Postmortem observations of one Arctic common eider (Somatria mollissima) and two thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) following long-term implantation of PTT-100 satellite transmitters

Abstract

We surgically implanted a 50 g PTT-100 intracelomic in one adult female common eider (Somatria mollissima) and 29 g PTT-100 subcutaneous satellite transmitters in two adult female thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia). After 2-4 months the birds were harvested by local subsistence hunters and examined in the laboratory. The external examination of the birds did not reveal any morphological or pathological changes, while the surgical abdominal and cervical wounds seemed to heal with granulation tissue in all three birds. The necropsy showed chronic inflammation and fatty necrosis in one of the two murres, while the antenna Dacron cuffs were in skin level as originally sewn for all three birds with primary tissue heeling and no signs of inflammation. In the adult eider, few peritoneal adherences were found to the liver without additional signs of inflammation, while one murre had adherences and granulomatous tissue around the PTT and signs of severe inflammation and external rejection. These results indicate that that birds can survive implantation of transmitters, even if inflammation develops around the implants. The study points to the importance of continuously refining the techniques for implanting devices in wild birds and performing necropsies on recovered birds.