ABSTRACT
Changes in hematological and serum biochemistry parameters in female zinc (Zn)-dosed farm-raised mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) fed four different diets were examined. Sixty ducks received an average dose of 0.97 g of Zn in the form of eight, 3.30-mm diameter shot pellets containing 98% Zn and 2% tin, and another 60 ducks were sham-dosed as controls. Fifteen ducks from each of the two dosing groups were assigned to one of four dietary treatments: corn only, corn with soil, commercial duck ration only, or commercial duck ration with soil. Shot-pellet dissolution rates ranged from 7 mg/Zn/day to 27 mg/Zn/day. Regardless of diet, the Zn dose resulted in mortality; incoordination; paralysis and anorexia; decreased body, liver, pancreas, gonad, and gizzard weight; increased kidney weight; and macroscopic lesions. Zn-dosed ducks had a lower mean erythrocyte packed cell volume (PCV), higher mean reticulocyte count, and a greater number of individuals with immature and/or abnormal erythrocytes, than did control mallards. Mean total leucocyte counts were higher in Zn-dosed ducks than in controls. Zn-dosed ducks that had soil available had higher leucocyte counts than those without soil. Zn-dosed ducks were characterized by a marked heterophilia and relative lymphopenia. In Zn-dosed ducks, the mean lymphocyte count was highest in those provided a commercial duck ration, and lowest in those fed corn. In control ducks, the mean lymphocyte count was highest in ducks fed corn, and lowest in those provided soil along with a commercial duck ration. Zn-dosed mallards had higher serum aspartate aminotransferase and amylase levels, and lower alkaline phosphatase activities than control ducks. Serum phosphorus and uric acid concentrations were higher, and calcium, glucose, and total protein levels lower, in Zn-dosed ducks than in control ducks. Diet did affect serum calcium, phosphorus, total protein, and uric acid concentrations. Differences in erythrocyte and leucocyte parameters, serum enzyme activities, and metabolite concentrations were associated with dose and diet effects. Diets high in protein and other organic matter and calcium and phosphorus did not prevent or substantially alleviate Zn toxicosis in farm-raised mallard ducks.
Subject(s)
Bird Diseases/chemically induced , Diet/veterinary , Ducks/blood , Zinc/toxicity , Animal Feed , Animals , Bird Diseases/blood , Bird Diseases/pathology , Blood Cell Count/veterinary , Blood Chemical Analysis/veterinary , Body Weight/drug effects , Cohort Studies , Enzymes/blood , Enzymes/drug effects , Erythrocytes/drug effects , Hematocrit/veterinary , Hematologic Tests/veterinary , Leukocytes/drug effects , Random AllocationABSTRACT
Effects of five lead (Pb), iron (Fe), or bismuth (Bi)/tin (Sn) alloy shot embedded in the breast muscles of game-farm mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were studied from 28 March 1994 through 27 March 1995. We detected no differences in the mean survival times, mean hematocrits, or mean body weights among the three shot types. Connective tissue encapsulated Pb and Bi/Sn shot but only slight changes occurred in tissues surrounding the shot. Recovered Pb and Bi/Sn shot were essentially unchanged in appearance and weight. A thin zone of "oxide" surrounded Fe shot with a slight inflammatory response and a small amount of scarring adjacent to the embedded shot. Fe shot decreased slightly in weight while embedded. Bacterial infections were absent in all dosed ducks. Mean weights of kidneys, livers, and gonads did not vary by type of shot. Kidneys and livers of Bi-dosed ducks had higher concentrations of Bi than in Pb- and Fe-dosed ducks. Muscle and blood showed no differences in Bi concentrations among doses. We found no histological dose-related effects in kidneys, liver, and gonads from the embedded shot.
Subject(s)
Bird Diseases/chemically induced , Bismuth/toxicity , Ducks , Iron/toxicity , Lead/toxicity , Pectoralis Muscles/drug effects , Alloys , Animals , Bird Diseases/mortality , Bird Diseases/pathology , Bismuth/pharmacokinetics , Body Weight/drug effects , Female , Gonads/drug effects , Gonads/metabolism , Gonads/pathology , Iron/pharmacokinetics , Kidney/drug effects , Kidney/metabolism , Kidney/pathology , Lead/pharmacokinetics , Liver/drug effects , Liver/metabolism , Liver/pathology , Male , Organ Size/drug effects , Pectoralis Muscles/metabolism , Pectoralis Muscles/pathology , Poisoning/mortality , Poisoning/pathology , Poisoning/veterinary , Random AllocationABSTRACT
Sarcocysts of Sarcocystis kirkpatricki n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) are described from the skeletal and heart musculature of 66 (66%) of 100 raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Illinois. Histologic examination of muscle tissues from tongue, diaphragm, esophagus, and heart revealed that 61%, 47%, 32%, and 2%, respectively, contained sarcocysts of this species. Juvenile raccoons (less than 1 yr old) were more likely (P less than 0.01) to have sarcocysts in the tissues examined (52/60 or 87%) than were adults (14/40 or 35%). Histologically, sarcocysts in the 4 tissues were similar: the cyst wall was 2-3 microns thick, PAS negative, and had fine hairlike surface projections; interior septa were indistinct. Ultrastructurally, sarcocyst walls had short (mean = 2.8 microns), straight to sloping, villuslike projections. Longitudinal tubular filaments inside these projections extended from the tips to the base, where they terminated in a granular electron-dense layer of the primary cyst wall. Thin septa were within the sarcocysts. Feeding experiments utilizing dogs and cats as potential definitive hosts were negative.
