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Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026)

Sayı: 2026 3 Ekim 2026
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Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026)

Öz

Yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis), which exhibit opportunistic feeding behavior, face a high global risk of interacting with anthropogenic waste originating from urban and fishing activities. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate in detail the aetiology, clinical findings, and treatment processes associated with foreign body ingestion and/or entanglement in Yellow-legged gulls (n=12) presenting to the clinic for flightlessness between 2023 and 2026. Following physical and radiological examinations of the gulls (6 juveniles, 3 immatures, and 3 adults), the treatments included conservative wound care, local interventions under sedation, and endoscopic extractions under general anaesthesia. It was determined that 11 of the 12 extracted foreign bodies were recreational fishing waste; one was a large biological specimen (a furcula bone). Cases presented with external entanglement(n=5), deep tissue penetration (n=4), and gastrointestinal obstruction due to ingestion (n=3). Notably, young gulls (75%) were exposed to anthropogenic waste at a much higher rate. Clinical evaluation revealed that fishing lines entangled around the legs caused ischemic necrosis, which could progress to amputation, and the ingestion of hooked or leaded lines led to mortality from severe ulcerative necrosis of the proventricular mucosa. Although clinical interventions achieved a 75% (n=9) survival and release rate in our cases, gull interactions with fishing waste were confirmed as severe causes of mortality, leading to loss of extremities and internal organ perforations. These findings demonstrate that management strategies are required both to mitigate the adverse effects of marine pollution and anthropogenic factors on gulls and to develop wildlife conservation policies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Anthropogenic, Endoscopy, Foreign body, Larus michahellis, Gull

Destekleyen Kurum

Ondokuz Mayıs University, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye

Etik Beyan

All procedures were approved by the Ondokuz Mayıs University Animal Experiments and Local Ethics Committee (Ref. No: E-68489742-604.01-2600189105). This study was conducted with permission from the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye (Ref. No: E-72784983-288.04-26166797, Date: 12.08.2026).

Teşekkür

I would like to thank the members of the Wildlife and Exotic Society of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ondokuz Mayıs University for their contributions to the rehabilitation processes.

Kaynakça

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Kaynak Göster

APA
Nacar, C., İnal, K. S., Önyay, T., & Nisbet, H. Ö. (2026). Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026). Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, 2026. https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.2021956
AMA
1.Nacar C, İnal KS, Önyay T, Nisbet HÖ. Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026). Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences. 2026;(2026). doi:10.35229/jaes.2021956
Chicago
Nacar, Can, Kamil Serdar İnal, Taylan Önyay, ve Hatice Özlem Nisbet. 2026. “Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026)”. Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, sy 2026. https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.2021956.
EndNote
Nacar C, İnal KS, Önyay T, Nisbet HÖ (01 Ekim 2026) Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026). Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences 2026
IEEE
[1]C. Nacar, K. S. İnal, T. Önyay, ve H. Ö. Nisbet, “Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026)”, Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, sy 2026, Eki. 2026, doi: 10.35229/jaes.2021956.
ISNAD
Nacar, Can - İnal, Kamil Serdar - Önyay, Taylan - Nisbet, Hatice Özlem. “Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026)”. Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences. 2026 (01 Ekim 2026). https://doi.org/10.35229/jaes.2021956.
JAMA
1.Nacar C, İnal KS, Önyay T, Nisbet HÖ. Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026). Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences. 2026. doi:10.35229/jaes.2021956.
MLA
Nacar, Can, vd. “Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026)”. Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences, sy 2026, Ekim 2026, doi:10.35229/jaes.2021956.
Vancouver
1.Can Nacar, Kamil Serdar İnal, Taylan Önyay, Hatice Özlem Nisbet. Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Foreign Body Injuries in Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus michahellis): A Retrospective Study (2023–2026). Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences. 01 Ekim 2026;(2026). doi:10.35229/jaes.2021956