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

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and pharmacology 2019-05, Vol.68, p.91-93
• Main Authors: Eleni, Claudia, Neri, Bruno, Giannetti, Luigi, Grifoni, Goffredo, Meoli, Roberta, Stravino, Fiorentino, Friedrich, Klaus Gunther, Scholl, Francesco, Di Cerbo, Pilar, Battisti, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-inflammatory agents; Beef; Chemical analysis; Correlation analysis; Diclofenac; Flunixin; Gout; Gyps vultures; Inflammation; Italy; Lesions; Meat; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; NSAID; Observational studies; Organic chemistry; Organs; Poisoning; Visceral gout
• ISSN: 1382-6689; 1872-7077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2019.03.011

•High dosages of flunixin can cause death to Old World Gyps vultures.•Visceral gout and kidney damage were similar to those of diclofenac toxicity.•The study correlates amount of flunixin in meat and in the dead vultures’ tissues. Among 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 (31,350 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.