title: Case histories of wild birds killed intentionally with famphur in Georgia and West Virginia.
abstract: Five incidences of bird mortality in Georgia and West Virginia (USA) involving migratory waterfowl, cranes, raptors, corvids and songbirds were investigated during the first 6 mo of 1988. Gross and histopathologic examinations revealed no evidence of infectious or other diseases. However, severe depression of cholinesterase activity was evident in brains of birds found dead, suggesting gross exposure to an organophosphorus (OP) or carbamate pesticide. All of the gastrointestinal tract contents chemically analyzed contained famphur, an OP insecticide used as a pour-on treatment against lice and grubs on livestock, ranging from 5 to 1,480 ppm (wet weight). Grain scattered at two of the mortality sites contained 4,240 and 8,500 ppm famphur. Gastrointestinal tracts of most of the dead birds contained mainly corn and some wheat. This is the first report to document the use of famphur as an intentional means of killing wildlife thought to be depredating crops.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Bush
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001717:Birds; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D004064:Digestive System / Q000032:analysis; D005845:Georgia; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning; D063086:Organothiophosphates / Q000032:analysis; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*; D014903:West Virginia
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D063086:Organothiophosphates; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; C004992:famophos; D002802:Cholinesterases