Epidemiological Study of Pesticide Poisoning in Domestic Animals and Wildlife in Portugal: 2014-2020.
Authors: Grilo Andreia, Moreira Anabela, Carrapiço Belmira, Belas Adriana, São Braz Berta
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Between 2014 and 2020, Portuguese toxicology laboratories analysed 503 samples from domestic and wild animals suspected of pesticide poisoning, with 239 samples (48%) testing positive for various compounds. Molluscicides and carbamates dominated findings, accounting for 71% of detections, followed by rodenticides (13%), strychnine (11%), and organophosphates (5%)—a concerning pattern given that strychnine has been banned across the EU since 2006, yet remained present in poisoning cases throughout the study period. The research identified distinct geographical hotspots: domestic species poisonings clustered in the Setúbal and Lisbon regions, whilst wildlife (particularly raptors and lynx) bore the greatest toxic burden in southern and northeastern areas including Faro, Castelo Branco, and Bragança. Although the deliberate poisoning of animals constitutes a criminal offence under EU law, the persistence of both banned compounds and legally available products—notably methiocarb and anticoagulant rodenticides—suggests ongoing intentional misuse in rural communities where animals are perceived as threats to agricultural practices. For equine and other animal professionals, these findings underscore the importance of toxicological investigation in cases of unexplained illness or death, particularly in affected regions, and highlight the need for coordinated enforcement against illegal pesticide use alongside education regarding safer, legal alternatives for pest management.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Be alert for pesticide poisoning in equine cases presenting with acute neurological or gastrointestinal signs, particularly in rural areas of Portugal and similar regions with agricultural practices
- •Molluscicides and carbamates account for nearly three-quarters of detected poisoning cases—these should be high on your differential diagnosis list for unexplained acute illness in horses
- •Even banned pesticides like strychnine remain in circulation; toxicological screening should include historically-used compounds when standard diagnostics are inconclusive
Key Findings
- •Molluscicides were the most common pesticide involved in animal poisonings at 47% (n=109) of positive samples, followed by carbamates at 24% (n=57)
- •Banned pesticides including aldicarb and strychnine were detected despite prohibition in Portugal since 1988 and EU-wide since 2006
- •Geographic variation in poisoning cases identified, with domestic species most affected in Setubal and Lisboa regions, and wild animals primarily affected in Faro, Castelo Branco, and Bragança
- •Among rodenticides, second and third generation compounds were most frequently detected in poisoning cases