Effect of potassium cyanide on behaviour and time to death in possums

Ng, Guseva; Milne, L.; Rhodes, A. T.; Littin, KE; Wickstrom, Mark; Eason, CT

doi:10.1080/00480169.1998.36057

Cited by 34 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…However, like abnormal appearance discussed above, it could also be a general indicator of illness, as described by other authors (e.g. Gregory et al 1996Gregory et al , 1998Gregory et al , 2000.…”

Section: Clinical Signs and Behavioural Changessupporting

confidence: 54%

“…The present paper is one of a series describing investigations of the welfare of brushtail possums killed with poisons used for possum control in New Zealand (Gregory et al 1998;Littin et al 2002;O'Connor et al 2007). We studied the behaviour of brushtail possums given a lethal or sublethal dose of 1080, to make inferences about their welfare.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Behaviour and time to unconsciousness of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) after a lethal or sublethal dose of 1080

et al. 2009

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Context. Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is a vertebrate pesticide used in several countries, including New Zealand, where it is the main pesticide for controlling brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)a significant agricultural and conservation pest. There is growing concern internationally about the impacts of vertebrate pesticides, including 1080, on pest animal welfare.Aims. Behavioural changes and time to loss of consciousness of possums after 1080 ingestion in carrot baits were determined to compare the animal welfare impacts with other possum pesticides.Methods. Eight lethally dosed possums and eight that consumed a dose intended to be sublethal were observed until death or recovery but not handled. Another nine lethally dosed possums were handled to determine responses to stimuli, indicating time to loss of consciousness.Key results. Unhandled, lethally dosed possums died after 11 h 26 min AE 1 h 55 min (mean AE s.e.m.). Half had abnormal appearances and postures 1 h 50 min AE 9 min after consuming baits. Seven showed retching, and three vomited, over 27 AE 12 min from 2 h 53 min AE 13 min. Lack of coordination began 3 h 37 min AE 32 min after dosing, then possums spent most of the time until death lying, showing spasms and tremors. Five showed seizures while lying prostrate. Possums receiving a nominally sublethal dose all showed signs of poisoning, including abnormal postures, lethargy, lack coordination, retching, spasms or tremors, and a cessation of grooming, feeding and activity. One died 18 h 15 min after dosing, experiencing two seizures within 30 min of death. Response to handling, indicating total loss of consciousness, was lost in two possums before death.Conclusions. Possums ingesting a lethal dose of 1080 experienced~9.5 h of changed behaviour and lost consciousness close to death, although awareness was likely reduced sometime beforehand. Possums ingesting a nominally sublethal dose experienced some effects of poisoning.Implications. These impacts are intermediate compared with other possum pesticides in New Zealand. Nevertheless, the potential for consciousness during and after retching and seizures is undesirable for animal welfare. Further work is encouraged on alternatives to 1080 and means of reducing its impact on animal welfare.

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Section: Clinical Signs and Behavioural Changessupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behaviour and time to unconsciousness of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) after a lethal or sublethal dose of 1080

et al. 2009

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“…Cyanide disrupts energy metabolism by preventing the use of oxygen in the production of energy, causing cytotoxic hypoxia in the presence of normal haemoglobin oxygenation. When the dose is optimised the cytotoxic hypoxia depresses the central nervous system, the most sensitive site of anoxia, resulting in rapid respiratory arrest and death (Osweiler et al 1985;Gregory et al 1998). …”

Section: Cyanidementioning

confidence: 98%

“…In Australia it has been used experimentally for killing foxes (Vulpes vulpes; Marks and Gigliotti 1996). Of all the poisons currently used for possum control, cyanide when delivered in an optimized delivery system, is considered the most humane (Gregory et al 1998). When developing new toxins for other vertebrate pests we are attempting to attain the standard achieved by cyanide in possums and avoid compounds with more protracted effects, such as brodifacoum (Littin et al 2002).…”

Section: Cyanidementioning

confidence: 99%

A review of existing and potential New World and Australasian vertebrate pesticides with a rationale for linking use patterns to registration requirements

Eason

Fagerstone

Eisemann

et al. 2010

International Journal of Pest Management

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Registration is a necessarily sophisticated evaluation process applied to vertebrate pesticide products. Although conducted to minimise any potential impacts upon public health, the environment and food production, the allencompassing process of registration can stifle innovation. Vertebrate pesticides are rarely used to control pest animals in food crops. In contrast to agrochemicals, relatively small amounts of vertebrate pesticides are used (50.1%), usually in solid or paste baits, and generally by discrete application methods rather than by broad-scale spray applications. We present a hierarchy or sliding scale of typical data requirements relative to application techniques, to help clarify an evolving science-based approach which focuses on requiring data to address key scientific questions while allowing waivers where additional data have minor value. Such an approach will facilitate the development and delivery of increasingly humane, species-targeted, low residue pesticides in the New World, along with the phasing out of less desirable chemicals that continue to be used due to a lack of alternatives.

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“…Humane fast-acting poisons such as cyanide have many advantages (Gregory et al 1998); however, pastes used in the early 1990s liberated cyanide gas, which deterred possums and was hazardous to operators. The development of Feratox † in 1997, an encapsulated cyanide pellet for possum control (Gregory et al 1998), helped to overcome this problem, and greatly enhanced ground control of possums. Feratox † has provided a Fig.…”

Section: Compoundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternatives to brodifacoum and 1080 for possum and rodent control—how and why?

Eason

Henderson²,

Hix³

et al. 2010

New Zealand Journal of Zoology

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The risks of vertebrate pesticides to non-target animals are determined by intrinsic susceptibility, the toxicokinetics of the compounds used, and the degree and frequency of exposure. Metabolism and persistence studies coupled with field surveys have provided us with an improved understanding of the toxicokinetics and non-target effects of different anticoagulants. This has enabled improved choice of tools for island versus mainland use in New Zealand, and has stimulated the development of low-residue tools. Brodifacoum is a potent secondgeneration rodenticide used worldwide for commensal rodent control, and has been widely used to eradicate rodents from islands. The risks associated with 'one-off' application of baits containing second-generation anticoagulants for rodent eradication on islands are considered to be outweighed by the potential benefits to their ecosystems. Possums are susceptible to bait containing brodifacoum, but not to first-generation anticoagulants, hence brodifacoum has been the only alternative to 1080 that effectively targets both possums and rodents. On the mainland, contamination of wildlife and game species and secondary poisoning of non-target species has been substantial where brodifacoum has been used repeatedly. We are extending the current range of low residue alternatives to reduce reliance on brodifacoum and sodium fluoroacetate (1080). Currently, suitable alternatives available include encapsulated cyanide Feratox † and cholecalciferol paste Feracol † . Other compounds being developed as alternatives include micro-encapsulated zinc phosphate and low dose cholecalciferol and coumatetralyl, or C'C.

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Effect of potassium cyanide on behaviour and time to death in possums

Cited by 34 publications

References 13 publications

Behaviour and time to unconsciousness of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) after a lethal or sublethal dose of 1080

Behaviour and time to unconsciousness of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) after a lethal or sublethal dose of 1080

A review of existing and potential New World and Australasian vertebrate pesticides with a rationale for linking use patterns to registration requirements

Alternatives to brodifacoum and 1080 for possum and rodent control—how and why?

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