A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and a European badger (Meles meles) were found dead on a golf-course in October 1997 near Stockholm (Sweden). At necropsy, both animals were obese and the main finding was acute circulatory collapse. Theobromine intoxication was suspected as chocolate waste was available at a nearby farm and no other cause of death could be detected. Gastric contents and samples of liver from both animals were analyzed by reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography for the presence of methylxan-thines. Theobromine and caffeine were detected in gastric contents and theobromine was identified in the liver samples from both animals. This appears to be the first report of theobromine intoxication in the red fox and the European badger.
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1 April 2001
Theobromine Intoxication in a Red Fox and a European Badger in Sweden
Désirée S. Jansson,
Vera Galgan,
Bertil Schubert,
Carl Hård af Segerstad
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Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Vol. 37 • No. 2
April 2001
Vol. 37 • No. 2
April 2001
Chocolate
European badger
intoxication
Meles meles
methylxanthines
red fox
reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography