Testing of an oral dosing technique for double-crested cormorants, Phalacocorax auritus, laughing gulls, Leucophaeus atricilla, homing pigeons, Columba livia, and western sandpipers, Calidris mauri, with artificially weather MC252 oil

Authors

Karen M. Dean, Abt AssociatesFollow
Dave Cacela, Abt AssociatesFollow
Michael W. Carney, Abt Associates
F. L. Cunningham, USDA National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
C. Ellis, USDA National Wildlife Research Center
A. R. Gerson, University of Western Ontario
C. G. Guglielmo, University of Western Ontario
Katie C. Hanson-Dorr, USDA National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
K. E. Harr, Urika Pathology LLCFollow
Katherine A. Healy, US Fish and Wildlife ServiceFollow
Katherine E. Horak, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
John P. Isanhart, US Department of the Interior
L. V. Kennedy, University of Western Ontario
J. E. Link, Michigan State UniversityFollow
I. Lipton, Abt Associates
Andrew K. McFadden, Abt Associates
J. K. Moye, University of Nevada, Reno
C. R. Perez, University of Nevada, Reno
C. A. Pritsos, University of NevadaFollow
Karen L. Pritsos, University of Nevada
Thivanka Muthumalage, University of Nevada
S. A. Shriner, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
S. J. Bursian, Michigan State UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

2017

Citation

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 146 (2017) 11–18.

Comments

© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Scoping studies were designed to determine if double-crested cormorants (Phalacocorax auritus), laughing gulls (Leucophaues atricilla), homing pigeons (Columba livia) and western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) that were gavaged with a mixture of artificially weathered MC252 oil and food for either a single day or 4–5 consecutive days showed signs of oil toxicity. Where volume allowed, samples were collected for hematology, plasma protein electrophoresis, clinical chemistry and electrolytes, oxidative stress and organ weigh changes. Double-crested cormorants, laughing gulls and western sandpipers all excreted oil within 30 min of dose, while pigeons regurgitated within less than one hour of dosing. There were species differences in the effectiveness of the dosing technique, with double-crested cormorants having the greatest number of responsive endpoints at the completion of the trial. Statistically significant changes in packed cell volume, white cell counts, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, gamma glutamyl transferase, uric acid, chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, total glutathione, glutathione disulfide, reduced glutathione, spleen and liver weights were measured in double-crested cormorants. Homing pigeons had statistically significant changes in creatine phosphokinase, total glutathione, glutathione disulfide, reduced glutathione and Trolox equivalents. Laughing gulls exhibited statistically significant decreases in spleen and kidney weight, and no changes were observed in any measurement endpoints tested in western sandpipers.