毒鼠藥對壽山地區台灣獼猴（Macaca cyclopis）之危害

Threats of Anticoagulant Rodenticides to Free-range Formosan Macaques (Macaca cyclopis) in Shoushan

2014 年 12 月至隔年 4 月間，研究團隊接獲來自壽山國家自然八園之台灣獼猴傷亡案例共 5 例，於接獲案例中，部份個體（2/5）被民眾發現身體虛弱倒臥在地並出現抽搐以及顫抖等臨床症狀，後即死亡。經病理解剖，肉眼病變可見許多臟器之多發局部出血，根據臨床症狀以及肉眼病變懷疑為毒鼠藥中毒所導致。採集肝臟以及胃內容物，並以液相串聯式質譜儀（LC-MS/MS）進行毒物檢測，檢測結果共發現四種抗凝血型毒鼠藥（anticoagulant rodenticides, ARs），肝臟所檢出之 ARs 及個體檢出比例分別為：Brodifacoum（5/5）、Coumafuryl（2/5）、Difenacoum（1/5）以及 Flocoumafen（3/5）；胃內容物檢出 Brodifacoum（2/5）、Coumafuryl（2/5）、Difenacoum（1/5）以及 Flocoumafen（1/5）。ARs 殘留量以Brodifacoum 為最高，其濃度最高達 10,390 ng/g。值得注意的是，本研究檢測出 Coumafuryl 殘留於死亡獼猴體內，此類 AR 對生物具有強毒性，在化學特性上具有水溶性且對河川環境、水生動物具毒性，於美國、歐盟以及台灣均禁止使用。本研究於野生獼猴檢驗出多種 ARs，也顯示毒物使用對於野生動物及共域環境中的人類或家畜動物之威脅，因此相關類型毒物之使用應謹慎並進行適當之管理及非目標物種之曝露防護。 From December 2014 to May 2015, we received five Taiwanese macaques (Macaca cyclopis) found dead in Shoushan National Nature Park. The clinical signs were observed on two out of five individuals with weakness, unconsciousness, seizure and finally death. Necropsy was conducted and the gross lesions showed severe hemorrhage on multiple organs. Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning was primarily suspected to induce the lesions and death. Liver and stomach contents were then collected from the affected animals for screening residues of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrophotometry (LC-MS/MS). We found all five individuals with detectable residues of ARs. Four different ARs, including Brodifacoum, Coumafuryl, Difenacoum and Flocoumafen with the proportion of 5/5, 2/5, 1/5 and 3/5, were detected in the liver of the affected animals, respectively. The four ARs were also detected in the stomach contents with the proportion of 2/5, 2/5, 1/5 and 1/5, respectively. In addition, we detected multiple ARs exposure in three out of five individuals. The highest concentration of ARs residues was the Brodifacoum with concentration of 10,390 ng/g from the individual with severe gross lesions. It is also notable that Coumafuryl, found in the Taiwanese macaques, is prohibited in the European Union, United State, and Taiwan due to its water soluble character and high toxicity to aquatic species. In conclusion, our study revealed the impact of ARs on free-range Taiwanese macaques. Sympatric wildlife, domestic animals and humans might also be exposed to ARs in the habitat. It is critical to have extensive management on the use of ARs and proper protection on non-target species against such harmful exposures.

From December 2014 to May 2015, we received five Taiwanese macaques (Macaca cyclopis) found dead in Shoushan National Nature Park. The clinical signs were observed on two out of five individuals with weakness, unconsciousness, seizure and finally death. Necropsy was conducted and the gross lesions showed severe hemorrhage on multiple organs. Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning was primarily suspected to induce the lesions and death. Liver and stomach contents were then collected from the affected animals for screening residues of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrophotometry (LC-MS/MS). We found all five individuals with detectable residues of ARs. Four different ARs, including Brodifacoum, Coumafuryl, Difenacoum and Flocoumafen with the proportion of 5/5, 2/5, 1/5 and 3/5, were detected in the liver of the affected animals, respectively. The four ARs were also detected in the stomach contents with the proportion of 2/5, 2/5, 1/5 and 1/5, respectively. In addition, we detected multiple ARs exposure in three out of five individuals. The highest concentration of ARs residues was the Brodifacoum with concentration of 10,390 ng/g from the individual with severe gross lesions. It is also notable that Coumafuryl, found in the Taiwanese macaques, is prohibited in the European Union, United State, and Taiwan due to its water soluble character and high toxicity to aquatic species. In conclusion, our study revealed the impact of ARs on free-range Taiwanese macaques. Sympatric wildlife, domestic animals and humans might also be exposed to ARs in the habitat. It is critical to have extensive management on the use of ARs and proper protection on non-target species against such harmful exposures.