The Toxicity of Sodium Monofluoroacetate (Compound 1080) to Captive Feral Pigs, Sus-Scrofa

Abstract

The toxicity of sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) to captive feral pigs, Sus scrofa, was assessed over a range of doses (1.50-21.3 mg 1080 kg-1 bodyweight) administered orally in wheat bait to 80 animals. Calculated LD*50 was 4.11 mg 1080 kg-1 (95% fiducial limits: 3.02-5.34 mg kg-1) and LD*9O was 11.25 mg kg-1 (8.05-21.69 mg kg-1). The incidence (98%) and frequency (mean ± SD = l3.6 ± 6.7 overall) of vomiting were high. Frequency of vomiting was unrelated to log*10 dose (r= -0.015; N= 80; NS), although time until vomiting began (r= -0.558; N=77; P<O.05) and time until death (r= -0.391; N=47; P<0.05) had a significant negative association with log*10 dose. Median latency was 49 min (range 10-350 min; N=77) and median time until death was 244 min (range 131-7200 min; N=47). Sex and bodyweight had no effect on frequency of vomiting, time until death or prognosis. Feral pigs yere much less sensitive to 1080 under these test conditions than those in earlier studies. Because the present experiment seems likely to resemble field situations, these results warrant careful examination of field intake and mortality of feral pigs during 1080 poisoning.