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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Toxicity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to Gyps vultures: A new threat from ketoprofen
Biology Letters, Volume 6, No. 3, Year 2010
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Description
Three Gyps vulture species are on the brink of extinction in South Asia owing to the veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. Carcasses of domesticated ungulates are the main food source for Asia's vultures and birds die fromkidney failure after consuming diclofenaccontaminated tissues.Here, we report on the safety testing of the NSAID ketoprofen, which was not reported to cause mortality in clinical treatment of scavenging birds and is rapidly eliminated from livestock tissues. Safety testing was undertaken using captive non-releasable Cape griffon vultures (Gyps coprotheres) and wild-caught African white-backed vultures (G. africanus), both previously identified as susceptible to diclofenac and suitable surrogates. Ketoprofen doses ranged from 0.5 to 5 mg kg-1 vulture body weight, based upon recommended veterinary guidelines and maximum levels of exposure for wild vultures (estimated as 1.54mg kg-1). Doses were administered by oral gavage or through feeding tissues from cattle dosed with ketoprofen at 6 mg kg-1 cattle bodyweight, before slaughter.Mortalities occurred at dose levels of 1.5 and 5mg kg-1 vulture body weight (within the range recommended for clinical treatment) with the same clinical signs as observed for diclofenac. Surveys of livestock carcasses in India indicate that toxic levels of residual ketoprofen are already present in vulture food supplies. Consequently, we strongly recommend that ketoprofen is not used for veterinary treatment of livestock in Asia and in other regions of the world where vultures access livestock carcasses. The only alternative to diclofenac that should be promoted as safe for vultures is the NSAID meloxicam. © 2009 The Royal Society.
Authors & Co-Authors
Naidoo, Vinny
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Wolter, Kerri
South Africa, Pretoria
Faculty of Health Sciences
Cromarty, Allan Duncan
South Africa, Krugersdorp
Vulture Programme of the Rhino and Lion Non-profit Organisation
Diekmann, Maria
Namibia
Rare and Endangered Species Trust
Duncan, Neil M.
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Meharg, Andrew A.
United Kingdom, Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
Taggart, Mark A.
United Kingdom, Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
Spain, Ciudad Real
Csic-uclm - Instituto de Investigacion en Recursos Cinegeticos Irec
Venter, Leon J.
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Cuthbert, Richard J.
United Kingdom, Bedford
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Statistics
Citations: 124
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1098/rsbl.2009.0818
ISSN:
17449561
e-ISSN:
1744957X
Research Areas
Environmental
Food Security
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study