The toxicology of ingested lead acetate in ringed turtle doves Streptopelia risoria

Ronald J. Kendall, Patrick F. Scanlon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Adult male ringed turtle doves Streptopelia risoria received lead acetate daily by intubation at the following dosage levels: 0, 25, 50 and 75 μg of lead per gramme (equivalent to mg kg-1) body weight for 7 days. In the 75 μg g-1 dose level, the dores lost 17% of their original body weight as compared with 5 to 8% in other treatments; however, this effect was not statistically significant. At sacrifice (Day 7) haemoglobin was lower in the 75 μg g-1 treated birds and blood concentrations were greatly elevated (> 300 μg%). Measurement of the enzyme, delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), proved to be a sensitive indication of lead ingestion at 5 h after the first lead dose. At 30 h and 168 h after the beginning of the experiment blood ALAD was also lowered by lead treatment. Lead concentrations in the liver, brain, and kidney were higher in the 75 μg g-1 treatment birds than doves that received 50 or 25 μg of lead per gramme of body weight. Brain lead averaged 12·41 μg g-1 in the 75 μg g-1 lead treatment and seizures were noted in these birds.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)255-262
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Pollution. Series A, Ecological and Biological
Volume27
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1982

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