Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T05:11:06.906Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fox control using a para-aminopropiophenone formulation with the M-44 ejector

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

CA Marks ,
F Gigliotti ,
F Busana ,
M Johnston  and
M Lindeman
CA Marks*
Affiliation:
Vertebrate Pest Research Department, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, PO Box 48 Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia Animal Welfare Centre, Department of Primary Industries, Sneydes Rd, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
F Gigliotti
Affiliation:
Vertebrate Pest Research Department, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, PO Box 48 Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia Animal Welfare Centre, Department of Primary Industries, Sneydes Rd, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
F Busana
Affiliation:
Vertebrate Pest Research Department, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, PO Box 48 Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia Animal Welfare Centre, Department of Primary Industries, Sneydes Rd, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
M Johnston
Affiliation:
Vertebrate Pest Research Department, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, PO Box 48 Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia Animal Welfare Centre, Department of Primary Industries, Sneydes Rd, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
M Lindeman*
Affiliation:
Vertebrate Pest Research Department, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, PO Box 48 Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia Animal Welfare Centre, Department of Primary Industries, Sneydes Rd, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
*
* Contact for correspondence: Nocturnal Wildlife Research Pty Ltd, PO Box 2126, Wattletree Road RPO, East Malvern, Victoria 3145, Australia; camarks@attglobal.net
§ Requests for reprints: Vertebrate Pest Research Department, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, PO Box 48 Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia; vertebrate.pests@dpi.vic.gov.au
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The M-44 ejector (‘ejector‘) has proven to be a highly target-specific means of delivering toxicants to the exotic European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in south-eastern Australia. Para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) is a potent methaemoglobin (MetHb) forming compound in canids. A formulation of PAPP, dimethylsulphoxide (DMS0) and condensed milk was investigated as a new toxicant formulation for delivery by the ejector. Dosage of eight foxes in the laboratory with a sequential dose demonstrated that the formulation caused a dose-dependent and rapid elevation of MetHb. A strong inverse correlation between MetHb and oxyhaemoglobin concentrations was detected in each case. The symptoms of the toxicosis in the laboratory included progressive cyanosis, lethargy and then collapse when MetHb levels reached 56-76%. A polynomial model was a good fit for describing the relationship between sub-lethal doses of PAPP and the resulting peak MetHb levels. In a pen trial, an ejector was fitted with a bait and loaded with a standard dose of 226 mg PAPP in the same formulation and set at one end of a pen. After voluntarily triggering the ejector, all five foxes in this trial became progressively more lethargic and either lay prostrate or collapsed after 14-25 min, and death was confirmed after a mean of 43 min. We compared some clinical features of PAPP toxicosis with 15 cases of lethal sodium fluoroacetate (1080) poisoning using 0.5 mg kg-1 1080. PAPP produced a mean time to death that was 7.7 times faster than 1080, with the onset of first symptoms being 15 times faster. It was associated with much less activity prior to death and convulsions, spasms and paddling commonly associated with 1080 poisoning after collapse were not detected during PAPP toxicosis. We conclude that the PAPP formulation appears to be a rapidly acting and apparently humane lethal agent for fox control when used in conjunction with the ejector.

Keywords

1080animal welfarePAPPpara-aminopropiophenonepredator controlred fox
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , November 2004 , pp. 401 - 407
Copyright
© 2004 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Anon 1994 Threat Abatement Plan for Predation of Wildlife by the European Red Fox. Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Anon 2003 Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes. Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Bennett, AF, Lumsden, LF and Menkhorst, PW 1989 Mammals of the Mallee region of south-eastern Australia. In: Noble, JC and Baverstock, RA (eds) Mediterranean Landscapes in Australia: Mallee Ecosystems and their Management pp 191–220. CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Busana, F, Gigliotti, F and Marks, CA 1998 Modified M-44 ejector for the baiting of red foxes. Wildlife Research 25: 209–215CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carding, T 1977 Euthanasia of dogs and cats: an analysis of experience and current knowledge with recommendations for research. Animal Regulation Studies 1: 5–21Google Scholar
Caudill, L, Wallbridge, j and Kuhn, G 1990 Methemoglobinemia as a cause of coma. Annual of Emergency Medicine 19: 677–679CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Connolly, G 1988 M-44 sodium cyanide ejectors in the animal damage control program 1976-1986. In: Crabb, AC and Marsh, RE (eds) Proceedings of the Thirteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference pp 220–225. University of California: Davis, USAGoogle Scholar
Eason, CT, Clarke, B, Smith, DA and Parke, DV 1982 The mechanism of hepatotoxicity of a chrome carboxylic acid in the dog. Xenobiotica 12: 155–164CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eason, CT, Spencer, AJ and Bonner, FW 1988 Species variation in gastric toxicity following chronic administration of ciprofibrate to rat, mouse and marmoset. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 95: 328–338CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eisler, R 1995 Sodium Monofluoroacetate (1080) Hazards to Fish, Wildlife and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review. US Department of Interior: Washington, USAGoogle Scholar
Eyer, P 1983 The red cell as a sensitive target for activated toxic arylamines. Archives of Toxicology 6: 3–12 (Suppl)CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fisher, PM and Marks, CA 1996 Humaneness and Vertebrate Pest Control. Ropet Printing: Tynong North, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Gaunt, SD, Baker, DC and Green, RA 1981 Clinicopathologic evaluation of N-acetyleystiene therapy in acetaminophin toxicity in the cat. American Journal of Veterinary Research 42: 1982–1984Google Scholar
Gregory, G 1996 Perception of pain associated with 1080 poisoning. In: Fisher, PM and Marks, CA (eds) Humaneness and Vertebrate Pest Control pp 62–64. Ropet Printing: Tynong North, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Jacob, SW and Herschler, R 1986 Pharmacology of DMSO. Cryobiology 23: 14–27CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jones, B 2003 Integrating animal welfare into vertebrate pest management. In: Jones, B (ed) Solutions for achieving humane vertebrate pest control, Proceedings of the 2003 RSPCA Australia Scientific Seminar pp 5–15. RSPCA Australia: Canberra, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Klimmek, R, Krettek, C, Szinicz, L, Eyer, P and Weger, N 1983 Effects of biotransformation of 4-dimethylaminophenol in man and dog. Archives of Toxicology 53: 275–288CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kurata, M, Suzuki, M and Agar, NS 1993 Antioxidant systems and erythrocyte life-span in mammals. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 106(B): 477–487Google ScholarPubMed
Mansergh, I and Marks, CA 1993 Predation of Native Wildlife by the Introduced Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Melbourne, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Marks, CA 1999 Ethical issues in vertebrate pest management: can we balance the welfare of individuals and ecosystems? In: Mellor D and Monamy V (eds) The Use of Wildlife for Research pp 79–89. ANZCCART: Glen Osmond, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Marks, CA 2001a Bait-delivered cabergoline for the reproductive control of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes): estimating mammalian non-target risk in south-eastern Australia. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 13: 499–510CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marks, CA 2001b The Achilles heel principle. In: Proceedings of the 12th Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference pp 330–335. Department of Natural Resources and Environment: Melbourne, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Marks, CA and Short, RV 1996 Out-foxing the fox. Nature Australia 25: 39–45Google Scholar
Marks, CA and Wilson, RL Predicting mammalian target-specificity of the M-44 ejector in south-eastern Australia. Wildlife Research in pressGoogle Scholar
Marks, CA, Busana, F, Gigliotti, F and Lindeman, M 2004a Practical infra-red illumination and observation techniques for wildlife studies using ICI-962 perspex. Australian Mammalogy 25: 201–203CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marks, CA, Gigliotti, F and Busana, F 2002 Estimated 1080 dose rate for the M-44 ejector for the control of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Wildlife Research 29: 291–294CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marks, CA, Gigliotti, F and Busana, F 2004b Field performance of the M-44 ejector for red fox (Vulpes vulpes) control in eastern Victoria. Wildlife Research 30: 601–609CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marks, CA, Hackman, C, Busana, F and Gigliotti, F 2000 Assuring that 1080 toxicosis in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is humane: fluoroacetic acid (1080) and drug combinations. Wildlife Research 27: 483–494CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marrs, TC and Bright, JE 1986 Kinetics of metaemoglobin production. (I) Kinetics of methaemoglobinaemia induced by the cyanide antidotes 4-aminopropiophenone p-hydroxyaminopropiophenone or 4-dimethylaminophenyl after intravenous administration. Archives of Toxicology 5: 295–301Google Scholar
McIlroy, JC 1981 The sensitivity of Australian animals to 1080 poison. II. Marsupial and eutherian carnivores. Australian Wildlife Research 8: 385–399CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McIlroy, JC 1982 The sensitivity of Australian animals to 1080 poison. IV. Native and introduced rodents. Australian Wildlife Research 9: 505–517CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McIlroy, JC 1986 The sensitivity of Australian animals to 1080 poison. IX. Comparisons between the major groups of animals and the potential danger non-target species face from 1080 poisoning campaigns. Australian Wildlife Research 13: 39–48CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meek, P, Jenkins, DJ, Morris, B, Ardler, AJ and Hawksby, RJ 1995 Use of two humane leg-holding traps for catching pest species. Wildlife Research 22: 783–793CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moe, RO and Bakken, M 1998 Anxiolytic drugs inhibit hyperthermia induced by handling in farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Animal Welfare 7: 97–100Google Scholar
Ohshima, T, Takayasu, T, Nishigami, J, Lin, Z and Kondo, T 1992 Application of haemoglobin analysis by CO-oximeter to medico-legal practice with special reference to diagnosis of asphyxia. Nippon Hoigaku Zasshi 46: 382–388Google ScholarPubMed
Oogjes, G 1996 The ANZFAS view of vertebrate pest control using chloropicrin fumigation and 1080 poisoning. In: Fisher, PM and Marks, CA (eds) Humaneness and Vertebrate Pest Control pp 9–11. Ropet Printing: Tynong North, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Pan, HP, Savarie, PJ, Elias, DJ and Felton, RR 1983 Alkyl chain length and acute oral toxicity of p-aminophenones. General Pharmacy 14: 465–467Google ScholarPubMed
Rehm, WF and Schatzmann, U 1985 Pharmacological properties of benzodiazepines in animals. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Congress of the European Association for Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology pp 13–23. MTP Press: Lancaster, UKGoogle Scholar
Rolls, E 1984 They All Ran Wild. Angus and Robertson: Sydney, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Ross, J 1986 Comparisons of fumigant gases used for rabbit control in Great Britain. In: Salmon, TP (ed) Proceedings of the 12th Vertebrate Pest Control Conference pp 153–157. University of California: Davis, CaliforniaGoogle Scholar
Saito, T, Takeichi, S, Osawa, M, Yukawa, M and Huang, XL 2000 A case of fatal methemoglobinemia of unknown origin but presumably due to ingestion of nitrate. International Journal of Legal Medicine 113: 164–167CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saito, T, Takeichi, S, Yukawa, N and Osawa, M 1996 Fatal methemoglobinemia caused by liniment solutions containing sodium nitrite. Journal of Forensic Science 41: 169–171CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saunders, G, Coman, BJ, Kinnear, J and Braysher, M 1995 Managing Vertebrate Pests: Foxes. Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Saunders, G, Kay, B and McLeod, L 1999 Caching of baits by foxes (Vulpes vulpes) on agricultural lands. Wildlife Research 26: 335–340Google Scholar
Savarie, PJ, Pan, HP, Hayes, DJ, Roberts, JD, Dasch, GJ, Felton, R and Schafer, EW 1983 Comparative acute oral toxicity of para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) in mammals and birds. Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 30: 122–126CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scott, WN 1976 The Use of Poisons in Animal Destruction: Humane Destruction of Unwanted Animals. Universities Federation for Animal Welfare: Hertfordshire, UKGoogle Scholar
Twigg, LE 1993 Occurrence of fluoroacetate in Australian plants and tolerance to 1080 in indigenous Australian animals. In: Seawright, AA and Eason, CT (eds) Proceedings of the Science Workshop on 1080 pp 97–115. Royal Society of New Zealand: Christchurch, New ZealandGoogle Scholar
Twigg, LE and King, DR 1991 The impact of fluoroacetate-bearing vegetation on native fauna: a review. Oikos 61: 412–430CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Polanen, M, Marks, CA and Morgan, D 2001 Bait palatability influences caching behaviour in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Wildlife Research 28: 395–401CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, CH 1978 Species differences in microsomal monoxygenase activity and their relationship to biological half-lives. Drug Metabolism Reviews 7: 295–323CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, D 1996 Animal welfare aspects of the use of sodium fluoroacetate to poison wild rabbits. In: Fisher, PM and Marks, CA (eds) Humaneness and Vertebrate Pest Control pp 37–42. Ropet Printing: Tynong North, AustraliaGoogle Scholar
Williams, RT 1973 Intra-species variation in the metabolism of xenobiotics. Biochemical Society Transactions 2: 359–377CrossRefGoogle Scholar