Lead poisoning in Canada geese: a case report.

A case report of lead poisoning in Canada geese at Cheyenne Bottom Wildlife Management Area in Kansas is presented. Seventy-nine dead geese and 10 geese too weak too fly were found by management personnel. Clinical signs in the live geese were weakness, lethargy, anorexia, emaciation and bile stained diarrhea. Seventeen geese were necropsied. Lesions were impacted roots and fibrous stalks in the esophagus and proventriculus and numerous lead shot in the gizzard. One to 44 lead shot (mean 13) were found in the 17 gizzards examined. The concentration of lead in liver and kidney was 9.21 to 102.56 ug/g (wet weight). The presence of lead shot in the gizzard, characteristic clinical signs, and the concentration of lead in the liver and kidney confirmed the diagnosis of lead poisoning.