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Fritsch C, Berny P, Crouzet O, Le Perchec S, Coeurdassier M. Wildlife ecotoxicology of plant protection products: knowns and unknowns about the impacts of currently used pesticides on terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-33026-1. [PMID: 38639904 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33026-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural practices are a major cause of the current loss of biodiversity. Among postwar agricultural intensification practices, the use of plant protection products (PPPs) might be one of the prominent drivers of the loss of wildlife diversity in agroecosystems. A collective scientific assessment was performed upon the request of the French Ministries responsible for the Environment, for Agriculture and for Research to review the impacts of PPPs on biodiversity and ecosystem services based on the scientific literature. While the effects of legacy banned PPPs on ecosystems and the underlying mechanisms are well documented, the impacts of current use pesticides (CUPs) on biodiversity have rarely been reviewed. Here, we provide an overview of the available knowledge related to the impacts of PPPs, including biopesticides, on terrestrial vertebrates (i.e. herptiles, birds including raptors, bats and small and large mammals). We focused essentially on CUPs and on endpoints at the subindividual, individual, population and community levels, which ultimately linked with effects on biodiversity. We address both direct toxic effects and indirect effects related to ecological processes and review the existing knowledge about wildlife exposure to PPPs. The effects of PPPs on ecological functions and ecosystem services are discussed, as are the aggravating or mitigating factors. Finally, a synthesis of knowns and unknowns is provided, and we identify priorities to fill gaps in knowledge and perspectives for research and wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémentine Fritsch
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 CNRS/Université de Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, F-25000, Besançon, France
| | - Philippe Berny
- UR-ICE, Vetagro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire, 69280, Marcy L'étoile, France
| | - Olivier Crouzet
- Direction de La Recherche Et de L'Appui Scientifique, Office Français de La Biodiversité, Site de St-Benoist, 78610, Auffargis, France
| | | | - Michael Coeurdassier
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 CNRS/Université de Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, F-25000, Besançon, France.
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2
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Ozaki S, Movalli P, Cincinelli A, Alygizakis N, Badry A, Carter H, Chaplow JS, Claßen D, Dekker RWRJ, Dodd B, Duke G, Koschorreck J, Pereira MG, Potter E, Sleep D, Slobodnik J, Thomaidis NS, Treu G, Walker L. Significant Turning Point: Common Buzzard ( Buteo buteo) Exposure to Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides in the United Kingdom. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6093-6104. [PMID: 38545700 PMCID: PMC11008253 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are widely used to control rodent populations, resulting in the serious secondary exposure of predators to these contaminants. In the United Kingdom (UK), professional use and purchase of SGARs were revised in the 2010s. Certain highly toxic SGARs have been authorized since then to be used outdoors around buildings as resistance-breaking chemicals under risk mitigation procedures. However, it is still uncertain whether and how these regulatory changes have influenced the secondary exposure of birds of prey to SGARs. Based on biomonitoring of the UK Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) collected from 2001 to 2019, we assessed the temporal trend of exposure to SGARs and statistically determined potential turning points. The magnitude of difenacoum decreased over time with a seasonal fluctuation, while the magnitude and prevalence of more toxic brodifacoum, authorized to be used outdoors around buildings after the regulatory changes, increased. The summer of 2016 was statistically identified as a turning point for exposure to brodifacoum and summed SGARs that increased after this point. This time point coincided with the aforementioned regulatory changes. Our findings suggest a possible shift in SGAR use to brodifacoum from difenacoum over the decades, which may pose higher risks of impacts on wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Ozaki
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Paola Movalli
- Naturalis
Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Alessandra Cincinelli
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Nikiforos Alygizakis
- Environmental
Institute, Okružná
784/42, 97241 Koš, Slovak Republic
- Department
of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian
University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zographou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Alexander Badry
- German Environment
Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06813 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Heather Carter
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline S. Chaplow
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Daniela Claßen
- German Environment
Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06813 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | | | - Beverley Dodd
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Guy Duke
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, MacLean Bldg, Benson Ln, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Koschorreck
- German Environment
Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06813 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - M. Glória Pereira
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Elaine Potter
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | - Darren Sleep
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
| | | | - Nikolaos S. Thomaidis
- Department
of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian
University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zographou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Gabriele Treu
- German Environment
Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Wörlitzer Platz 1, 06813 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Lee Walker
- UK
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster
Environment Centre, Library
Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, United
Kingdom
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Spadetto L, Gómez-Ramírez P, Zamora-Marín JM, León-Ortega M, Díaz-García S, Tecles F, Fenoll J, Cava J, Calvo JF, García-Fernández AJ. Active monitoring of long-eared owl (Asio otus) nestlings reveals widespread exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides across different agricultural landscapes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170492. [PMID: 38307270 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The widespread use of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) poses a worldwide threat to farmland wildlife. These compounds accumulate in tissues of both target and non-target species, potentially endangering both direct consumers and their predators. However, investigations on ARs in blood of free-ranging predatory birds are rare. Here, the long-eared owl (Asio otus) has been used as a model predator to assess AR exposure in different agricultural landscapes from a Mediterranean semiarid region. A total of 69 owlets from 38 nests were blood-sampled over 2021 and 2022, aiming to detect AR residues and explore factors that determine their exposure, such as land uses. In addition, prothrombin time (PT) test was conducted to assess potential effects of AR contamination. Overall, nearly all the samples (98.6 %) tested positive for at least one compound and multiple ARs were found in most of the individuals (82.6 %). Among the ARs detected, flocoumafen was the most common compound (88.4 % of the samples). AR total concentration (ΣARs) in blood ranged from 0.06 to 34.18 ng mL-1, detecting the highest levels in the most intensively cultivated area. The analysis of owl pellets from 19 breeding territories showed relevant among-site differences in the contribution of rodents and birds into the diet of long-eared owls, supporting its high dietary plasticity and indicating AR presence at multiple trophic levels. Moreover, a positive and significant correlation was found between ΣARs and PT (Rho = 0.547, p < 0.001), which demonstrates the direct effect of ARs on free-living nestlings. Our results provide a preliminary overview of AR exposure in a little-studied owl species inhabiting agricultural and rural landscapes. Despite the low detected levels, these findings indicate widespread exposure -often to multiple compounds- from early life stages, which raises concern and draws attention to an ongoing and unresolved contamination issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Spadetto
- Toxicology Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pilar Gómez-Ramírez
- Toxicology Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - José Manuel Zamora-Marín
- ULULA Association for Owl Study and Conservation, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Department of Applied Biology, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain; Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Mario León-Ortega
- ULULA Association for Owl Study and Conservation, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Sarah Díaz-García
- ULULA Association for Owl Study and Conservation, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Fernando Tecles
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Veterinary School, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Fenoll
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, IMIDA, 30150 Murcia, Spain
| | - Juana Cava
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario, IMIDA, 30150 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Francisco Calvo
- Department of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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Giovanetti L, Casini S, Campani T, Caliani I. State of the art, gaps and future perspectives on common kestrel ecotoxicology. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 102:104237. [PMID: 37481048 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have caused a steady decline of common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) since the 1980 s. Effects, especially sublethal effects of contaminants, need to be investigated to ensure the conservation of this species. Data about countries, biological material, contaminants classes, and methodological approaches were collected from scientific publications to highlight gaps on common kestrel toxicology and ecotoxicology. We found that most studies have been conducted in Europe and in the field, underlining a lack of in vitro studies. The studies investigated mainly contaminant levels, while sublethal effects, evaluation of emerging contaminants and use of non-invasive or low-invasive samples were scarce. This work shows important gaps on toxicological status of the common kestrel, highlighting the importance of developing a non-lethal approach that combines responses at different levels of biological organization, as well as data on chemical contamination and on the environment in which the different populations inhabit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Giovanetti
- Department of Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy.
| | - Tommaso Campani
- Department of Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
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Wang S, Chen J, Zhao Y, Zhang M, Zhang C, He J, Wei L, Xu Z. Paper mulberry leaves as a potential sterilant: evidence from Microtus fortis-a laboratory study. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1092792. [PMID: 37360716 PMCID: PMC10288988 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1092792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Introduction The Yangtze vole (Microtus fortis) is a small herbivorous rodent that usually causes damage to crops and forests in China. Various measures were used to control their population including chemical rodenticides. However, rodenticides may cause secondary damage to the environment and the ecosystem. Therefore, the development of new rodent sterilants is urgent. Considering that some compounds of paper mulberry leaves have been verified that can inhibit the biosynthesis of sexual hormone, we aimed to explore the antifertility effect of paper mulberry leaves on M. fortis. Methods In this study, voles were divided into three groups including a male group, a female group, and a breeding group, and paper mulberry leaves were added into basal fodder of voles maintained in laboratory, of which the proportion of leaf weight was 50%. In each group, voles were fed with mixed fodder as treatment (BP) and voles were fed with basal fodder as contrast (CK). Results and discussion After feeding for more than 1 month, the results indicated that paper mulberry leaves attracted voles to feed, but inhibited their growth and reproduction. Since the second week, food intakes of BP have been significantly higher than CK (p< 0.05). However, weights of voles in male and female groups were 72.283 ± 7.394 g and 49.717 ± 2.278 g in the fifth week, and both were significantly reduced compared with their original weight (p< 0.05). Meanwhile, testicular volumes of male voles fed with BP were significantly smaller than CK (former: 318.000 ± 44.654 mm3, latter: 459.339 ± 108.755 mm3); the testosterone level, sperm number, and vitality of BP were obviously weaker than CK. Female uteruses and oophoron of BP grew slower, and the organ coefficients of uterus and oophoron fed BP were both significantly lower than CK (p< 0.05). The first reproduction of BP couple voles spent 45 days, while CK spent only 21 days. These results suggest that paper mulberry leaves could be the potential resource to produce sterilants to control rodent populations by delaying their sexual growth and reproduction. If it was practical, the apparent advantages of paper mulberry are that it is an abundant resource and the inhibitory effect could be effective in both male and female individuals. Our conclusion also supports the transformation of rodent management from lethal management to fertility control, which would be more ecologically friendly to agriculture and the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangye Wang
- College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Junzhi Chen
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Management of Western Forest Bio-Disaster, College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yunlin Zhao
- College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Meiwen Zhang
- Dongting Lake Station for Wetland Ecosystem Research, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Dongting Lake Station for Wetland Ecosystem Research, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jianing He
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Management of Western Forest Bio-Disaster, College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Dongting Lake Station for Wetland Ecosystem Research, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lichuan Wei
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Management of Western Forest Bio-Disaster, College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhenggang Xu
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Management of Western Forest Bio-Disaster, College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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Herring G, Eagles-Smith CA, Buck JA. Anticoagulant rodenticides are associated with increased stress and reduced body condition of avian scavengers in the Pacific Northwest. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023:121899. [PMID: 37244534 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) have been used globally to manage commensal rodents for decades. However their application has also resulted in primary, secondary, and tertiary poisoning in wildlife. Widespread exposure to ARs (primarily second generation ARs; SGARs) in raptors and avian scavengers has triggered considerable conservation concern over their potential effects on populations. To identify risk to extant raptor and avian scavenger populations in Oregon and potential future risk to the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) flock recently established in northern California, we assessed AR exposure and physiological responses in two avian scavenger species (common ravens [Corvus corax] and turkey vultures [Cathartes aura]) throughout Oregon between 2013 and 2019. AR exposure was widespread with 51% (35/68) of common ravens and 86% (63/73) of turkey vultures containing AR residues. The more acutely toxic SGAR brodifacoum was present in 83% and 90% of AR exposed common ravens and turkey vultures. The odds of AR exposure in common ravens were 4.7-fold higher along the coastal region compared to interior Oregon. For common ravens and turkey vultures that were exposed to ARs, respectively, 54% and 56% had concentrations that exceeded the 5% probability of toxicosis (>20 ng/g ww; Thomas et al., 2011), and 20% and 5% exceeded the 20% probability of toxicosis (>80 ng/g ww; Thomas et al., 2011). Common ravens exhibited a physiological response to AR exposure with fecal corticosterone metabolites increasing with sum ARs (ΣAR) concentrations. Both female common raven and turkey vultures' body condition was negatively correlated with increasing ΣAR concentrations. Our results suggest avian scavengers in Oregon are experiencing extensive AR exposure and the newly established population of California condors in northern California will likely experience similar AR exposure if they feed in southern Oregon. Understanding the sources of ARs across the landscape is an important first step in reducing or eliminating AR exposure in avian scavengers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garth Herring
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Jeremy A Buck
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office, Portland, OR, 97266, USA
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Rached A, Mahjoub T, Fafournoux A, Barbier B, Fourel I, Caruel H, Lefebvre S, Lattard V. Interest of the faecal and plasma matrix for monitoring the exposure of wildlife or domestic animals to anticoagulant rodenticides. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 97:104033. [PMID: 36481560 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.104033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs), particularly second-generation compounds (SGAR), are known to be a potential threat to unintended species due to their tissue persistence. The liver is the storage tissue of ARs and is a matrix of choice in diagnosing exposure and intoxication of non-target fauna. However, it is only available on dead animals. Blood and faeces can be used on living animals. These two biological matrices were compared in terms of their relevance to exposure to ARs. In addressing this question, we compared the faecal, plasma and liver concentrations of bromadiolone, one of the SGAR frequently implicated in wildlife exposure. We studied this comparison at the individual level and at the population level, considering three influencing factors: dose, sex and time. Our findings demonstrate that faecal analyses are more valuable than plasma analyses for monitoring AR exposure of domestic and wild animals, even if faecal concentrations cannot be correlated with liver concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Rached
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France; Liphatech, Bonnel, 47480 Pont du Casse, France
| | - Tarek Mahjoub
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France; Biochemistry, University of Manouba, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Ambre Fafournoux
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Brigitte Barbier
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Isabelle Fourel
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | | | - Sébastien Lefebvre
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Virginie Lattard
- USC 1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, F-69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France.
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Oliva-Vidal P, Martínez JM, Sánchez-Barbudo IS, Camarero PR, Colomer MÀ, Margalida A, Mateo R. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in the blood of obligate and facultative European avian scavengers. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 315:120385. [PMID: 36257565 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) and their high persistence in animal tissues has led to these compounds becoming ubiquitous in rodent-predator-scavenger food webs. Exposure to SGARs has usually been investigated in wildlife species found dead, and despite growing evidence of the potential risk of secondary poisoning of predators and scavengers, the current worldwide exposure of free-living scavenging birds to SGARs remains scarcely investigated. We present the first active monitoring of blood SGAR concentrations and prevalence in the four European obligate (i.e., vultures) and facultative (red and black kites) avian scavengers in NE Spain. We analysed 261 free-living birds and detected SGARs in 39.1% (n = 102) of individuals. Both SGAR prevalence and concentrations (ΣSGARs) were related to the age and foraging behaviour of the species studied. Black kites showed the highest prevalence (100%), followed by red kites (66.7%), Egyptian (64.2%), bearded (20.9%), griffon (16.9%) and cinereous (6.3%) vultures. Overall, both the prevalence and average ΣSGARs were higher in non-nestlings than nestlings, and in species such as kites and Egyptian vultures foraging in anthropic landscapes (e.g., landfill sites and livestock farms) and exploiting small/medium-sized carrions. Brodifacoum was most prevalent (28.8%), followed by difenacoum (16.1%), flocoumafen (12.3%) and bromadiolone (7.3%). In SGAR-positive birds, the ΣSGAR (mean ± SE) was 7.52 ± 0.95 ng mL-1; the highest level detected being 53.50 ng mL-1. The most abundant diastereomer forms were trans-bromadiolone and flocoumafen, and cis-brodifacoum and difenacoum, showing that lower impact formulations could reduce secondary exposures of non-target species. Our findings suggest that SGARs can bioaccumulate in scavenging birds, showing the potential risk to avian scavenging guilds in Europe and elsewhere. We highlight the need for further studies on the potential adverse effects associated with concentrations of SGARSs in the blood to better interpret active monitoring studies of free-living birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Oliva-Vidal
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo, 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198, Spain.
| | - José María Martínez
- Gobierno de Aragón, Subdirección General de Desarrollo Rural y Sostenibilidad, Departamento Medio Ambiente, C/ General Lasheras 8, E-22003 Huesca, Spain
| | - Inés S Sánchez-Barbudo
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo, 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Pablo R Camarero
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo, 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Mª Àngels Colomer
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Avda. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198, Spain
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo, 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain; Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria, 12, 22700, Jaca, Spain
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo, 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
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Broughton RK, Searle KR, Walker LA, Potter ED, Pereira MG, Carter H, Sleep D, Noble DG, Butler A, Johnson AC. Long-term trends of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) show widespread contamination of a bird-eating predator, the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) in Britain. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 314:120269. [PMID: 36162558 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are widely used to control rodents around the world. However, contamination by SGARs is detectable in many non-target species, particularly carnivorous mammals or birds-of-prey that hunt or scavenge on poisoned rodents. The SGAR trophic transfer pathway via rodents and their predators/scavengers appears widespread, but little is known of other pathways of SGAR contamination in non-target wildlife. This is despite the detection of SGARs in predators that do not eat rodents, such as specialist bird-eating hawks. We used a Bayesian modelling framework to examine the extent and spatio-temporal trends of SGAR contamination in the livers of 259 Eurasian Sparrowhawks, a specialist bird-eating raptor, in regions of Britain during 1995-2015. SGARs, predominantly difenacoum, were detected in 81% of birds, with highest concentrations in males and adults. SGAR concentrations in birds were lowest in Scotland and higher or increasing in other regions of Britain, which had a greater arable or urban land cover where SGARs may be widely deployed for rodent control. However, there was no overall trend for Britain, and 97% of SGAR residues in Eurasian Sparrowhawks were below 100 ng/g (wet weight), which is a potential threshold for lethal effects. The results have potential implications for the population decline of Eurasian Sparrowhawks in Britain. Fundamentally, the results indicate an extensive and persistent contamination of the avian trophic transfer pathway on a national scale, where bird-eating raptors and, by extension, their prey appear to be widely exposed to SGARs. Consequently, these findings have implications for wildlife contamination worldwide, wherever these common rodenticides are deployed, as widespread exposure of non-target species can apparently occur via multiple trophic transfer pathways involving birds as well as rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard K Broughton
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK.
| | - Kate R Searle
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
| | - Lee A Walker
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Elaine D Potter
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - M Glória Pereira
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Heather Carter
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Darren Sleep
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - David G Noble
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, UK
| | - Adam Butler
- BioSS, James Clerk Maxwell Building, King's Buildings, Mayfield Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
| | - Andrew C Johnson
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
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10
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Fernandez-de-Simon J, Díaz-Ruiz F, Jareño D, Domínguez JC, Lima-Barbero JF, de Diego N, Santamaría AE, Herrero-Villar M, Camarero PR, Olea PP, García JT, Mateo R, Viñuela J. Weasel exposure to the anticoagulant rodenticide bromadiolone in agrarian landscapes of southwestern Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:155914. [PMID: 35569667 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bromadiolone is an anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) commonly used as a plant protection product (PPP) against rodent pests in agricultural lands. ARs can be transferred trophically to predators/scavengers when they consume intoxicated live or dead rodents. ARs exposure in weasels Mustela nivalis, small mustelids specialized on rodent predation, is poorly known in southern Europe. Moreover, in this species there is no information on bioaccumulation of AR diastereomers e.g., cis- and trans-bromadiolone. Trans-bromadiolone is more persistent in the rodent liver and thus, is expected to have a greater probability of trophic transfer to predators. Here, we report on bromadiolone occurrence, total concentrations and diastereomers proportions (trans- and cis-bromadiolone) in weasels from Castilla y León (north-western Spain) collected in 2010-2017, where bromadiolone was irregularly applied to control outbreaks of common voles Microtus arvalis mainly with cereal grain bait distributed by the regional government. We also tested variables possibly associated with bromadiolone occurrence and concentration, such as individual features (e.g., sex), spatio-temporal variables (e.g., year), and exposure risk (e.g., vole outbreaks). Overall bromadiolone occurrence in weasels was 22% (n = 32, arithmetic mean of concentration of bromadiolone positives = 0.072 mg/kg). An individual showed signs of bromadiolone intoxication (i.e., evidence of macroscopic hemorrhages or hyperaemia and hepatic bromadiolone concentration > 0.1 mg/kg). All the exposed weasels (n = 7) showed only trans-bromadiolone diastereomer in liver, whilst a single analyzed bait from those applied in Castilla y León contained trans- and cis-bromadiolone at 65/35%. Bromadiolone occurrence and concentration in weasels varied yearly. Occurrence was higher in 2012 (100% of weasels), when bromadiolone was widely distributed, compared to 2016-2017 (2016: 20%; 2017: 8.33%) when bromadiolone was exceptionally permitted. The highest concentrations happened in 2014 and 2017, both years with vole outbreaks. Our findings indicate that specialist rodent predators could be exposed to bromadiolone in areas and periods with bromadiolone treatments against vole outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Fernandez-de-Simon
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; DITEG Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Bioquímica, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida de Carlos III s/n., 45071 Toledo, Spain.
| | - Francisco Díaz-Ruiz
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; Biogeography, Diversity, and Conservation Research Team, Dept. Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Daniel Jareño
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Julio C Domínguez
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - José F Lima-Barbero
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; Sabiotec, Camino de Moledores s/n., 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Noelia de Diego
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ana E Santamaría
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG), Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Herrero-Villar
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Pablo R Camarero
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Pedro P Olea
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG), Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Univ. Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús T García
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Javier Viñuela
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
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11
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Ravindran S, Noor HM, Salim H. Anticoagulant rodenticide use in oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia and hazard assessment to non-target animals. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:976-997. [PMID: 35699849 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02559-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are used worldwide for the control of rodent pests and are the main method of control of rat pest populations in agricultural areas. The main aim of this review is to discuss the risk of ARs to non-target wildlife in oil palm areas in Southeast Asia, mainly Indonesia and Malaysia. We discussed AR use in oil palm areas and toxicities of ARs on target and non-target animals. We also reviewed published literature on wildlife species reported in oil palm areas in Southeast Asia and utilizing this information, we assessed the hazard risk of ARs to non-target wildlife in oil palm plantations. ARs are a secondary exposure hazard to rodent-consuming mammalian carnivores, such as leopard cats and civets, and rodent-consuming raptors, such as barn owls. Consumption of dead poisoned prey puts scavengers, such as water monitors, at high risk for AR exposure. Domestic livestock and granivorous birds are at high risk for AR exposure via primary exposure to toxic bait, while omnivores such as macaques and wild pigs are at moderate risk for both primary and secondary exposure to ARs. The effects of ARs on barn owls have been well studied in the field and in laboratory secondary toxicity studies. Thus, the nest-box occupancy and reproductive parameters of local barn owl populations can be monitored as an indicator of the AR exposure level in the area. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: No clinical trials were involved in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakinah Ravindran
- Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG), School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Hafidzi Mohd Noor
- Plant Protection Department, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hasber Salim
- Barn Owl and Rodent Research Group (BORG), School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia.
- Vector Control and Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia.
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12
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Mahjoub T, Krafft E, Garnier L, Mignard A, Hugnet C, Lefebvre S, Fourel I, Benoit E, Lattard V. Asymptomatic Anticoagulant Rodenticide Exposure in Dogs and Cats—A French and Belgian Rural and Urban Areas Study. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:907892. [PMID: 35647575 PMCID: PMC9131000 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.907892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are important tools for controlling rodent pests, but they also pose a health threat to non-target species. ARs are one of the most common causes of pet poisoning. However, exposure of domestic animals to subclinical doses of ARs is poorly documented. To study the random exposure of dogs and cats to ARs, feces from animals showing no clinical signs of rodenticide poisoning were collected from a network of French and Belgian veterinarians. We analyzed fresh feces from 304 dogs and 289 cats by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. This study showed a limited prevalence of AR exposure in dogs and cats of 2.6 and 4.5% respectively. In both species, access to the outdoors is a risk factor for ARs exposure. In contrast, the sex of the animals did not affect the ARs exposure status. The observation of the ratio of cis and trans isomers suggested primary exposure in dogs, but also in some cats. While primary exposure in dogs appears to be related to the use of ARs as plant protection products, primary exposure in cats may be malicious, as warfarin, an anticoagulant formerly used as a rodenticide and now used only in humans, was found in 4 of 13 exposed cats. Secondary exposure may also occur in cats.Our study showed reduced exposure in dogs and cats, compared to wildlife, which often has high exposure, especially in areas where rodent control is important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarek Mahjoub
- USC1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- Biochemistry, University of Manouba, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Emilie Krafft
- USC1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Léa Garnier
- USC1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Amélie Mignard
- USC1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | | | - Isabelle Fourel
- USC1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Etienne Benoit
- USC1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Virginie Lattard
- USC1233 RS2GP, INRAe, VetAgro Sup, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- *Correspondence: Virginie Lattard,
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13
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Stalder S, Vogler BR, Ammer H, Sinniger M, Albini S. Postmortem findings of secondary brodifacoum poisoning in a kestrel (
Falco tinnunculus
). VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/vrc2.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Stalder
- National Reference Centre for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Barbara R. Vogler
- National Reference Centre for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Hermann Ammer
- Department of Veterinary Sciences Veterinary Faculty Institute of Pharmacology Toxicology and Pharmacy Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich Munich Germany
| | - Martin Sinniger
- Department for the Protection of Animals and the Environment (SPSA‐TU) Police Department of Canton Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Sarah Albini
- National Reference Centre for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
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14
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Montoya A, Cabodevilla X, Fargallo JA, Biescas E, Mentaberre G, Villanúa D. Vertebrate diet of the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and barn owl (Tyto alba) in rain-fed crops: implications to the pest control programs. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-021-01515-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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15
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Valverde I, Espín S, Gómez-Ramírez P, Navas I, María-Mojica P, Sánchez-Virosta P, Jiménez P, Torres-Chaparro MY, García-Fernández AJ. Wildlife poisoning: a novel scoring system and review of analytical methods for anticoagulant rodenticide determination. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 30:767-782. [PMID: 33864551 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02411-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are commonly used to control rodent populations and frequently involved in wildlife and domestic animal poisoning. These poisoning cases (especially for ARs) are a challenge for forensic toxicologists, and adequate post-mortem examination and toxicological analyses become essential for a proper diagnosis. Publications describing different analytical methods for AR analysis in biological samples are growing, and a clear compilation of the overall picture is needed to standardize methodologies in future research. This review aims to compile and compare the analytical procedures applied for AR determination in the literature. Using this information, a scoring system was developed for those techniques using liver and blood as matrices, and the techniques were ranked considering different criteria (i.e. sample amount required, recoveries, limits of quantification (LOQs), number of ARs analysed, points of the calibration curve and multi-class methods). This review shows an overview of the main methods used for AR analysis in forensic toxicology and will help to elucidate future directions to improve multi-residue techniques to detect the ARs involved in wildlife lethal poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Valverde
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvia Espín
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Pilar Gómez-Ramírez
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
| | - Isabel Navas
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro María-Mojica
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
- "Santa Faz" Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Consellería de Agricultura, Medio Ambiente, Cambio Climático y Desarrollo Rural, Alicante, Generalitat Valenciana, Spain
| | - Pablo Sánchez-Virosta
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro Jiménez
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
| | - María Y Torres-Chaparro
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
| | - Antonio J García-Fernández
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
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16
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Roos S, Campbell ST, Hartley G, Shore RF, Walker LA, Wilson JD. Annual abundance of common Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) is negatively associated with second generation anticoagulant rodenticides. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 30:560-574. [PMID: 33770305 PMCID: PMC8060177 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02374-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Rats and mice can damage food and agricultural products as well as transmit diseases, thereby requiring control of their numbers. Application of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) often reduces rodent numbers locally. However, predators eating rodents, including non-target species, that have consumed SGARs may be secondarily exposed and potentially lethally poisoned. Here we study whether SGARs may have contributed to the widespread population declines of a rodent-eating raptor, the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in the UK. We show that 161 (66.8%) of the 241 Kestrels submitted for ecotoxicology tests between 1997 and 2012 had detectable levels of at least one SGAR in their livers. Adult Kestrels had significantly higher prevalence of SGARs than juveniles, suggesting accumulation of SGARs through time. The prevalence and concentrations of individual SGARs in Kestrels were significantly higher in England than in Scotland. SGAR prevalence in Kestrels were positively associated with some land cover types, primarily arable cereals and broad-leaved woodland, and negatively associated with mainly mean elevation, probably reflecting variation in SGAR usage across land cover types. By using volunteer-collected data on national Kestrel abundance 1997-2012, we show that there is a negative correlation between the Kestrel population index in a specific year and the concentration of bromadialone as well as the total SGAR concentration in the same year. Although correlative, this is the first study to provide evidence for a potential population-limiting effect of SGARs on a raptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Staffan Roos
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, 2 Lochside View, EH12 9DH, Edinburgh, UK.
- Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7007, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Steve T Campbell
- Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), Scottish Government, Roddinglaw Road, Edinburgh, EH12 9FJ, UK
| | - Gill Hartley
- Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), Scottish Government, Roddinglaw Road, Edinburgh, EH12 9FJ, UK
| | - Richard F Shore
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Lee A Walker
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Jeremy D Wilson
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, 2 Lochside View, EH12 9DH, Edinburgh, UK
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17
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Niedringhaus KD, Nemeth NM, Gibbs S, Zimmerman J, Shender L, Slankard K, Fenton H, Charlie B, Dalton MF, Elsmo EJ, Poppenga R, Millsap B, Ruder MG. Anticoagulant rodenticide exposure and toxicosis in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the United States. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246134. [PMID: 33826627 PMCID: PMC8026043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Raptors, including eagles, are geographically widespread and sit atop the food chain, thereby serving an important role in maintaining ecosystem balance. After facing population declines associated with exposure to organochlorine insecticides such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) have recovered from the brink of extinction. However, both bald and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are exposed to a variety of other toxic compounds in the environment that could have population impacts. Few studies have focused on anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) exposure in eagles. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the types of ARs that eagles are exposed to in the USA and better define the extent of toxicosis (i.e., fatal illness due to compound exposure). Diagnostic case records from bald and golden eagles submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (University of Georgia) 2014 through 2018 were reviewed. Overall, 303 eagles were examined, and the livers from 116 bald eagles and 17 golden eagles were tested for ARs. The percentage of AR exposure (i.e., detectable levels but not associated with mortality) in eagles was high; ARs were detected in 109 (82%) eagles, including 96 (83%) bald eagles and 13 (77%) golden eagles. Anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis was determined to be the cause of mortality in 12 (4%) of the 303 eagles examined, including 11 bald eagles and 1 golden eagle. Six different AR compounds were detected in these eagles, with brodifacoum and bromadiolone most frequently detected (81% and 25% of eagles tested, respectively). These results suggest that some ARs, most notably brodifacoum, are widespread in the environment and are commonly consumed by eagles. This highlights the need for research to understand the pathways of AR exposure in eagles, which may help inform policy and regulatory actions to mitigate AR exposure risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D. Niedringhaus
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Nicole M. Nemeth
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Samantha Gibbs
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, Chiefland, FL, United States of America
| | - Jared Zimmerman
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Lisa Shender
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Kate Slankard
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Frankfort, KY, United States of America
| | - Heather Fenton
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Bahnson Charlie
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Martha Frances Dalton
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth J. Elsmo
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Robert Poppenga
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratories, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Brian Millsap
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Albuquerque, New MX, United States of America
| | - Mark G. Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Murray M. Continued Anticoagulant Rodenticide Exposure of Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) in the Northeastern United States with an Evaluation of Serum for Biomonitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2020; 39:2325-2335. [PMID: 33405327 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies (2006-2016) in birds of prey admitted to a wildlife clinic in Massachusetts, USA, revealed widespread exposure to second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) among red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis, RTHAs). Continued monitoring of species for which historic data are available can reveal trends in exposure that aid in evaluating the effectiveness of risk-mitigation measures. While the majority of exposure-monitoring studies utilize liver tissue collected postmortem, antemortem modalities, such as serum analysis, may be desirable for risk assessments in certain populations. However, the sensitivity of serum for detecting anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) is not well studied. Paired liver and serum samples from 43 RTHAs were evaluated from 2017 to 2019. In liver tissue, 100% of birds were positive for ARs, with the SGARs brodifacoum, bromadiolone, and difethialone identified most frequently; 91% of birds had liver residues of 2 to 4 ARs. These findings represent the highest exposure both to ARs overall and to multiple ARs in RTHAs compared to previous studies. All birds diagnosed with AR toxicosis (n = 14) were positive for ARs in serum; however, all subclinically exposed birds (n = 29) were negative in serum. These data show that exposure to SGARs remains widespread in RTHAs in this geographic area. In addition, although serum analysis is not sensitive for detecting sublethal exposures in RTHAs, it can potentially support a diagnosis of AR toxicosis in conjunction with other consistent signs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2325-2335. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Murray
- Tufts Wildlife Clinic, Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA
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Seljetun KO, Vindenes V, Øiestad EL, Brochmann GW, Eliassen E, Moe L. Determination of anticoagulant rodenticides in faeces of exposed dogs and in a healthy dog population. Acta Vet Scand 2020; 62:30. [PMID: 32546243 PMCID: PMC7296905 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-020-00531-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) in dogs is among the most common causes of poisoning in small animal practice, but information about toxicokinetic of these rodenticides in dogs is lacking. We analysed blood and faeces from five accidentally exposed dogs and 110 healthy dogs by reversed phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The aim of the study was to estimate elimination of brodifacoum, bromadiolone and difenacoum after acute exposure, calculate the half-lives of these rodenticides in dogs, estimate faecal elimination in a litter of puppies born, and further to identify the extent of AR exposure in a healthy dog population. Results Three dogs were included after single ingestions of brodifacoum; two dogs ingested bromadiolone and one dog ingested difenacoum. Maximum concentrations in faeces were found after day 2–3 for all ARs. The distribution half-lives were 1–10 days for brodifacoum, 1–2 days for bromadiolone and 10 days for difenacoum. Brodifacoum and difenacoum had estimated terminal half-lives of 200–330 days and 190 days, respectively. In contrast, bromadiolone had an estimated terminal half-life of 30 days. No clinical signs of poisoning or coagulopathy were observed in terminal elimination period. In blood, the terminal half-life of brodifacoum was estimated to 8 days. Faeces from a litter of puppies born from one of the poisoned dogs were examined, and measurable concentrations of brodifacoum were detected in all samples for at least 28 days after parturition. A cross-sectional study of 110 healthy domestic dogs was performed to estimate ARs exposure in a dog population. Difenacoum was detected in faeces of one dog. Blood and faecal samples from the remaining dogs were negative for all ARs. Conclusions Based on the limited pharmacokinetic data from these dogs, our results suggest that ARs have a biphasic elimination in faeces using a two-compartment elimination kinetics model. We have shown that faecal analysis is suitable and reliable for the assessment of ARs exposure in dogs and a tool for estimating the AR half-lives. Half-lives of ARs could be a valuable indicator in the exposed dogs and provides important information for veterinarians monitoring AR exposure and assessment of treatment length in dogs.
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Davidson NB, Hurst JL. Testing the potential of 50 kHz rat calls as a species-specific rat attractant. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211601. [PMID: 30958822 PMCID: PMC6453455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The control of mammalian pests relies heavily on the use of pesticides that are often avoided and are not species-specific. These problems are particularly acute for pesticides used to control rats (Rattus spp.). The efficacy and targeting of control could be improved by attracting animals to control measures using species-specific cues. One cue that has the potential to attract rats is the 50 kHz calls they emit in positive social situations. Here we test the potential of these rat calls as a species-specific attractant by examining the response of laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus; n = 48) and non-target bank voles (Myodes glareolus; n = 16) to 50 kHz calls from either sex in a compartmentalised laboratory arena. Sounds of rat movement and white noise acted as control treatments, with each sound tested against a silent control in the opposite side of the arena. When sound cues were played above an empty bait box, rats were attracted to spend time close to 50 kHz rat calls, climbing on top of boxes, regardless of the sex of subject or caller. When either 50 kHz rat calls or rat movement sounds were played inside an empty bait box, rats of both sexes spent 3-4 fold more time inside boxes and visited more frequently. Rats were not attracted by intermittent white noise. Bank voles were neither attracted to, nor avoided, 50 kHz rat calls played inside empty bait boxes. Our findings show that 50 kHz rat calls are an effective attractant for rats of both sexes under laboratory conditions, while not attracting non-target bank voles. These calls are strong candidates for providing a species-specific lure that may be attractive even in the absence of food bait, but further trials will be needed to assess their efficacy under field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola B. Davidson
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (NBD); (JLH)
| | - Jane L. Hurst
- Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (NBD); (JLH)
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López-Perea JJ, Camarero PR, Sánchez-Barbudo IS, Mateo R. Urbanization and cattle density are determinants in the exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides of non-target wildlife. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 244:801-808. [PMID: 30390453 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The persistence and toxicity of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) in animal tissues make these compounds dangerous by biomagnification in predatory species. Here we studied the levels of SGARs in non-target species of wildlife and the environmental factors that influence such exposure. Liver samples of terrestrial vertebrates (n = 244) found dead between 2007 and 2016 in the region of Aragón (NE Spain) were analysed. The presence of SGARs was statistically analysed with binary or ordinal logistic models to study the effect of habitat characteristics including human population density, percentage of urban surface, livestock densities and surface of different types of crops. SGARs residues were detected in 83 (34%) of the animals and levels >200 ng/g were found in common raven (67%), red fox (50%), red kite (38%), Eurasian eagle-owl (25%), stone marten (23%), Eurasian buzzard (17%), northern marsh harrier (17%), and Eurasian badger (14%). The spatial analysis revealed that the presence of SGARs residues in wildlife was more associated with the use of these products as biocides in urban areas and cattle farms rather than as plant protection products in agricultural fields. This information permits to identify potential habitats where SGARs may pose a risk for predatory birds and mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhon J López-Perea
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Pablo R Camarero
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ines S Sánchez-Barbudo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain.
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Lohr MT. Anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in an Australian predatory bird increases with proximity to developed habitat. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 643:134-144. [PMID: 29936157 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 06/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are commonly used worldwide to control commensal rodents. Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are highly persistent and have the potential to cause secondary poisoning in wildlife. To date no comprehensive assessment has been conducted on AR residues in Australian wildlife. My aim was to measure AR exposure in a common widespread owl species, the Southern Boobook (Ninox boobook) using boobooks found dead or moribund in order to assess the spatial distribution of this potential threat. A high percentage of boobooks were exposed (72.6%) and many showed potentially dangerous levels of AR residue (>0.1 mg/kg) in liver tissue (50.7%). Multiple rodenticides were detected in the livers of 38.4% of boobooks tested. Total liver concentration of ARs correlated positively with the proportions of developed areas around points where dead boobooks were recovered and negatively with proportions of agricultural and native land covers. Total AR concentration in livers correlated more closely with land use type at the spatial scale of a boobook's home range than at smaller or larger spatial scales. Two rodenticides not used by the public (difethialone and flocoumafen) were detected in boobooks indicating that professional use of ARs contributed to secondary exposure. Multiple ARs were also detected in recent fledglings, indicating probable exposure prior to fledging. Taken together, these results suggest that AR exposure poses a serious threat to native predators in Australia, particularly in species using urban and peri-urban areas and species with large home ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Lohr
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia.
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Koivisto E, Santangeli A, Koivisto P, Korkolainen T, Vuorisalo T, Hanski IK, Loivamaa I, Koivisto S. The prevalence and correlates of anticoagulant rodenticide exposure in non-target predators and scavengers in Finland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 642:701-707. [PMID: 29913365 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The most common rodent control method worldwide is anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs), which cause death by internal bleeding. ARs can transfer to non-target predators via secondary exposure, i.e. by consuming contaminated rodents. Here we quantify the prevalence of seven AR substances in the liver tissues of altogether 17 mammalian or avian predator or scavenger species in Finland. In addition, we identify the environmental and biological factors potentially linked to secondary AR poisoning. No previous AR screenings have been conducted in the country, despite the widespread use of ARs and their potential impacts on the high levels of the ecosystem food chain. ARs were detected (≥0.3 μg/kg) in 82% of the 131 samples. The most prevalent and the AR with highest concentrations was bromadiolone (65% of samples). In 77% of the positive samples more than one (2-5) different ARs were detected. Of the environmental variables, we only found a weakly positive relationship between the coumatetralyl concentration and the livestock farm density. Conversely, overall AR concentration and number, as well as the concentration of three separate ARs (coumatetralyl, difenacoum and bromadiolone) differed among the three species groups tested, with the group "other mammals" (largely represented by red fox and raccoon dog) having higher values than the groups presented by mustelids or by birds. ARs are authorized only as biocides in Finland and a national strategy on risk management (e.g. for minimising secondary poisoning of non-target species) of ARs was adopted in 2011. Based on these results it appears that the risk mitigation measures (RMMs) either have not been followed or have not been effective in preventing wide scale secondary exposure. Continued monitoring of AR residues in non-target species is needed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of current RMMs and a need for new ones to reduce the risk of secondary poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Koivisto
- University of Turku, Department of Biology, FI-20014 Turun yliopisto, Finland.
| | - Andrea Santangeli
- The Helsinki Lab of Ornithology, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 17, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pertti Koivisto
- Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tapio Korkolainen
- Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency Tukes, P.O. Box 66, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo Vuorisalo
- University of Turku, Department of Biology, FI-20014 Turun yliopisto, Finland
| | - Ilpo K Hanski
- The Helsinki Lab of Ornithology, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 17, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Iida Loivamaa
- Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sanna Koivisto
- Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency Tukes, P.O. Box 66, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland
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Changes in Detected Anticoagulant Rodenticide Exposure in Barn Owls ( Tyto alba) in Kentucky, USA, in 2012-16. J Wildl Dis 2018; 55:432-437. [PMID: 30289330 DOI: 10.7589/2018-03-073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are widely used across North America to control rodent infestations but may cause direct mortality or nonlethal effects when secondarily consumed by raptors. Barn Owls ( Tyto alba) are at high risk for secondary consumption because they specialize in rodent prey and often live in human-made structures. We investigated the exposure of Barn Owls in Kentucky, US, to ARs and to dicoumarol, an anticoagulant compound naturally found in certain moldy forages. We tested the liver tissue of 48 Barn Owl carcasses collected during 2012-16. We confirmed exposure to one or more ARs in 33% of the birds examined and detected dicoumarol in 13% of the samples. Rodenticides detected included brodifacoum, coumachlor, and bromadiolone. The prevalence of detected exposure to brodifacoum for after-hatch-year birds (65%) was significantly ( P=0.012) higher than hatch-year birds (22%). Brodifacoum was the most commonly detected AR, found in 88% of AR-positive birds. The pesticide registration for this chemical in the US was canceled in 2015 for general consumer products, which likely resulted in a decreasing rate of detected exposure to brodifacoum during our study. We present these results as an example of secondary exposure rates during a period when a pesticide has been restricted and then removed from the consumer market.
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López-Idiáquez D, Vergara P, Fargallo JA, Martínez-Padilla J. Providing longer post-fledging periods increases offspring survival at the expense of future fecundity. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203152. [PMID: 30199538 PMCID: PMC6130873 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cost of reproduction is a key concept in life-history trade-offs. However, our understanding of the reproductive costs is biased towards measures of reproductive effort obtained before offspring independence. During the post-fledging dependence period (PFDP), it is well known that parents feed and protect their offspring. However, the effort devoted to this reproductive activity has never been considered in the context of of the costs of reproduction. Moreover, the potential fitness benefits and costs for offspring and parents, respectively, of the duration of the PFDP are largely unknown. We estimated the duration of the PFDP over 5 years using wild common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) and studied its association with survival probability and future parental reproductive performance. Our results show that longer PFDPs increase the survival probability of fledglings, probably due to the benefits obtained from parental care. In addition, we found that providing longer PFDPs was associated with reduced clutch sizes but not the number of fledglings in the subsequent breeding season in males. We suggest that increased parental expenditures on offspring during the PFDP may represent a potential cost of reproduction in breeding males.
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Affiliation(s)
- David López-Idiáquez
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Ecology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Vergara
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Fargallo
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
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Lohr MT, Davis RA. Anticoagulant rodenticide use, non-target impacts and regulation: A case study from Australia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 634:1372-1384. [PMID: 29710637 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) on non-target wildlife have been well documented in Europe and North America. While these studies are informative, patterns of non-target poisoning of wildlife elsewhere in the world may differ substantially from patterns occurring in Australia and other countries outside of cool temperate regions due to differences in the types of ARs used, patterns of use, legislation governing sales, and potential pathways of secondary exposure. Most of these differences suggest that the extent and severity of AR poisoning in wildlife may be greater in Australia than elsewhere in the world. While many anecdotal accounts of rodenticide toxicity were found - especially in conjunction with government control efforts and island eradications - no published studies have directly tested rodenticide exposure in non-target Australian wildlife in a comprehensive manner. The effects of private and agricultural use of rodenticides on wildlife have not been adequately assessed. Synthesis of reviewed literature suggests that anticoagulant rodenticides may pose previously unrecognised threats to wildlife and indigenous people in Australia and other nations with diverse and abundant reptile faunas relative to countries with cooler climates where most rodenticide ecotoxicology studies have been conducted. To address the identified knowledge gaps we suggest additional research into the role of reptiles as potential AR vectors, potential novel routes of human exposure, and comprehensive monitoring of rodenticide exposure in Australian wildlife, especially threatened and endangered omnivores and carnivores. Additionally, we recommend regulatory action to harmonise Australian management of ARs with existing and developing global norms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Lohr
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia.
| | - Robert A Davis
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia.
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Figuerola J, Beltrán JF, Jacob J. Vertebrate pest management: research for science-based solutions. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2017; 73:271-272. [PMID: 28067014 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica Doñana, Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Juan F Beltrán
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jens Jacob
- Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Münster, Germany
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