Acute lead toxicosis in a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) consequent to ingestion of a lead fishing sinker

Tanja S. Zabka; Martin Haulena; Birgit Puschner; Frances M D Gulland; Patricia A Conrad; Linda J Lowenstine

Acute lead toxicosis in a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) consequent to ingestion of a lead fishing sinker

Tanja S. Zabka, Martin Haulena, Birgit Puschner, Frances M D Gulland, Patricia A Conrad, Linda J Lowenstine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

An adult female harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) stranded in northern California on 25 June 2004, exhibited progressive weakness, disorientation, and seizures, and despite therapy, died within 4 days. On pathologic examination, a lead fishing sinker was in the stomach, and changes in the brain, heart, kidney, liver, lymph nodes, and spleen were supportive of acute lead toxicosis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of concentrations of lead in the sinker (90-98% lead), antemortem whole blood (0.66 ppm), and postmortem tissues (84 ppm, wet weight liver). This first documented case of lead toxicosis in a wild marine mammal demonstrates an additional way in which human fishing activities can harm marine mammals.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	651-657
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Volume	42
Issue number	3
State	Published - Jul 2006

Keywords

Brain
Heart
Hemosiderosis
Lead sinker
Pathology
Phoca vitulina richardsi
Pinniped
Toxicology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

veterinary(all)

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Acute lead toxicosis in a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) consequent to ingestion of a lead fishing sinker. / Zabka, Tanja S.; Haulena, Martin; Puschner, Birgit; Gulland, Frances M D; Conrad, Patricia A ; Lowenstine, Linda J.

In: Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Vol. 42, No. 3, 07.2006, p. 651-657.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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abstract = "An adult female harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) stranded in northern California on 25 June 2004, exhibited progressive weakness, disorientation, and seizures, and despite therapy, died within 4 days. On pathologic examination, a lead fishing sinker was in the stomach, and changes in the brain, heart, kidney, liver, lymph nodes, and spleen were supportive of acute lead toxicosis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of concentrations of lead in the sinker (90-98% lead), antemortem whole blood (0.66 ppm), and postmortem tissues (84 ppm, wet weight liver). This first documented case of lead toxicosis in a wild marine mammal demonstrates an additional way in which human fishing activities can harm marine mammals.",

keywords = "Brain, Heart, Hemosiderosis, Lead sinker, Pathology, Phoca vitulina richardsi, Pinniped, Toxicology",

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AU - Zabka, Tanja S.

AU - Haulena, Martin

AU - Puschner, Birgit

AU - Gulland, Frances M D

AU - Conrad, Patricia A

AU - Lowenstine, Linda J

PY - 2006/7

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N2 - An adult female harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) stranded in northern California on 25 June 2004, exhibited progressive weakness, disorientation, and seizures, and despite therapy, died within 4 days. On pathologic examination, a lead fishing sinker was in the stomach, and changes in the brain, heart, kidney, liver, lymph nodes, and spleen were supportive of acute lead toxicosis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of concentrations of lead in the sinker (90-98% lead), antemortem whole blood (0.66 ppm), and postmortem tissues (84 ppm, wet weight liver). This first documented case of lead toxicosis in a wild marine mammal demonstrates an additional way in which human fishing activities can harm marine mammals.

AB - An adult female harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) stranded in northern California on 25 June 2004, exhibited progressive weakness, disorientation, and seizures, and despite therapy, died within 4 days. On pathologic examination, a lead fishing sinker was in the stomach, and changes in the brain, heart, kidney, liver, lymph nodes, and spleen were supportive of acute lead toxicosis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of concentrations of lead in the sinker (90-98% lead), antemortem whole blood (0.66 ppm), and postmortem tissues (84 ppm, wet weight liver). This first documented case of lead toxicosis in a wild marine mammal demonstrates an additional way in which human fishing activities can harm marine mammals.

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Acute lead toxicosis in a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) consequent to ingestion of a lead fishing sinker

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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