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Galligan TH, Taggart MA, Cuthbert RJ, Svobodova D, Chipangura J, Alderson D, Prakash VM, Naidoo V. Metabolism of aceclofenac in cattle to vulture-killing diclofenac. Conserv Biol 2016; 30:1122-1127. [PMID: 26931376 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac is highly toxic to Gyps vultures, and its recent widespread use in South Asia caused catastrophic declines in at least 3 scavenging raptors. The manufacture of veterinary formulations of diclofenac has since been banned across the region with mixed success. However, at least 12 other NSAIDs are available for veterinary use in South Asia. Aceclofenac is one of these compounds, and it is known to metabolize into diclofenac in some mammal species. The metabolic pathway of aceclofenac in cattle, the primary food of vultures in South Asia, is unknown. We gave 6 cattle the recommended dose of aceclofenac (2 mg/kg), collected blood thereafter at intervals for up to 12 h, and used liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry in a pharmacokinetic analysis of aceclofenac and diclofenac in the plasma. Nearly all the aceclofenac administered to the cattle was very rapidly metabolized into diclofenac. At 2 h, half the aceclofenac had been converted into diclofenac, and at 12 h four-fifths of the aceclofenac had been converted into diclofenac. Therefore, administering aceclofenac to livestock poses the same risk to vultures as administering diclofenac to livestock. This, coupled with the risk that aceclofenac may replace diclofenac in the veterinary market, points to the need for an immediate ban on all aceclofenac formulations that can be used to treat livestock. Without such a ban, the recovery of vultures across South Asia will not be successful.
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Affiliation(s)
- T H Galligan
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, U.K..
| | - M A Taggart
- Environmental Research Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso, Scotland, KW14 7JD, U.K
| | - R J Cuthbert
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, U.K
- Wildlife Conservation Society, P.O. Box 277, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province 441, Papua New Guinea
| | - D Svobodova
- Environmental Research Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands, Castle Street, Thurso, Scotland, KW14 7JD, U.K
| | - J Chipangura
- Biomedical Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Gauteng, 0110, South Africa
| | - D Alderson
- SAC Consulting Veterinary Services, Janetstown, Thurso, Scotland, KW14 7XF, U.K
| | - V M Prakash
- Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Mumbai, 400023, India
| | - V Naidoo
- Wildlife Conservation Society, P.O. Box 277, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province 441, Papua New Guinea
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