Diclofenac residues as the cause of vulture population decline in Pakistan.
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.
Oaks
J Lindsay
JL
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040, USA. loaks@vetmed.wsu.edu
Gilbert
Martin
M
Virani
Munir Z
MZ
Watson
Richard T
RT
Meteyer
Carol U
CU
Rideout
Bruce A
BA
Shivaprasad
H L
HL
Ahmed
Shakeel
S
Chaudhry
Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal
MJ
Arshad
Muhammad
M
Mahmood
Shahid
S
Ali
Ahmad
A
Khan
Aleem Ahmed
AA
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
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac; D014527:Uric Acid