title: Diclofenac residues as the cause of vulture population decline in Pakistan.
abstract: The Oriental white-backed vulture (OWBV; Gyps bengalensis) was once one of the most common raptors in the Indian subcontinent. A population decline of >95%, starting in the 1990s, was first noted at Keoladeo National Park, India. Since then, catastrophic declines, also involving Gyps indicus and Gyps tenuirostris, have continued to be reported across the subcontinent. Consequently these vultures are now listed as critically endangered by BirdLife International. In 2000, the Peregrine Fund initiated its Asian Vulture Crisis Project with the Ornithological Society of Pakistan, establishing study sites at 16 OWBV colonies in the Kasur, Khanewal and Muzaffargarh-Layyah Districts of Pakistan to measure mortality at over 2,400 active nest sites. Between 2000 and 2003, high annual adult and subadult mortality (5-86%) and resulting population declines (34-95%) (ref. 5 and M.G., manuscript in preparation) were associated with renal failure and visceral gout. Here, we provide results that directly correlate residues of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac with renal failure. Diclofenac residues and renal disease were reproduced experimentally in OWBVs by direct oral exposure and through feeding vultures diclofenac-treated livestock. We propose that residues of veterinary diclofenac are responsible for the OWBV decline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA. loaks@vetmed.wsu.edu
authors.forename: J Lindsay
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Oaks
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Munir Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Virani
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Carol U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Meteyer
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rideout
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Shivaprasad
authors.forename: Shakeel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Aleem Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning; D001344:Autopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D004032:Diet; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000506:poisoning; D020387:Food Chain; D006073:Gout / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D020304:Raptors / Q000502:physiology*; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000032:analysis; D014730:Veterinary Medicine
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac; D014527:Uric Acid