Abstract:
Population declines of Gyps vultures throughout South Asia were caused by unintentional poisoning by the
NSAID diclofenac, which was subsequently banned. However, other vulture-toxic NSAIDs are available,
including nimesulide, which, in experiments carried out in South Africa, was shown to be toxic to Gyps vultures.
We report on safety-testing of nimesulide carried out on Himalayan Griffons G. himalayensis. We gave two
vultures a dose of nimesulide by oral gavage at the maximum level of exposure, with two controls dosed with
benzyl alcohol. In the two tested birds, plasma nimesulide concentrations peaked after six hours, while serum
uric acid concentrations increased steadily up until 24 h post-treatment, after which both birds died, displaying
severe visceral gout. The control birds showed no adverse clinical or biochemical signs. We confirm that
nimesulide is toxic to Gyps vultures. Veterinary use of nimesulide should be banned in all Gyps vulture range
countries in the region.
