Exposure to pesticides and zoonoses during procurement, trade, and consumption of vulture parts: an unexplored threat to human health.

Background: Examination into the origin of SARS-CoV-2 has shed further light on opportunities for broader zoonotic pathogen transmission stemming from the trade in living wildlife and animal parts, and in associated practices. In certain parts of the world (e.g., Africa), various bird species are illegally captured for both subsistence and non-subsistence purposes such as for belief-based use. The latter practice includes rare and declining vulture species and arises from the (relatively recent) belief that directly ingesting certain vulture body parts may impart powers of clairvoyance or bring good fortune. Among a variety of capture methods used by hunters, pesticide-poisoned or nicotine-laced baits are prevalent. In 2020, a mass mortality incident in Guinea Bissau involving over 2000 Critically Endangered Hooded Vultures was linked to belief-based practices, and to the use of a carbamate pesticide. This was to date the highest reported number of vultures killed by pesticide poisoning within a single event. Such deliberate, indiscriminate poisoning is now widely acknowledged within conservation sectors as posing evident threats to vulture species and populations. However, the potential human health repercussions arising from the possibility for zoonotic pathogen transmission (e.g., anthrax, avian H5N1 influenza), and for secondary exposure to the range of toxic substances used to capture and prepare individual birds – whether to hunters, procurers and traders of vulture parts or to consumers – have remained unexplored.Objectives: Our aims are to 1) generate awareness of these practice within human health risk assessment sectors; and 2) generate interest within the human health sector in examining the potential for zoonotic pathogen transmission and toxicity or poisoning risks to people that may stem from these practices.Discussion: We briefly describe human behaviours associated with this belief-driven practice as they relate to potential exposure, and issue a plea for examination of the associated health risks, in collaboration with ongoing conservation and wildlife forensics efforts.