Immunotoxic Effects of Mallards (Anas Platyrhynchos, L) Experimentally Exposed to Lead Pellets

Abstract

Lead is one of the most toxic metals and its negative effects range from mild biochemical and physiological disorders to serious pathological processes in which major organs and systems may be affected, with following functional and behavioral changes. The probability for a bird to be poisoned is determined by several factors, such as time of retaining the lead elements, frequency of exposure, nutritional conditions, stress, etc. Our research work focuses on the influence of different total lead content after ingesting lead shots on the mechanisms of non-specific immunity.