LEAD-POISONING AND INTESTINAL PERFORATIONS IN A SNAPPING TURTLE (CHELYDRA-SERPENTINA) DUE TO FISHING GEAR INGESTION

An adult male snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was presented to t he Tufts Wildlife Clinic with generalized weakness and limited ability to walk. A fishing hook was lodged in the corner of its mouth, monofi lament line trailed from its cloaca. and radiography revealed that the turtle had ingested two additional hooks and a large sinker. The hemo gram showed leukocytosis. At exploratory celiotomy, the fishing line w as seen to have acted as a linear foreign body and had perforated the intestines. Multiple enterotomies were performed to remove the sinker and line, and perforations were repaired. Two of the hooks could not b e surgically or endoscopically retrieved. Blood lead concentration was 3.6 ppm prior to the start of chelation therapy with calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and declined to undetectable levels w ithin 6 wk. The turtle recovered and was released.