TY - JOUR
T1 - Choroidal Vasculopathy and Retinal Detachment in a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with Lead Toxicosis
AU - Eid, Ramzi
AU - Guzman, David Sanchez Migallon
AU - Keller, Krista A.
AU - Wiggans, K. Tomo
AU - Murphy, Christopher J.
AU - Ladouceur, Elise E B
AU - Keel, M. Kevin
AU - Reilly, Christopher M.
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - A subadult Male bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was presented for severe depression and weakness. Physical examination findings included depressed mentation, dehydration, sternal recumbency, poor body condition, and bilateral, whole-head, horizontal nystagmus. A heavy-metal panel was performed, and blood lead levels were 6.1 ppm. Treatment for lead poisoning was initiated, including subcutaneous fluids and parenteral calcium-disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ceftiofur, and meloxicam. Ophthalmic examination findings included absent menace response, absent dazzle reflex, slow and incomplete direct pupillary light reflex, mild anterior uveitis, incipient cataracts, multifocal retinal tears, and retinal separation in both eyes. Because of poor prognosis for vision and release to the wild, the eagle was euthanatized. No lesions were observed on gross postmortem examination. Histologically, extensive myocardial necrosis and multisystemic arteriolar vasculopathy were identified. The eyes were examined after tissue processing, and the vasculopathy extended into the choriocapillaris and was associated with a secondary, bilateral, exudative, retinal detachment. This is the first report in avian species characterizing the histopathologic ocular lesions of lead poisoning.
AB - A subadult Male bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was presented for severe depression and weakness. Physical examination findings included depressed mentation, dehydration, sternal recumbency, poor body condition, and bilateral, whole-head, horizontal nystagmus. A heavy-metal panel was performed, and blood lead levels were 6.1 ppm. Treatment for lead poisoning was initiated, including subcutaneous fluids and parenteral calcium-disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ceftiofur, and meloxicam. Ophthalmic examination findings included absent menace response, absent dazzle reflex, slow and incomplete direct pupillary light reflex, mild anterior uveitis, incipient cataracts, multifocal retinal tears, and retinal separation in both eyes. Because of poor prognosis for vision and release to the wild, the eagle was euthanatized. No lesions were observed on gross postmortem examination. Histologically, extensive myocardial necrosis and multisystemic arteriolar vasculopathy were identified. The eyes were examined after tissue processing, and the vasculopathy extended into the choriocapillaris and was associated with a secondary, bilateral, exudative, retinal detachment. This is the first report in avian species characterizing the histopathologic ocular lesions of lead poisoning.
KW - Avian
KW - Bald Eagle
KW - Haliaeetus Leucocephalus
KW - Ophthalmology
KW - Plumbism
KW - Raptor
KW - Vasculitis
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U2 - 10.1647/2015122
DO - 10.1647/2015122
M3 - Article
C2 - 28107073
AN - SCOPUS:85010214392
VL - 30
SP - 357
EP - 363
JO - Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery
JF - Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery
SN - 1082-6742
IS - 4
ER -