Biomaterial Database

Pathological changes and organochlorine residues in tissues of wild otters (Lutra lutra). 1988

I F Keymer, and G A Wells, and C F Mason, and S M Macdonald

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Veterinary Investigation Centre, Norwich.

In 1984 two adult, wild otters (Lutra lutra) from north Norfolk were subjected to full post mortem examinations. One was found dead and the other sick. Both were thin. No evidence of infectious disease was found, but there were organochlorine concentrations of 433 and 75 mg/kg of fat (69 per cent polychlorinated biphenyls in both) in skeletal muscle. Leiomyoma of the reproductive tract and adrenocortical hyperplasia in one otter were similar to age associated changes in other mammals. Integumentary, including pedal, lesions were present in both otters. The possibility that the pedal lesions were caused by the toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008168	Lung	Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood.	Lungs
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D010041	Otters	Fish-eating carnivores of the family MUSTELIDAE, found on both hemispheres.	Aonyx,Clawless Otters,Giant Otters,Lontra,Lutra,Pteronura,Sea Otters,Enhydra lutris,Lontra canadensis,North American River Otter,Clawless Otter,Giant Otter,Otter,Otter, Clawless,Otter, Giant,Otter, Sea,Otters, Clawless,Otters, Giant,Otters, Sea,Sea Otter
D010573	Pesticide Residues	Pesticides or their breakdown products remaining in the environment following their normal use or accidental contamination.	Pesticide Residue,Residue, Pesticide,Residues, Pesticide
D002335	Carnivora	An order of MAMMALS, usually flesh eaters with appropriate dentition. Suborders include the terrestrial carnivores Fissipedia, and the aquatic carnivores CANIFORMIA.
D005260	Female		Females
D006843	Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated	Hydrocarbon compounds with one or more of the hydrogens replaced by CHLORINE.	Chlorinated Hydrocarbon,Chlorinated Hydrocarbons,Organochlorine Compound,Chlorine Compounds, Organic,Organochlorine Compounds,Compound, Organochlorine,Compounds, Organic Chlorine,Compounds, Organochlorine,Hydrocarbon, Chlorinated,Organic Chlorine Compounds
D000311	Adrenal Glands	A pair of glands located at the cranial pole of each of the two KIDNEYS. Each adrenal gland is composed of two distinct endocrine tissues with separate embryonic origins, the ADRENAL CORTEX producing STEROIDS and the ADRENAL MEDULLA producing NEUROTRANSMITTERS.	Adrenal Gland,Gland, Adrenal,Glands, Adrenal