Survival, growth, and histopathological effects of paraquat ingestion in nestling American kestrels (Falco sparverius)

Hoffman, D.J.; Franson, J.C.; Pattee, O.H.; Bunck, C.M.

Abstract:

The use of paraquat as a herbicide is becoming more extensive with the increasing popularity of no tillage agriculture, increasing the possibility of exposure for wildlife species. American kestrel (Falco sparverius) nestlings were orally dosed daily with 5 ?l/g of distilled water (controls), 10 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, or 60 mg/kg of paraquat dichloride (1, 1‘-dimethyl-4,4‘-bipyridinium) in distilled water from day 1 through day 10. Forty-four percent of the nestlings given 60 mg/kg died after 4 days. Significant differences in growth rates occurred between controls and all paraquat-dosed groups. Reduced skeletal growth occurred in the humerus and femur in the 25 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg groups, and in the radius-ulna and tibiotarsus in the 60 mg/kg group. Skeletons were otherwise normal in appearance. Histopathological examination revealed localized focal necrosis in the liver of one nestling in the 60 mg/kg group and tubular cell degeneration and focal tubular dilation in the kidneys of another. The brain and lungs were unremarkable histologically. These findings suggest that altricial nestling kestrels are more sensitive to paraquat exposure than young or adult birds of precocial species.

Genre:

Article

ProdID:

5222020

Citation Author:

Hoffman, D.J.; Franson, J.C.; Pattee, O.H.; Bunck, C.M.

Citation Contributing Office:

Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

500

Citation Issue:

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

English

Citation Larger Work Title:

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Citation LatN:

Citation LatS:

Citation LonE:

Citation LonW:

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

495-500

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

3184_Hoffman.pdf

Citation Publisher:

Citation Series:

Citation Series Code:

Citation Series Number:

Citation Search Results Text:

Survival, growth, and histopathological effects of paraquat ingestion in nestling American kestrels (Falco sparverius); 1985; Article; Journal; Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; Hoffman, D.J.; Franson, J.C.; Pattee, O.H.; Bunck, C.M.