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Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 42(1), 2006, pp. 56-73
© Wildlife Disease Association  2006
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NECROPSY FINDINGS IN AMERICAN ALLIGATOR LATE-STAGE EMBRYOS AND HATCHLINGS FROM NORTHCENTRAL FLORIDA LAKES CONTAMINATED WITH ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES

María S. Sepúlveda1,5, Fabio Del Piero2, Jonathan J. Wiebe3, Heath R. Rauschenberger4 and Timothy S. Gross3

1 Department of Forestry & Natural Resources and School of Civil Engineering, 195 Marsteller St., Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
2 University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology & Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, 382 West St. Rd., Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348, USA
3 USGS-BRD Florida Integrated Science Center, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies, 7920 NW 71st St., Gainesville, Florida 32653, USA
4 U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, North Florida Field Office, 6620 Southpoint Dr. South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida 32216, USA
5 Corresponding author (email: mssepulv{at}purdue.edu)

ABSTRACT:   Increased American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) embryo and neonatal mortality has been reported from several northcentral Florida lakes contaminated with old-use organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). However, a clear relationship among these contaminants and egg viability has not been established, suggesting the involvement of additional factors in these mortalities. Thus, the main objective of this study was to determine the ultimate cause of mortality of American alligator late-stage embryos and hatchlings through the conduction of detailed pathological examinations, and to evaluate better the role of OCPs in these mortalities. Between 2000 and 2001, 236 dead alligators were necropsied at or near hatching (after ~ 65 days of artificial incubation and up to 1 mo of age posthatch). Dead animals were collected from 18 clutches ranging in viability from 0% to 95%. Total OCP concentrations in yolk ranged from ~ 100 to 52,000 µg/kg, wet weight. The most common gross findings were generalized edema (34%) and organ hyperemia (29%), followed by severe emaciation (14%) and gross deformities (3%). Histopathologic examination revealed lesions in 35% of the animals, with over half of the cases being pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and atelectasis. Within and across clutches, dead embryos and hatchlings compared with their live cohorts were significantly smaller and lighter. Although alterations in growth and development were not related to yolk OCPs, there was an increase in prevalence of histologic lesions in clutches with high OCPs. Overall, these results indicate that general growth retardation and respiratory abnormalities were a major contributing factor in observed mortalities and that contaminants may increase the susceptibility of animals to developing certain pathologic conditions.
  Key words:  Alligator mississippiensis, contaminants, embryos, hatchlings, histopathology, necropsy, toxicology.






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