title: Lead toxicosis of captive vultures: case description and responses to chelation therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lead, a serious threat for raptors, can hamper the success of their conservation. This study reports on experience with accidental lead intoxication and responses to chelation therapy in captive Cinereous (Aegypius monachus) and Egyptian (Neophron percnopterus) Vultures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Soil contamination by lead-based paint sanded off the steel aviary resulted in poisoning of eight Cinereous and two Egyptian Vultures. A male Egyptian Vulture developed signs of apathy, polydipsia, polyuria, regurgitation, and stupor, and died on the next day. Liver, kidney and blood lead concentrations were 12.2, 8.16 and 2.66 μg/g, respectively. Laboratory analyses confirmed severe liver and kidney damage and anaemia. Blood Pb levels of Pb-exposed Cinereous Vultures were 1.571 ± 0.510 μg/g shortly after intoxication, decreased to 0.530 ± 0.165 μg/g without any therapy in a month and to 0.254 ± 0.097 μg/g one month after CaNa(2)EDTA administration. Eight months later, blood lead levels decreased to close to the background of the control group. Blood parameters of healthy Pb-non-exposed Cinereous Vultures were compared with those of the exposed group prior to and after chelation therapy. Iron levels in the lead-exposed pre-treatment birds significantly decreased after chelation. Haematocrit levels in Pb-exposed birds were significantly lower than those of the controls and improved one month after chelation. Creatine kinase was higher in pre-treatment birds than in the controls but normalised after therapy. Alkaline phosphatase increased after chelation. A marked increase in the level of lipid peroxidation measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive species was demonstrated in birds both prior to and after chelation. The ferric reducing antioxidant power was significantly lower in pre-treatment vultures and returned to normal following chelation therapy. Blood metallothionein levels in lead-exposed birds were higher than in controls. Reduced glutathione dropped after CaNa(2)EDTA therapy, while oxidised glutathione was significantly lower in both pre- and post-treatment birds. A chick in an egg produced by a Cinereous Vulture female two months after lead toxicosis died on day 40 of artificial incubation. Lead concentrations in foetal tissues were consistent with levels causing avian mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reported blood parameters and reproduction impairment in captive birds may have implications for professionals dealing with lead exposure in wild birds.
authors: Department of Veterinary Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic. pikulaj@vfu.cz
authors: Jiri
authors: J
authors: Pikula
authors: Pavlina
authors: P
authors: Hajkova
authors: Hana
authors: H
authors: Bandouchova
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Bednarova
authors: Vojtech
authors: V
authors: Adam
authors: Miroslava
authors: M
authors: Beklova
authors: Jiri
authors: J
authors: Kral
authors: Karel
authors: K
authors: Ondracek
authors: Jitka
authors: J
authors: Osickova
authors: Miroslav
authors: M
authors: Pohanka
authors: Jana
authors: J
authors: Sedlackova
authors: Hana
authors: H
authors: Skochova
authors: Jakub
authors: J
authors: Sobotka
authors: Frantisek
authors: F
authors: Treml
authors: Rene
authors: R
authors: Kizek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015913:Chelation Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D004492:Edetic Acid