Brown booby (Sula leucosgaster) envenomation and death caused by toadfish (Porichthys porosissimus) ingestion in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract A case report of six brown booby (Sula leucogaster) envenomation following the ingestion of toadfish (Porichthys porosissimus) specimens in Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil is discussed herein. Several macro- and microscopic pathological alterations were observed in the examined brown booby specimens, and rapid envenomation (<24 h) is suggested due to the digestion stage of the fish found in their gastrointestinal tracts. This is the first report to mention the death of adult and juvenile brown boobies due to envenomation by the toadfish P. porosissimus. Further studies assessing the role of discarded fish as a driving force of negative effects on seabirds, such as envenomations, for example, along the southeastern coast of Brazil are recommended.

摘要 本文探讨了巴西东南部里约热内卢地区6只褐鲣鸟（Sula leucogaster，brown booby）因误食多孔蟾鱼（Porichthys porosissimus，toadfish）引发中毒的病例。对受试褐鲣鸟样本开展病理学检测后，观察到多类大体及显微病理改变；结合其胃肠道内鱼类的消化阶段，推测中毒进程进展迅速（<24小时）。本研究为首次报道成年及幼年褐鲣鸟因多孔蟾鱼中毒致死的案例。建议后续开展相关研究，评估巴西东南部沿海海域丢弃鱼类作为海鸟中毒等负面影响的驱动因素所发挥的作用。