Gr. Martin et al., ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL TOXICITY OF AN ANTICOAGULANT, PINDONE (2-PIVALYL-1,3-INDANDIONE), TO SOME AUSTRALIAN BIRDS, Wildlife research, 21(1), 1994, pp. 85-93
The sensitivity of a number of avian species to the rabbit poison pind
one was investigated using increase of Prothrombin time (PT) as an ind
ex of poisoning. Daily dose levels of pindone were 0.25 mg kg-1 for ea
gles, 4.0 mg kg-1 for magpies and 5.0 mg kg-1 for pigeons, parrots and
ducks. Considerable species variation in response was observed, and w
ithin each species there was considerable individual variation in resp
onse to pindone. The PTs of magpies and ducks increased to approximate
ly twice baseline levels. Significant elevations (4- to 7-fold) occurr
ed in parrots, pigeons and eagles. Clinical symptoms were observed in
only one species, the wedge-tailed eagle. Results of our dosing trials
indicate that all species tested are theoretically at risk of pindone
poisoning, although the risk to some species is minimised by factors
such as population size, food availability and bait placement.