Objective: In Europe, malicious animal poisonings are nowadays of concern for both the animal and human health. Focusing on Italy, this problem has been afforded at the beginning of this century. In this frame, a law ruling-banning the preparation, possess, and employment of poisoned baits, was issued in 2001. Poisoned bait is a special threat to dogs and cats but it also kills birds of prey such as owls, kites and eagles, as well as foxes and badgers. The present study reports an overview on the different types of poisoned “hand made” baits found in 10 years of toxicological analysis. Materials & Methods: Data for this retrospective study were taken from 508 pesticide based baits analyses ranging from January 1999 to December 2009. The presence or absence of a suspected pesticide in baits was investigated by validated laboratory methods using a solid-phase or liquid-liquid extraction followed by separation and characterization by chromatographic techniques. The analyses were carried out for organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides (CI), anticoagulant rodenticides (AR), zinc phosphide (ZP), strychnine (ST) and metaldehyde (MT). In the instance the bait was not positive for the above mentioned toxics, the sample underwent screening analysis in GC-MS. Results & Conclusion: The baits found positive have been classified in 6 different: 1) baits prepared with discard or out of date food. Miscellaneous baits belong to this class and are the most frequent (n° 362, CI 52%; AR 19%; ZP 11%, ST 9%, MT 8%, other [OT] 1%). 2) laborious and original particular baits. This class groups baits that requested particular work and time in preparation, making them original (n° 85, CI 49%; AR 10%; ZP 21%, ST 2%, MT 12%, OT 4%). 3) baits containing more than one toxic substance. These baits are usually the most harmful for the animals (n° 39, CI 65%; AR 59%; ZP 20%; ST 35%; MT 12%; OT 9%). 4) baits containing non toxic material. The final intent to kill the animals is unfortunately well pursued by these baits, and for this reason this class has been inserted in the study (n° 15). 5) baits prepared with non food material. This group is seldom used (n=6, CI 50%; ST 50%), but according to officer’s reports it is a method apparently used from gypsies or other unscrupulous people to kill the guard dogs. 6) in vivo baits. This class had only a case reported.

POISONED BAITS: A RISING CONCERN FOR ANIMAL HEALTH

GIORGI, MARIO;
2011-01-01

Abstract

Objective: In Europe, malicious animal poisonings are nowadays of concern for both the animal and human health. Focusing on Italy, this problem has been afforded at the beginning of this century. In this frame, a law ruling-banning the preparation, possess, and employment of poisoned baits, was issued in 2001. Poisoned bait is a special threat to dogs and cats but it also kills birds of prey such as owls, kites and eagles, as well as foxes and badgers. The present study reports an overview on the different types of poisoned “hand made” baits found in 10 years of toxicological analysis. Materials & Methods: Data for this retrospective study were taken from 508 pesticide based baits analyses ranging from January 1999 to December 2009. The presence or absence of a suspected pesticide in baits was investigated by validated laboratory methods using a solid-phase or liquid-liquid extraction followed by separation and characterization by chromatographic techniques. The analyses were carried out for organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides (CI), anticoagulant rodenticides (AR), zinc phosphide (ZP), strychnine (ST) and metaldehyde (MT). In the instance the bait was not positive for the above mentioned toxics, the sample underwent screening analysis in GC-MS. Results & Conclusion: The baits found positive have been classified in 6 different: 1) baits prepared with discard or out of date food. Miscellaneous baits belong to this class and are the most frequent (n° 362, CI 52%; AR 19%; ZP 11%, ST 9%, MT 8%, other [OT] 1%). 2) laborious and original particular baits. This class groups baits that requested particular work and time in preparation, making them original (n° 85, CI 49%; AR 10%; ZP 21%, ST 2%, MT 12%, OT 4%). 3) baits containing more than one toxic substance. These baits are usually the most harmful for the animals (n° 39, CI 65%; AR 59%; ZP 20%; ST 35%; MT 12%; OT 9%). 4) baits containing non toxic material. The final intent to kill the animals is unfortunately well pursued by these baits, and for this reason this class has been inserted in the study (n° 15). 5) baits prepared with non food material. This group is seldom used (n=6, CI 50%; ST 50%), but according to officer’s reports it is a method apparently used from gypsies or other unscrupulous people to kill the guard dogs. 6) in vivo baits. This class had only a case reported.
2011
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/151565
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