Table e1.
Common Toxicities in Galliformes and Columbiformes
| Toxin | Examples | Clinical Effects and Lesions |
|---|---|---|
| Inhaled toxins | ||
| Essential oils | Pine, cedar | Respiratory tract irritation |
| Polytetrafluoro-ethylene | Nonstick cookware, heat lamps | Lung edema and hemorrhage. Histologically, epithelial necrosis of parabronchi and vascular damage |
| Ammonia | Tracheal deciliation, keratoconjunctivitis | |
| Insecticides | Organophosphates, organochlorides | Bronchoconstriction and an increase in bronchial secretions. Hemorrhages in heart and intestinal serosa. No specific histologic changes. |
| Ingested toxins | ||
| Heavy metals | Lead, zinc | Demyelination of peripheral nerves and vascular damage in the cerebellum |
| Mycotoxins | Moldy grains | Mucosal irritation and necrosis, hepatitis, nephritis, secondary infectious due to immunosuppression |
| Anticoagulant rodenticides | Brodifacoum, bromadiolone, chlorophacinone, diphacinone, and warfarin | Hemorrhage, anemia |
| Nonanticoagulant rodenticides | Zinc phosphide | Depression, ruffled feathers, anorexia, diarrhea, muscle spasms, tachypnea. Hydropericardium and ascites, generalized congestion |
| Strychnine* | Fluffed feathers, ataxia, wing droop, salivation, tremors, muscle tenseness, and convulsions, reproductive failure | |
| Sodium chloride | Salt, human foods | Polydipsia, polyuria, neurologic excitement, tremors, pulmonary hypertension, myocardial dilation, ascites |
| Bird baits | 4-aminopyridine (Avitrol) | Neurologic signs. Generalized congestion. Characteristic small pellets usually found in gizzard. |
| Alpha-chloralose | Neurologic signs, but no specific pathology | |
| Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) | Renal tubularepithelial necrosis leading to acute visceral urate deposition. | |
| Thallium | Vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes and granular and/or hyaline droplet degeneration of renal tubular epithelia. | |
| Insecticides | Organophosphates, organochlorides | Excess salivation, lacrimation, abdominal pain, vomiting, intestinal hypermotility, and diarrhea |
*
Strychnine-treated baits were the method of choice for controlling pigeon and sparrows by the US Fish and Wildlife Services in 1960s (Hockenyos, 1962. VPC. pp. 271–307 Available from: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1019&context=vpcone).