Impact of heavy metals pollution on the biochemical parameters and the histo-pathological picture of two resident wild birds at EL-Salam Canal area- North Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

Heavy metals have been recognized as strong biological poisons because of their persistent nature, toxicity, tendency to get accumulated in the tissues of living organisms and their biological magnification that may cause severe health problems to human and wildlife. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of some heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Mn) in pectoral muscle, liver and kidney of 2 resident wild bird species (Laughing dove and Squacco heron) belonging to 2 different Families; trapped nearby El-Salam Canal from village Baloza; the northwestern part of Sinai, Egypt as a bio-indicator for the heavy metals pollution in the study area. Also to assess the impact of this pollution on the wild birds through biochemical parameters and histo-pathological examination. The current study revealed that, kidney of laughing dove showed the highest concentration of all examined metals with a significant difference (P˂0.05) with other tissues. Regarding to squacco heron, kidney showed the highest concentration of Cd, Cu and Mn with a significant difference (P˂0.05) with other tissues while liver showed the highest concentration of Pb and Zn with a significant difference (P˂0.05) with other tissues. This study showed increasing in the serum level of ALT and AST in the examined birds, however serum level of ALP was elevated only in laughing dove. Serum Creatinine was increased in squacco heron, while exhibits no change in laughing dove. Additionally urea was increased in all examined birds. Histo-pathological alterations were also recorded in the current study.