Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Integrating the Forensic Sciences in Wildlife Case Investigations: A Case Report of Pentobarbital and Phenytoin Toxicosis in a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
- Journal:
- Veterinary pathology
- Year:
- 2016
- Authors:
- Viner, T C et al.
- Affiliation:
- National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory · United States
Plain-English summary
In this case, a bald eagle died after eating the remains of a euthanized domestic cat that had been thrown away in a landfill. The eagle was the only one out of eight birds that fed on the cat to die, and it suffered from poisoning due to pentobarbital and phenytoin, which are drugs used in euthanasia. The investigation involved various experts, including law enforcement and pathologists, who worked together to determine what happened. This case highlights the complexities of wildlife investigations, especially when there is little background information available. The collaboration among professionals led to a successful diagnosis of the eagle's cause of death.
Abstract
The application of medical knowledge to the purpose of law is the foundation of forensic pathology. A forensic postmortem examination often involves the expertise of multiple scientific disciplines to reconstruct the full story surrounding the death of an animal. Wildlife poses additional challenges in forensic investigations due to little or no associated history, and the disruptive effects of decomposition. To illustrate the multidisciplinary nature of wildlife forensic medicine, the authors outline a case of secondary pentobarbital/phenytoin toxicosis in a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). The eagle was the single fatality in a group of 8 birds that fed on euthanized domestic cat remains that had been improperly disposed of in a landfill. Cooperation between responding law enforcement officers, pathologists, and other forensic scientists led to the successful diagnosis and resolution of the case.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27030371/