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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
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Abstract

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

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