information on the appropriate sample types for each vertebrate pesticide, and on the preparation, storage, and transport of the samples to the testing laboratory. Sampling Strategies 2.1 General In order to collect appropriate samples, it is helpful to know what the suspected pesticide is. Animals should, where possible, be dissected by the client, and the appropriate tissues removed and placed separately in bags or specimen containers before freezing. If the specific pesticide of concern is not known, collect tissue samples appropriate to each pesticide (see Section 2.2) and pack each individually. Small animals up to the size of stoats may be frozen and sent whole, if preferred. Samples of stomach or intestinal tract contents are useful to examine for traces of bait material and for initial concentrations of pesticide. However, if time to death is prolonged, the active compound may not be detectable in stomach contents, and pesticide residues will only be found in appropriate organs and tissues (Wickstrom & Eason 1997). 2.2 Target tissue 2.2.1 Anticoagulants The anticoagulant rodenticides are retained in the liver and to a lesser extent in muscle. For this reason, liver is the tissue of choice when looking for rodenticides such as pindone, brodifacoum, diphacinone, coumatetralyl, and warfarin. 2.2.2 Sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) Sodium monofluoroacetate is a very water soluble compound and rapidly passes through the body. It is at its highest concentration in blood and stomach contents soon after poisoning. After death, muscle is the best tissue to take, along with stomach contents. The liver and kidneys do not normally retain large amounts of 1080, so are therefore not appropriate tissues to sample. 2.2.3 Cyanide Cyanide is best measured in whole blood samples in living animals, or in the liver of dead animals. 2.2.4 Other pesticides Less commonly tested are cholecalciferol (liver, kidney), and phosphorus (stomach contents). Please contact the laboratory manager for details if an analysis for these pesticides is required. Contact: Lynn Booth, Laboratory Manager Phone 03 321 9617; Fax 03 321 9998 2.3 Sample types and quantities
Prices The cost of the analysis of samples for vertebrate pesticides relevant to this protocol varies with pesticide and sample type. Any queries should be addressed to Lynn Booth (ph. 03 321 9617, ). References Hunter, K. 1983: Determination of coumarin anticoagulant rodenticide residues in animal tissue by high-performance liquid chromatography: I. Fluorescence detection using post-column techniques. Journal of Chromatography 270: 267–276. Hunter, K. 1984: Reversed phase ion-pair liquid chromatographic determination of chlorophacinone residues in animal tissues. Journal of Chromatography 299: 405–414. Ozawa, H. T.; Tsukioka, T. 1989: Determination of monofluoroacetate in soil and biological samples as the dichloroanilide derivative. Journal of Chromatography 473: 251–259. Spurr, E.B.; Powlesland, R.G. 1998: Manual for monitoring the impacts of vertebrate pest control operations on non-target wildlife species. Landcare Research Contract Report LC9899/35 (unpublished). 46p. Wickstrom, M.; Eason, C. 1997: Sample collection for the diagnosis of 1080 poisoning in livestock. Vetscript 10 (7): 30. Krynitsky, A.J.; Wiemeyer, S.N.; Hill, E.F.; Carpenter, J.W. 1986: Analysis of cyanide in whole blood of dosed cathartids. Environmental Toxicological Chemistry.5: 787-789. Valentour, J.C.; Aggarwal, V.; Sunshine, I. 1974: Sensitive gas chromatographic determination of cyanide. Anaytical Chemistry 46: 924 – 925. Wiemeyer, S.N.; Hill, E.F.; Carpenter, J.W.; Krynitsky, A.J. 1986: Acute oral toxicity of sodium cyanide in birds. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 22: 538 – 546. Landcare Research Website Copies of this protocol and the pesticide analysis sample details form are available on the Landcare Research website at: