Unexpected exposure of Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) to pharmaceutical mixtures

Potential exposure of the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) to pharmaceuticals is of high conservation interest, as these compounds can produce catastrophic consequences for populations of avian scavengers. Due to the extensive livestock management in most of Patagonia, we expected Andean condors to be rarely exposed to veterinary pharmaceuticals through scavenging of free-ranging livestock. Unexpectedly, we found a high prev-alence (78.6 %) of pharmaceuticals in the plasma of a small sample of randomly captured condors (n = 14), of all age classes and sexes. The antibiotic enrofloxacin was detected in all 11 drug-positive condors (78.6 %). Two antibiotics and two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were found simultaneously or in combi-nations of two or three different pharmaceuticals in 3 of the 14 (21.4 %) condors: marbofloxacin and phenyl-butazone were found in a single adult female together with enrofloxacin, while flunixin meglumine was found in two adult males and also in the presence of enrofloxacin. Our study suggests that livestock grazing in the vast Patagonian region may be subject to more frequent medication than expected a priori. Today, it should not be assumed that livestock in remote, sparsely populated, or low-income areas are free of veterinary pharmaceuticals with a possible negative impact on wildlife and public health.

Automated summary

The potential exposure of Andean Condors to pharmaceuticals is of great concern for conservation, as these compounds can have catastrophic effects on avian scavenger populations. Surprisingly, a high prevalence (78.6%) of pharmaceuticals was found in the plasma of a small sample of randomly captured condors (n=14), of various ages and genders. The antibiotic enrofloxacin was detected in all drug-positive condors (78.6%). Additionally, combinations of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were found in a subset of the condors (21.4%). These findings suggest that livestock grazing in the Patagonian region may be more frequently medicated than previously thought, posing potential risks to wildlife and public health.