ANTICOAGULANT EFFECTS AND THE PERSISTENCE OF BRODIFACOUM IN POSSUMS (TRICHOSURUS-VULPECULA)

Brodifacoum was administered to possums at a sub-lethal dose of 0.1 mg /kg to assess its persistence in blood, muscle, and liver. Only 1 of 6 8 possums died at this dose level. However, significant increases in o ne-stage prothrombin (OSP) and activated partial prothrombin times (AP P) confirmed that the possum is susceptible to the anticoagulant effec ts of brodifacoum. Trace amounts of brodifacoum were detected in plasm a for 35 days. Substantial concentrations of brodifacoum were retained in the liver for 8 months. Much lower concentrations were also retain ed in muscle tissue. The persistence of brodifacoum raises concerns ab out the possible transfer of this compound through the food chain to h umans, dogs, or wildlife.