Graduate Institute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Number 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Center for General Education, National Tsing Hua University, Number 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China.
J Wildl Dis. 2020 Jan;56(1):157-166. Epub 2019 Sep 18.
Lead and zinc are recognized as the most widespread trace metals in nature and can, at high levels, compromise the health of wildlife and their habitat. Because of their position in a higher trophic level, wild carnivores can be valuable biological indicator species of trace-metal contamination in the environment. We assessed blood lead and zinc concentrations of four small carnivore species native to Taiwan, the small Indian civet (), the masked palm civet (), the ferret badger (), and the crab-eating mongoose (), from urban and rural areas (Yangmingshan National Park, Xiuguluan River bank, and Da-an River bank). Blood samples were acquired from the anterior vena cava under general anesthesia, and lead and zinc concentrations, hematology, and serum biochemistry results were then obtained. Blood lead levels were significantly higher in ferret badgers in the Yangmingshan area. Although lead concentrations were comparable with those in humans and cats with lead toxicosis, there was no hematological or biochemical evidence that animal health was compromised. Blood zinc levels were within an acceptable range in all four species tested. Overall, we found significant differences in blood lead and zinc levels among four species of carnivores living in areas with different levels of land development in Taiwan. Anthropogenic pollution, mining history, and volcanic activities in Yangmingshan National Park may contribute to significantly high blood lead levels in ferret badgers in this area. Our results provided information about the potential impact of land development on wildlife and may be beneficial to wildlife conservation, public health, and environmental health in Taiwan.
铅和锌被认为是自然界中分布最广泛的痕量金属，在高浓度下会损害野生动物及其栖息地的健康。由于它们处于较高的营养级，野生食肉动物可以作为环境中痕量金属污染的有价值的生物指示物种。我们评估了台湾本土的四种小型食肉动物的血液铅和锌浓度，包括小印度獴（）、大灵猫（）、鼬獾（）和食蟹獴（），它们分别来自城市和农村地区（阳明山国家公园、秀姑峦溪河岸和大安河岸）。在全身麻醉下从前腔静脉采集血液样本，然后获得铅和锌浓度、血液学和血清生化结果。阳明山地区的鼬獾血液铅水平显著较高。虽然铅浓度与人类和患有铅中毒的猫相似，但没有血液学或生化学证据表明动物健康受到损害。四种测试动物的血液锌水平均在可接受范围内。总体而言，我们发现生活在台湾不同土地开发水平地区的四种食肉动物的血液铅和锌水平存在显著差异。阳明山国家公园的人为污染、采矿历史和火山活动可能导致该地区鼬獾血液铅水平显著升高。我们的研究结果提供了有关土地开发对野生动物潜在影响的信息，可能对台湾的野生动物保护、公共卫生和环境卫生有益。
