[fwd] PRO/AH> Cleft palates, bats - Australia

Beth von Gunten (colibri@west.net)
Mon, 16 Nov 1998 15:58:15 -0800

[Please note in particular the ProMED list moderator's comment below:
"When this thread started I never expected that we might reach a suggestion
that bats & humans might be sentinels for each other vis-a-vis agricultural
chemical exposures."]

CLEFT PALATES, BATS - AUSTRALIA (QUEENSLAND) (08)
*************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
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[see also:
Cleft palates, bats - Australia (Queensland) (04) 981104002400
Cleft palates, bats - Australia (Queensland) (05) 981107100427
Cleft palates, bats - Australia (Queensland) (06) 981109195508
Cleft palates, bats - Australia (Queensland) (07) 981112211035]

Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1998 05:43:36 +1000
From: Hugh Spencer, AUSTROP <Hugh@austrop.org.au>

ProMED-mail posted:
>>Among other plant causes of cleft palate (in pigs, sheep, cattle and
goats) are included ingestion of piperidine and quinolizidine
alkaloid-containing plants such as the genera Conium (Umbelliferae),
Nicotiana (Solanaceae) and Lupinus (Leguminosae).<<

Neither Conium or Lupinus occur in the area - _Solanum mauritianum_ is a
favourite food plant, but we doubt if it would be responsible as the bats
have been eating them for years.

However, a fruit grower colleague has suggested that it could be due to a
systemic fungicide called Tilt (propicozinole). 'Tilt' is used on bananas
and papaya (paw-paw) - especially during the winter months - when the young
would be in the first trimester, and it is used within the feeding area of
the bats. It is regularly aerial sprayed, and the bats could get it through
skin adsorption of recently sprayed fruit.

Has anyone more information on Tilt, which I gather is responsible for
cleft palate in humans in Coffs Harbour - a major NSW banana growing area?

--
Hugh Spencer PhD, Director of Research
Cape Tribulation Tropical Research Station
Phone/Fax (61)07 4098 0063
e-mail: Hugh@austrop.org.au


Australian Tropical Research Foundation
"The Bat-House", Environment Centre.
PMB 5 Cape Tribulation via Mossman
Queensland 4873 Australia
http://www.austrop.org.au/


[When this thread started I never expected that we might reach a suggestion
that bats & humans might be sentinels for each other vis-a-vis agricultural
chemical exposures. Has anyone got information relevant to Hugh's question?
- Mod.MHJ]
.....................................mhj/es

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