Peracute sodium toxicity in free-ranging black-bellied whistling duck ducklings.
From 23 to 25 July 2002, 98-103 newly hatched black-bellied whistling ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) were observed alive at an inland saline lake (La Sal Vieja) in Willacy County, Texas (USA). Seventy-one (71%) died after showing signs indicative of sodium toxicity within 5 hr of entering the water; some died within minutes. Six carcasses were sent to the United States Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center (Madison, Wisconsin, USA) for analysis, and brain sodium levels of all ducklings were above 2,000 parts per million wet weight. More black-bellied whistling duck ducklings are likely to have been affected, but they were not observed after hatching.
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Route 2, Box 202A, Alamo, Texas 78516, USA. dorie_stolley@fws.gov
Dorie S
DS
Stolley
Carol U
CU
Meteyer
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D004372:Ducks; D012964:Sodium / Q000506:poisoning*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance
D014867:Water; D012964:Sodium