Pattee Oliver H, Carpenter James W, Fritts Steven H, Rattner Barnett A, Wiemeyer Stanley N, Royle J Andrew, Smith Milton R
US Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville Laboratory, c/o BARC-East, Bldg. 308, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA.
J Wildl Dis. 2006 Oct;42(4):772-9. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-42.4.772.
Elevated lead in the tissues of raptors, especially those that scavenge, is a common occurrence, and lead poisoning appears to be a significant problem in the ongoing recovery effort for California condors (Gymnogyps californianus). Elevated blood lead levels have been found in released birds, and a number of birds have died of lead poisoning. In earlier work, we dosed turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) with lead shot but found them to be a poor model for lead poisoning. In this study, we dosed four Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) with lead shot and found them to be quite sensitive, as two of the birds died and the other two exhibit signs of lead poisoning within 50 days. All lead-responsive parameters were affected, and regurgitation of dosed shot occurred only once. The response of the Andean condors appeared to mimic California condors, suggesting that once exposed to lead, the possibility of survival is poor. This is consistent with observations in the wild, where otherwise healthy birds exposed to metallic lead quickly succumb. At the very least, the release program has to maintain constant surveillance and an active lead monitoring program.
猛禽组织中铅含量升高，尤其是那些食腐动物，是常见现象，铅中毒似乎是加州兀鹫（Gymnogyps californianus）当前恢复工作中的一个重大问题。在放归的鸟类中发现血铅水平升高，并且有一些鸟类死于铅中毒。在早期的研究中，我们给火鸡秃鹫（Cathartes aura）投喂铅弹，但发现它们不是铅中毒的理想模型。在这项研究中，我们给四只安第斯兀鹫（Vultur gryphus）投喂铅弹，发现它们非常敏感，因为其中两只鸟死亡，另外两只在50天内出现了铅中毒症状。所有对铅有反应的参数都受到了影响，投喂的铅弹只出现过一次反刍现象。安第斯兀鹫的反应似乎与加州兀鹫相似，这表明一旦接触到铅，存活的可能性就很小。这与在野外的观察结果一致，在野外，原本健康的鸟类接触到金属铅后很快就会死亡。至少，放归计划必须保持持续监测和积极的铅监测计划。
