Demyelinating peripheral neuropathy in a guinea hen associated with subacute lead intoxication.

In mammalian species lead acts primarily as a neurotoxin. Lead poisoning is common in avian species but lesions in the nervous system have not been associated with it. This paper describes a peripheral neuropathy with fragmentation and segmental demyelination of fibers in the sciatic nerves of an adult guinea hen (Numida meleagris) which died of lead poisoning.