Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
|
 |
|
Fiorello, C. V. Preliminary investigation of plasma organochlorine and retinol levels in a florida box turtle (terrapene carolina bauri) population without observed aural abscessation.
Added by: Admin (25 Aug 2008 22:06:37 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Fiorello View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Habitat = habitat, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Terrapene, Terrapene carolina, Toxikologie = toxicology Creators: Fiorello |
Views: 2/570
Views index: 10% Popularity index: 2.5% |
| Abstract |
|
Previous research from Virginia has suggested a possible correlation between exposure to organochlorine pesticide residues and aural abscesses in eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina). The proposed mechanism is a disturbance in vitamin A metabolism caused by organochlorines, leading to squamous metaplasia and subsequent abscessation of the middle ear, a known result of vitamin A deficiency in turtles. We surveyed 59 individual free-living Florida box turtles (Terrapene carolina bauri) collected on the grounds of the Central Florida Zoological Park in Lake Monroe, Florida over a two-year period. Animals were examined, bled, marked, and released at the site of capture. Plasma samples from a subset of 12 turtles were tested for 30 organochlorine compounds, as well as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB?s) and vitamin A (as retinol). Only one organochlorine compound, p,p-DDE, was detected; the average concentration was 13.27 ng/ml, with a range of 0 to 114.29 ng/ml. Vitamin A levels were all in the normal range; the average was 2.67 µg/ml, and none of the turtles had a concentration less than 1.0 µg/ml, the level considered adequate for reptiles. Levels of organochlorine pesticides associated with aural abscesses in box turtles in Virginia were around 240 ng/g. The prevalence of aural abscesses in Virginia was 11%. Based on this prevalence level and assuming a box turtle population size of 120, we can be 99% certain that this population of box turtles is free of aural abscessation. These results provide indirect support for the hypothesis; our study population does not contain high organochlorine concentrations, vitamin A levels are normal, and the disease is absent.
Added by: Admin |