Hemolytic anemia in wild seaducks caused by marine oil pollution

Clinico-pathological examinations were conducted on wild white-winged scoters (Melanitta fusca) contaminated with fuel oil (Bunker C oil) from a capsized cargo ship in February 1993 in Japan. The erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit value in the oiled seaducks all were decreased and numerous immature erythrocytes were observed in blood smears. In addition, hemosiderosis was observed in the liver, kidney, and lung of some birds. We propose that the sea-ducks suffered from hemolytic anemia induced by ingestion of oil, which occurs when the birds preen their oiled plumage.