title: Analysis of nine NSAIDs in ungulate tissues available to critically endangered vultures in India.
abstract: In 2006, India, Pakistan, and Nepal banned the manufacture of veterinary formulations of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac. This action was taken to halt the unprecedented decline of three Gyps vulture species that were being poisoned by diclofenac residues commonly present in carcasses of domestic livestock upon which they scavenged. To assess the affect of this ban and evaluate residue prevelances of other NSAIDs, we present a method to detect diclofenac and eight more NSAIDs by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and apply this to 1488 liver samples from carcasses of livestock taken across seven Indian states. Diclofenac was present in 11.1% of samples taken between April and December 2006, and meloxicam (4%), ibuprofen (0.6%), and ketoprofen (0.5%) were also detected. Although meloxicam is safe for a range of avian scavengers, including Gypsvultures, data regarding the safety of other NSAIDs is currently limited. If wild Gyps on the Indian subcontinent are to survive, diclofenac bans must be completely effective, and NSAIDs that replace it within the veterinary drug market must be of low toxicity toward Gyps and other scavenging birds.
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Taggart
authors: Kalu R
authors: KR
authors: Senacha
authors: Rhys E
authors: RE
authors: Green
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Cuthbert
authors: Yadvendradev V
authors: YV
authors: Jhala
authors: Andrew A
authors: AA
authors: Meharg
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Mateo
authors: Deborah J
authors: DJ
authors: Pain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000633:toxicity; D004350:Drug Residues; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D007194:India; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D020304:Raptors; D012418:Ruminants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac