Lead Toxicity in Mute Swans
LEAD TOXICITY IN MUTE SWANS Cygnus olor (Gmelin). By JOHN O'HALLORAN A thesis submitted to the National University of Ireland in candidature for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 1987
LEAD TOXICITY IN MUTE SWANS
Cygnus olor (Gmelin).
By
JOHN O'HALLORAN
A thesis submitted to the National University of Ireland
in candidature for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
September 1987
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MATERIALS AND METHODS<br />
Collection of samples<br />
Blood samples (5ml) were collected as part of a major study on lead<br />
poison<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>Mute</strong> swans at Cork Lough, Co.Cork, SW Ireland (see<br />
O'Halloran et al., <strong>in</strong> press). Manually restra<strong>in</strong>ed (unanaesthetised)<br />
birds were blood sampled from the brachial ve<strong>in</strong>, or <strong>in</strong> the case of<br />
cygnets from the tarsal ve<strong>in</strong>, us<strong>in</strong>g a 21 gauge 1 <strong>in</strong>ch needle.<br />
All<br />
samples were taken each day between 10.00-11.30.<br />
Blood was placed <strong>in</strong><br />
lithium hepar<strong>in</strong> tubes.<br />
An aliquot was also placed <strong>in</strong> tubes conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
dipotassium salt of ethylene diam<strong>in</strong>e tetra-acetic acid (EDTA).<br />
For<br />
serial sampl<strong>in</strong>g, four live birds were caged for 15 hours (16.00-07.00)<br />
<strong>in</strong> pens, 4m X lm, for the blood sampl<strong>in</strong>g procedure and subsequently<br />
released. Food and water were freely available at all time. Sex was<br />
determ<strong>in</strong>ed by cloacal exam<strong>in</strong>ation (after Hochbaum, 1942) and age was<br />
determ<strong>in</strong>ed by plumage characteristics and beak colour.<br />
birds with brown feathers were designated as immatures.<br />
Cygnets and any<br />
Details of<br />
moult<strong>in</strong>g status were noted.<br />
In six lead poisoned birds, four <strong>Mute</strong> and two Whooper swans Cygnus<br />
cygnus (L), blood samples were obta<strong>in</strong>ed prior to death.<br />
Tissue samples<br />
(liver, kidney, pancreas, breast muscle, heart muscle and gizzard<br />
muscle) were taken at post-mortem from lead poisoned swans for lead<br />
analyses.<br />
Blood chemistry and tissue analyses.<br />
Haemoglob<strong>in</strong> (Hb) content was determ<strong>in</strong>ed by convert<strong>in</strong>g all haem<br />
species to ·alkal<strong>in</strong>e haemat<strong>in</strong> by techniques described elsewhere (see<br />
O'Halloran, et al., 1987b).<br />
Haematocrit was measured follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
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