Assessment of anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in six raptor species from the Canary Islands (Spain) (original) (raw)
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The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2021
Abstract: The extensive use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) to control rodent populations poses intoxication risks for wildlife: persistence of ARs in rodents can cause secondary exposure and poisoning of predators or scavengers. We investigated risk factors for wildlife exposure to ARs in the Parc National des Pyrénées (PNP), France, using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. A total of 157 liver samples were collected from carcasses of 10 mammal and three bird species found in the PNP between 2010 and 2018 and screened for presence of AR residues. First- and second-generation ARs were detected in more than 60% of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and stone marten (Martes foina) samples and in around 40% of wild cat (Felis silvestris), European pine marten (Martes martes), American mink (Neovison vison), and Eurasian Buzzard (Buteo buteo) samples. Wildlife exposure to ARs was significantly associated with species having a regular consumption of small mammals (odds ratio [OR]: 2....
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2019
The extensive use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) results in widespread unintentional exposure of non-target rodents and secondary poisoning of predators despite regulatory measures to manage and reduce exposure risk. To elucidate on the potential vectoring of ARs into surrounding habitats by non-target small mammals, we determined bromadiolone prevalence and concentrations in rodents and shrews near bait boxes during an experimental application of the poison for 2 weeks. Overall, bromadiolone was detected in 12.6% of all small rodents and insectivores. Less than 20 m from bait boxes, 48.6% of small mammals had detectable levels of bromadiolone. The prevalence of poisoned small mammals decreased with distance to bait boxes, but bromadiolone concentration in the rodenticide positive individuals did not. Poisoned small mammals were trapped up to 89 m from bait boxes. Bromadiolone concentrations in yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) were higher than concentrations in bank vole (Myodes glareolus), field vole (Microtus agrestis), harvest mouse (Micromys minutus), and common shrew (Sorex araneus). Our field trials documents that chemical rodent control results in widespread exposure of non-target small mammals and that AR poisoned small mammals disperse away from bating sites to become available to predators and scavengers in large areas of the landscape. The results suggest that the unintentional secondary exposure of predators and scavengers is an unavoidable consequence of chemical rodent control outside buildings and infrastructures.
Veterinární Medicína
The use of anticoagulants has increased in recent times as a method for controlling rodent populations. However, this increased use also provokes accidental and intentional ingestion for both animals and humans, triggering poisoning of non-target organisms. In the present report, a clinical case of secondary-poisoning of birds with anticoagulant rodenticides, which took place after a general rodenticide treatment in an Ornithological Zoological Park, is described. Three birds died as a result and samples were submitted to the Veterinary Hospital in Lugo (Galicia, NW Spain). After necropsy, samples of the birds, together with molluscs and faeces, were submitted to the Toxicology Unit of Caceres (Extremadura, W Spain) in order to detect possible chemicals. Results from HPLC analyses revealed the presence of the rodenticides difenacoum and brodifacoum. The present report shows that the risk of secondary exposure resulting from the scavenging of molluscs is likely to be significant. The...
8 th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference 140 Julius-Kühn-Archiv
2011
Anticoagulant rodenticides have been used for over 50 years to control rodent populations. Since their first introduction, resistance developed in rodents, and second generation products, more active but also more toxic, have been marketed. These compounds are currently being reviewed under the European Regulation and the purpose of this work was to describe anticoagulant poisoning based on the retrospective data from French human and animal poison control centers. Cases from 2004 to 2007 were collected. Overall, the proportion of anticoagulant exposure as reported to Lyon's Poison Control Center appeared very limited and mostly occurred in young children, with no or very limited clinical severity. Some cases also occurred after the intentional use of anticoagulants in adults. But circumstances of exposure are usually accidental in human beings (77%). In animals, both domestic and wild species, anticoagulant exposure is more common and often accompanied by clinical signs. Among ...
The Science of the total environment, 2017
When anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are used to control rodent populations there is also a widespread secondary exposure of non-target predators to ARs. To reduce secondary exposure, regulatory restrictions in AR usage were tightened in Denmark in 2011. The restrictions included the cessation of AR use for plant protection and any use away from buildings, as well as limitations in private consumers' access to ARs. To quantify and evaluate the efficiency of the regulatory measures to reduce secondary exposure, we analysed ARs in liver tissue from 40 stone martens (Martes foina) and 40 polecats (Mustela putorius) collected before and 31 stone martens and 29 polecats collected after the restrictions were imposed. No declines in the prevalence ARs were detected following the regulatory restrictions in either stone marten (Before: 98%, After: 100%) or polecat (Before: 93%, After: 97%). The total AR concentration was higher in stone martens than in polecats in both sampling periods....
Exposure of non-target wildlife to anticoagulant rodenticides in California
Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 2000
The California Department of Fish and Game collected and analyzed tissue samples from non-target birds and marrunals for anticoagulant rodenticides from 1994 through 1999. Many of these animals were collected in recently urbanized areas adjacent to wildlands where they were either found dead or trapped and euthanized as vertebrate pests. The results of the analyses indicate a high frequency of exposure to the anticoagulant rodenticide brodifacoum. Fiftyeight percent of the animals examined had been exposed to brodifacoum, 19% to bromadiolone, 9% to diphacinone and 8 % to chlorophacinone. All of the identified anticoagulants are registered for use to control commensal rodents found in and around structures and are available for sale "over-the-counter" for homeowner use. Brodifacoum and bromadiolone are registered exclusively for commensal rodent control. This paper assesses the frequency of anticoagulant rodenticide residues in tissues of non-target mammalian and avian wildlife and the possible impacts.
Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 2012
A 15-year study of carnivores in an urban landscape in southern California has revealed a high incidence of exposure of non-target wildlife to anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs). All carnivore species studied, including mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, and gray foxes, have tested positive for exposure to the toxicants. Anticoagulant residues have been detected in post-mortem liver samples at a rate of 83-93% of individuals tested, for coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions, the 3 species for which we have extensive sampling. We have also documented mortalities caused directly by exposure to ARs in all 4 species, particularly in the canids. In both felid species, we found a positive correlation between AR exposure and mange disease, specifically notoedric mange. The incidence of fatal mange infection in bobcats has been at epizootic levels since 2002 in our study area, and more recently outbreaks of the disease have been documented in several other populations in California, all apparently (where testing has been done) in association with exposure to ARs. There are no previously reported instances of epizootics of notoedric mange in any wild felid population. Carnivore exposure to these toxicants appears to be largely secondary (or tertiary, as may be the case in mountain lions) through consumption of their natural prey. In our most recent work, we have evaluated AR exposure of carnivore prey species, including rodents and lagomorphs. We have documented exposure in ground squirrels and woodrats, both of which are regularly consumed by gray foxes, coyotes, and bobcats. Overall, we have found widespread exposure of non-target wildlife to these toxicants, with potentially significant consequences for some species.