Manning Leah K, Wünschmann Arno, Armién Anibal G, Willette Michelle, MacAulay Kathleen, Bender Jeff B, Buchweitz John P, Redig Patrick
1 Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
2 The Raptor Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
Vet Pathol. 2019 Mar;56(2):289-299. doi: 10.1177/0300985818813099. Epub 2018 Dec 16.
Lead toxicity due to ingestion of spent ammunition is an ongoing cause of mortality in bald eagles. While gross and histologic lesions of lead intoxication have been described in a few individuals of this species, the prevalence of lesions is underreported. A retrospective study of 93 bald eagles with severe lead intoxication was performed to describe the associated lesions and their prevalence and to compare the lesions with blood, liver, kidney, and/or bone lead concentrations. Gross lesions associated with lead toxicity were most frequent within the heart (51/93 birds) and consisted of multifocal myocardial pallor and rounding of the apex. Within the brain, gross lesions included petechiae or hemorrhagic necrosis (13/93 birds). Histologic lesions compatible with lead toxicity occurred within the heart (76/93 birds), brain (59/93 birds), and eyes (24/87 birds). Lead toxicity in bald eagles is characterized by fibrinoid necrosis of small- to medium-caliber arteries, most commonly affecting the heart, brain, and eyes. Gross and histologic lesions are consistent with ischemia caused by a primary vascular injury. A blood lead concentration of greater than 4 ppm and markedly elevated liver lead concentrations were associated with a greater likelihood of lesions in the heart. Severe lead intoxication is frequently associated with lesions that are histologically detectable in bald eagles. The presence of fibrinoid arterial necrosis and parenchymal degeneration, necrosis, and/or hemorrhage within the heart, brain, and/or eyes is suggestive of lead toxicity in bald eagles and warrants evaluation of liver or bone lead concentrations.
因摄入废旧弹药导致的铅中毒是白头海雕持续的死亡原因。虽然在该物种的少数个体中已描述了铅中毒的大体和组织学病变，但病变的发生率报告不足。对93只严重铅中毒的白头海雕进行了一项回顾性研究，以描述相关病变及其发生率，并将这些病变与血液、肝脏、肾脏和/或骨骼中的铅浓度进行比较。与铅中毒相关的大体病变在心脏中最为常见（51/93只鸟），表现为多灶性心肌苍白和心尖圆钝。在大脑中，大体病变包括瘀点或出血性坏死（13/93只鸟）。与铅中毒相符的组织学病变出现在心脏（76/93只鸟）、大脑（59/93只鸟）和眼睛（24/87只鸟）中。白头海雕的铅中毒特征是中小口径动脉的纤维蛋白样坏死，最常影响心脏、大脑和眼睛。大体和组织学病变与原发性血管损伤引起的缺血一致。血铅浓度大于4 ppm和肝脏铅浓度显著升高与心脏病变的可能性增加有关。严重铅中毒常与白头海雕组织学上可检测到的病变相关。心脏、大脑和/或眼睛内存在纤维蛋白样动脉坏死以及实质变性、坏死和/或出血提示白头海雕存在铅中毒，需要评估肝脏或骨骼中的铅浓度。
