Lesions Associated with the Plexus Venosus Subcutaneus Collaris of Pigeons with Chlorophacinone Toxicosis

• Published in: Avian diseases Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 540 - 543
• Main Authors: Sarabia, Jaime, Sánchez-Barbudo, Inés, Siqueira, Walbens, Mateo, Rafael, Rollán, Eduardo, Pizarro, Manuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2008
• Subjects: adverse effects; Animals; Bird Diseases - pathology; case studies; chlorophacinone; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid - veterinary; Columba livia; Columbidae; Fatal Outcome; Indans - toxicity; lesions (animal); Liver - pathology; Neck - blood supply; Neck - pathology; pigeons; plexus; plexus venosus; poisoning; Poisoning - pathology; Poisoning - veterinary; poisoning of animal pests; rodenticides; Rodenticides - toxicity; subcutaneous collaris
• ISSN: 0005-2086; 1938-4351
• DOI: 10.1637/8251-020508-Case.1

We describe lesions in 29 adult domestic pigeons (Columba livia) poisoned with chlorophacinone, an indandione anticoagulant rodenticide. Birds were found dead in the field and in dovecotes after a wide-area treatment against common voles (Microtus arvalis) based on the dispersion in the open field of wheat grain treated with 0.005% chlorophacinone. At necropsy, most pigeons showed crops full of red-colored wheat grain, extensive subcutaneous hematoma in neck and breast zones, and hemorrhages in lungs and the coelomic cavity. Chlorophacinone was determined in liver samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection, and the mean (range) concentration was 11.2 (1.48-50.1) μg/g. Pigeons have a venous subcutaneous plexus in the neck zone (plexus venosus subcutaneus collaris), which has been described as an erectile tissue with a thermoregulation function. This case report describes a relationship between the subcutaneous hemorrhagic lesions and the plexus venosus collaris.