Death of captive-bred vultures caused by flunixin poisoning in Italy

Publication date: Available online 11 March 2019Source: Environmental Toxicology and PharmacologyAuthor(s): Claudia Eleni, Bruno Neri, Luigi Giannetti, Goffredo Grifoni, Roberta Meoli, Fiorentino Stravino, Klaus Gunther Friedrich, Francesco Scholl, Pilar Di Cerbo, Antonio BattistiAbstractAmong non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) diclofenac is considered the main cause for the decline of vulture populations in the Indian subcontinent since the ‘90 s. Chemical analysis showed high levels of flunixin (31350 µg/kg) in beef which three captive Gyps vultures fed on, later dying with severe visceral gout. Levels in dead vultures’ organs and tissues ranged from 4 to 38.5 µg/kg. The typical lesions and the concentrations found in beef indicate flunixin as the cause of death. This is the first observational study which correlates the concentration of flunixin in the meat ingested with that found in tissues of vultures.
Source: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research