Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lead levels found in eggs from a chicken with lead poisoning
By Lamb, Stephanie K·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2018·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Lead Levels in the Eggs of a Chicken With Lead Toxicosis.
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A 1.5-year-old Polish hen was brought in because she had watery droppings and a weak vent. Tests showed she had toxic levels of lead in her blood, so the vet started chelation therapy using calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetate to help remove the lead. While undergoing treatment, the hen continued to lay eggs, which were tested for lead. After the therapy ended, her blood lead levels dropped to safe levels, and no lead was found in her eggs a week later or in the shells four weeks after treatment.
People also search for: chicken lead poisoning symptoms · hen watery droppings treatment · chelation therapy for chickens
Abstract
A 1.5-year-old Polish hen was presented with a history of watery droppings and poor vent tone. Results of diagnostic tests revealed blood lead at levels considered to be toxic. Chelation therapy was started with calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The hen was laying eggs before, during, and after chelation therapy. Eggs were tested for the presence of lead by combining yolk and albumen together. Before chelation therapy, the level of lead in the egg tested was 14 μg. Two days after the end of chelation therapy, results of a second blood lead test revealed a drop to nontoxic levels. No lead was detected in the combined yolks and albumen of eggs collected 7-11 days after the end of chelation therapy. Four weeks after the end of chelation therapy, no lead was identified in the shells of tested eggs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30204015/