 | Wildpro | Species | Chemicals | Physical | "How to..." | Diseases | Environments | Refs & Gloss. | Help |  |
| Diseases / List of Toxic Diseases / Disease description: |
Cyanide Poisoning in Waterfowl |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
 |
|||
 |
|||
 |
General and References
Disease Summary |
|
| WATERFOWL | Acute toxicity associated with ingestion of contaminated water where cyanide is used in gold or silver mining operations. |
Alternative Names (Synonyms) |
|
Disease Type |
| Viral |
Infectious/Non-Infectious Agent associated with the Disease |
|
| Cyanide in mill tailings ponds of carbon-in-pulp mills and around ore heaps in heap-leach mills using sodium cyanide in extracting gold or silver. Acts by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase (required in mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production (B15, B36.46.w46). | |
Infective "Taxa" |
-- |
Non-infective agents |
|
Physical agents |
-- Indirect / Secondary |
Disease Author |
Debra Bourne |
 |
|
Major References / Reviews |
|
Code and Title List |
B15, B36.46.w46 |
Other References |
|
Code and Title List |
-- |
Clinical Characteristics and Pathology
Detailed Clinical and Pathological Characteristics |
||
General |
WATERFOWL | Usually found dead, with bright red blood and frequently congested and oedematous lungs. |
Clinical
Characteristics |
WATERFOWL |
|
Incubation |
WATERFOWL | Acute; death within 30 minutes (B15, B36.46.w46). |
Mortality / Morbidity |
WATERFOWL | |
Pathology |
WATERFOWL |
(B36.46.w46). |
Human Health Considerations |
| Cyanide is poisonous to humans. Cyanide gas may be given off where alkaline solutions are allowed to become acidic (e.g. due to neglect). Protective clothing may be required when sites are inspected and when carcasses are being collected (B36.46.w46). |
Susceptibility / Transmission
General information on Susceptibility / Transmission |
|
| WATERFOWL | All species are susceptible if they ingest contaminate water. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos have been shown to have an LD50 of 2.5mg per kg body weight (single oral dose) (B15, B36.46.w46). |
Disease has been reported in either the wild or in captivity in: |
|
| Canada goose Branta canadensis, mallard Anas platyrhynchos, redheads Aythya americana, canvasback Aythya valisineria, northern pintail Anas acuta, scaup, and other bird species, USA (B36.46.w46). | |
Host Species List |
|
Disease has been specifically reported in Free-ranging populations of: |
|
| Canada goose Branta canadensis, mallard Anas platyrhynchos, redheads Aythya americana, canvasback Aythya valisineria, northern pintail Anas acuta, scaup, and other bird species, USA (B36.46.w46). | |
Host Species List |
|
Environment/Geography
|
General Information on Environmental Factors/Events and Seasonality |
| Mortalities usually occur in spring and autumn (fall), while birds are migrating through areas with mines and associated cyanide-contaminated waters (B36.46.w46). |
Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded |
| In the USA mainly occurs in the western states, particularly arid areas (B36.46.w46). |
Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded in Free-ranging populations |
| In the USA mainly occurs in the western states, particularly arid areas (B36.46.w46). |
General Investigation / Diagnosis
General Information on Investigation / Diagnosis |
|
| WATERFOWL |
|
| Related Techniques | |
 |
|
Similar Diseases (Differential Diagnosis) |
|
| WATERFOWL | -- |
Treatment and Control
Specific Medical Treatment |
|
| WATERFOWL | -- |
| Related Techniques | -- |
|
|
General Nursing and Surgical Techniques |
|
| WATERFOWL | -- |
| Related Techniques | -- |
|
|
Preventative Measures |
||
| Vaccination | WATERFOWL | -- |
| Prophylactic Treatment | WATERFOWL |
-- |
| Related Techniques | -- |
|
|
||
Environmental and Population Control Measures |
||
| General Environment Changes, Cleaning and Disinfection | WATERFOWL |
If possible, use e.g. nets to deny
access of wildlife to contaminated waters. This is impractical on large mill tailings
pond, but detoxification or dilution may be useful. (B36.46.w46). |
| Population Control Measures | WATERFOWL | Hazing birds from contaminated sites has not been successful (B36.46.w46). |
| Isolation, Quarantine and Screening | WATERFOWL | -- |
| Related Techniques | ||
|
||
