Saturnism and raptors: experimental methodology for

Saturnism and raptors:
experimental methodology for lead
detection in shot ungulates
Mauro Di Giancamillo1, Guido Grilli1, Simone Borgonovo1, Enrico Bassi2, Maria Ferloni2, Luca Pedrotti2
1) Università degli Studi di Milano, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria 2) Parco Faunistico dello Stelvio
Introduction
Saturnism
Lead poisoning (also known as plumbism, colica pictonium, Devon
colic or painter's colic)
Increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body
High toxicity
Many organs and tissues, including heart, bones, liver, intestines,
kidneys, reproductive and nervous systems
Symptoms:
abdominal pain, headache, anemia and, in
severe cases, seizures, coma and death.
D. Pozzi
Introduction
Saturnism
Exposure to lead:
air, water, soil, food
Tens to hundreds milligrams of lead
Serious risk if ingested
Hecht 2000
Lead bullet fragmentation inside the animal
Viscera with lead
Number of chip
A. Pirola
Bullet’s type
Shot’s target
Introduction
Raptors are subject to
saturnism due to
ingestion of carcasses
Secondary poisoning
Viscera with lead
Introduction
How to recognize a poisoned raptor
Act strangely
Listless but with no visible signs of injury
Physical and behavioral changes
Loss of balance, gasping and tremors
Dehydrated, anemic and underweight
Tarsal and metatarsal ulcerations
Signs of neurological dysfunction
Wing and head droop
Inability to walk, fly or digest
I. Dalla Torre
Introduction
Diagnostic exams & hypothetical therapy
Blood sample
Bone marrow sample
*
Heavy metal intoxication
Bone biopsy
Liver and spleen biopsy
Hypothetical therapy
Intoxication gravity
Acute
Fluid therapy
Symptoms specific
*
Live
or
Dead
animals
Chronic
None
Introduction
Saturnism
Most hited
Griffon Vulture
Golden Eagle
Bearded Vulture
Sea Eagle
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Few studies
in Europe
Many studies
in North America
* Encapsulated shot and bullet’s chip
10 % of Golden Eagle’s Mortality in
USA & Canada should be reported to
lead poisoning.
Species
Place
Period
Collection N
Bibliography
Bearded Vulture
Pirenei ESP
n.p.
4
Zimmermann in verbis
Bearded Vulture
Pirenei FR
1996-06
2
Razin in verbis
Bearded Vulture
European Alps
2005-08
2
Frey 2009
Golden Eagle
European Alps
(D, CH, A)
2000-01
7
Kenntner et al. 2007
Golden Eagle
Germany
1990-94
2
Bezzel et al. 1995
Golden Eagle
Austria
2004
1
Zechner et al. 2005
Golden Eagle
UK
n.p.
5
Pain et al. 1995
Golden Eagle
Sweden
n.p.
2
Kendall et al. 1996
Golden Eagle
Swiss
1970-94
9 su 49*
Haller 1996
Golden Eagle
Austria
Gen 2009
2
Frey com.pers.
Introduction
Hunting (Bullets)
Internal Balistic
External Balistic
MaxExpansion
Medium
Expansion
Expansion and
Penetration
No Expansion,
only Penetration
Terminal Balistic
Introduction
Hunting
Terminal balistic
How does the bullet work?
How many energy does it transmit to the target?
In wich way?
Injury:
• Soft-tissues snatch
• Idrodinamical shock
Cavità temporanea
e permanente
Introduction
Hunting
Correct target
Deep cavity
No exit pierce
No fragment
Low periferal injury
E. Zanon
E. Bassi
Introduction
Bullet’s Fragmentation
(Hecht 2000)
Bullet’s type
Weigh (g)
Weigh after
shot (g)
Lost Bullet
%
Lost Bullet
Weigh (g)
H-Mantel
11.2
6.8
38.5
4.4
TeilmantelRundkopf
9.0
5.4
40.0
3.6
TIG o TorpedoIdeal
10.5
7.0
33.1
3.5
> Impact
KS o Kegelspitz
10.5
7.9
24.3
2.6
> Fragmentation
Nosler
9.1
8.2
9.5
0.9
ABC
10.2
9.5
6.9
0.7
Non Monolitic Bullet
High percentage of
post-shoting’s lost lead
According to this study, the first three bullets should be avoided in hunting.
A few post-shoting’s lost lead in the other type
make them more efficient and useful.
*520 roe deers, 400 deers, 160 wild boars, 32 fallow deers
Aim Of The Study
Aim Of The Study
Development of an experimental methodology
for lead detection in shot ungulates
Study Planning
Hunted viscera collection
Delivery to IZS Sondrio and then to Milan’s Veterinary Faculty
Freeze viscera computed tomography (CT)
Metal recovery
Data process and results valuation
Total number of viscera to submit: 200
Materials & Methods
Study Planning
a) Evisceration on hunting’s place
Viscera putted inside a plastic bag
Plastic bag closed with a string
Tag fill in
E. Bassi
With identification mark (strip number)
Remember: deliver all the lead’s chip
Materials & Methods
Study Planning
b) Evisceration on IZS
Carcass Transport to IZS
Evisceration
Viscera putted inside a plastic bag
Tag and registration schedule fill in
Viscera stored in refrigeration room
Materials & Methods
Lead’s bullet recovery
Materials & Methods
Registration Schedule (A)
Ricerca sull’accumulo di piombo nei visceri degli ungulati selvatici abbattuti
SCHEDA PER LA RACCOLTA DEI VISCERI
Nome operatore/i: ………………………………...............................................
N° contrassegno capo abbattuto .................................................................................. Codice visceri*: ......................
* solo se capo NON abbattuto a caccia
DATI RELATIVI ALL’ABBATTIMENTO: Abbattuto :
Comprensorio Alpino: ..............................................
Recuperato con cane 
ferito  morto 
Settore di caccia: .......................................................................
Data abbattimento ................................. Ora: ............... Data eviscerazione: .................................... Ora: ...................
Nome cacciatore e telefono: ..............................................................................................................................................
Capo abbattuto da ignoti  Recuperato da ...................................................... Note: .......................................................
DATI BALISTICI
 Cartuccia commerciale: marca, munizione e tipo: .........................................................................................................
 Ricarica: munizione: ................................ tipo palla: ….................. peso: ................. velocità di uscita: ........................
Distanza tiro:
0-100 m 
100-200 m

200-300 m

>300 m 
N° totale di colpi sparati: ................................. N° di colpi a segno: ....................................
Materials & Methods
Registration Schedule (B)
ESAME DEL CAPO ABBATTUTO
Specie: Camoscio  Cervo  Capriolo 
testa
Sesso: M  F 
Anni di età: ............ Peso visceri kg .............
Indicare sulla sagoma foro/i di INGRESSO (I1, I2..) e foro/i di USCITA (U1, U2..)
N° fori di ingresso: ...........
N° fori di uscita: .............
scapola
dorso ant
dorso post
collo
coscia
spalla
cassa tor.
zampe ant
addome
zampe
post
Regione/i colpita/e (barrare con 1/più crocette): Testa  Collo  Spalla  Scapola  Cassa toracica  Petto 
Dorso (parte anteriore) 
Dorso (parte posteriore) 
Coscia 
Zampe anteriori 
Organi colpiti: Cuore  Polmoni  Fegato  Stomaco  Intestino  Reni 
Zampe posteriori 
Addome 
Non noto 
Ossa colpite: NO  SI  quali? ...........................
Raccolta visceri: completa  solo organi toracici (cuore e polmoni)  solo organi addominali 
altro: …………………
Proiettile ritrovato: NO  SI , in quale regione: ...................................... Peso proiettile residuo (g): ...................
Materials & Methods
CT Investigation
c) Freeze viscera submission to CT Scan
Computed Tomography (CT) is an X-ray diagnostic imaging technique that is
able to take two-dimensional images, by transversal section, through around a
single axis of rotation.
CT
Densitometer
Discerning of different tissue density
Scanogram
Pilot
Image
Materials & Methods
Viscera’s maceration
d) Freeze viscera submission for lead recovery
I
N
Defrost
Maceration with caustic soda
Seep through a thin mesh filter
Recovery of
Bullet’s fragment
Lead’s weighting
Lead bean bag
W
O
R
K
P
R
O
G
R
E
S
S
Results
Results
CT Scan
Normal viscera
Results
Results
CT Scan
Viscera with lead’s bean bag
Results
Results
CT Scan
Viscera with
fragmented lead’s bullet
Results
Densitometry
Hounsfield Unit (HU)
Air
- 1000
Fat
- 65 ± 10
Water
0
Muscle
+ 45 ± 10
Liver
+ 65 ± 10
Bone
+ 250
Metal (Lead)
+ 1500 >
Results
Metal“Biopsy”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Pilot study
CT shows an high sensibility on metal detection
Metal “biopsy”
13 viscera scanned (8 %)
4 controls
(1 fallow deer, 2 deers, 4 roe deers, 6 wild boars)
+ 1 negative
+ 8 positive
Validation of the Imaging Diagnosis tecnique
with the anatomo-patological findings
Data process and results valuation
Conclusion
Conclusion
If the final trend’s study will be the same of the pilot one…
“Real” aim of the study
Introduction of some modification in hunting’s practice
Suggestions for hunters
No hunting’s place evisceration
Bury gut piles. Find ways to dispose of
carcasses and the dressed down remains
of animals so scavengers will not find
them.
A. Pirola
Conclusion
Conclusion
Use of non-lead ammunition. Inexpensive and ecologically sound alternatives
to lead ammunition are available. For example, the Barnes X-Bullet, made of solid
copper, is one of several alternatives for hunting.
Never throw old hunting gear into the water or woods or onto the shore.
Discard old lead ammunition properly.
Take lead out with you. Collect spent slugs and any meat from wounds that
may be contaminated with lead.
Thanks For Your Attention