title: Histopathology of liver and kidneys of wild living Mallards Anas platyrhynchos and Coots Fulica atra with considerable concentrations of lead and cadmium.
abstract: Concentrations of cadmium and lead were measured in liver and kidneys of Mallard (n=60) and Coot (n=50). Free living birds were collected by hunters in years 2006-2008 in the area of fishponds near Zator in southern Poland. Age group was determined according to the appearance of the plumage (Mallards) and iris color (Coot). Concentrations of metals were measured with ET-AA spectrometer. Among all birds specimens with negligible (n=5) and high concentrations (Mallards n=18 and Coots n=17) of cadmium and lead were chosen for further analysis. Histopathological alterations were observed, ranging from circulatory disturbances, retrogressive changes, inflammations to leukocytic infiltration in liver and kidney. They dominated among birds with the highest concentrations of metals. The control group of birds was characterized by a very small number of mentioned lesions. Probably the higher cadmium and lead concentrations in tissues are co-factors in the development of lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Podbrzezie 3, 31-054 Cracow, Poland. ljbinkowski@gmail.com
authors.forename: Łukasz J
authors.initials: ŁJ
authors.lastname: Binkowski
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawicka-Kapusta
authors.forename: Józef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szarek
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strzyżewska
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Felsmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046090:Anseriformes / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011044:Poland; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead