological alteration in the hematological values and index of nutritional condition that we measured.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wayland
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bortolotti
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D020307:Eagles / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012525:Saskatchewan; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead