3-Neurotoxicants Flashcards
Chemicals that cause neurotoxicity
Natural and synthetic
- Clostridium botulinum
- Strychnine
- synthetic pesticides
Largest class of chemicals inducing toxicosis
Clinical signs
- peripheral vs. central
- excitatory vs. depressive
Differentiate primary effect from secondary effect
Pesticides
In use since AD 70
1940s: started makig our own pesticides
- Organochlorines (DDT)
- Organophosphates (parathion)
- Carbamates, dithiocarbamates, synthetic pyrethrins
Rachel Carson
Silent Spring
dogs, cats, humans, gators, birds
Organophosphate Pesticides
Agricultural and residential use inc
- Degrade faster
- Used in flea collars, dips, fly, ant, roach baits
Parathion, Malation, chlorpyrifos
High water solubility and acute toxicity
OPs mechanism of action
Irreversible inhibition of acetylchonine esterase (AChE) activity
Cholinergic overstimulation within minutes to hours
Clinical signs of anti-esterase toxicity
Muscarinic (SLUDGE-M): DOGS
Nicotinic: CATS
- muscle fasciculations beg with face, eyelid, tongue
- generalized tremors, weakness, paralysis
CNS
- Respiratory depression, ataxia, nervousness, tonic-clonic seizures
Clinical signs may last 1-5 days
- In acute poisoning
- primary clinical signs: respiratory distress and collapse, then death due to respiratory muscle paralysis
Muscarinical clinical signs
SLUDGE-M
Salivation
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
GI
Emesis
Midriasis
Species spec clinical signs OP tox
Horses
Cattle
Cattle and sheep
Dogs and cats
Nicotinic signs in cats
Horses show clinical signs of colic and dehydration
Rumen stasis in cattle, but not miosis
Cattle and sheep commonly show severe depression
CNS stimulation in dogs and cats, progressing to convulsions
Chlorpyrifos causes more severe nicotinic signs in cats => muscarinic tolerance
Diagnosing Anticholinesterase Toxicity
Appropriate history and clinical signs
Atropine Challenge
- Administer pre-anesthetic dose (0.01-0.05 mg/kg)
- wait 15 minutes observe for normal signs of atropine admin
- dry mouth
- mydriasis
- increases heart rate
- Observation of signs means NO cholinesterase inhibition
Non-specific pathology => not very helpful
Treating Anti-esterase Toxicity
GI decontamination, bathing for dermal exposure
- activated charcoal
Atrophine sulfate for muscarinic signs, dose to effect; will not stop nicotinic signs
- dose to effect
Oximes (protopam, 2-PAM) can reactivate AChE
- aging of OP causes non-reversal
Diazepam or baribturates for seizures
Time
Pathology in a dog following OP toxicity
Vacuolization of the brain
OPIDN
Organophosphate-induced delayed neurotoxicity
OP compounds that produce signifiant inhibition of neuropathy target esterase (NTE)
- may cause delayed neuropathy
Characterized by axonal degeneration of long motor neurons
- hindlimb weakness
- paralysis
No treatment
*Sensory system fine
Ivermectin
Produced by a soil fungus: Streptomyces avermitilis
- toxicosis through GABA receptors
Worm med in cats/dogs
Anthelminthic in livestock
Dogs: 6-24 micrograms/kg HW prev
- 200 micrograms/kg can cause ataxia, disorientation
Collies, Shepherds, Shelties
- 80-100 micrograms/kg causes toxicity
- passes BBB
Ivermectin
MOA
GABA-A receptor agonist
- increases GABA release
- enhances GABA binding
- direct GABA receptor agonist
Increased inhibitory input => decreased ability to respond to other stimuli
Long half-life
- cumulative toxicity
Ivermectin tox
Clinical signs
Clinical signs
- onset time is hours to 1 day
- CNS depressant
- ataxia disorientation, lethargy, mydriasis, coma, blindness, some bradycardia
- recumbency and seizures in collies
- respiratory distress typically precedes death
Ivermectin tox
Diagnosis
History of administration
Brain ivermectin conc > 100ppb
Can also measure in GI content, liver, fat, feces
No visible lesions, no dx BW
Ivermectin tox
Tx
Recent exp
- GI decontamination
- Multiple doses of activated charcoal
Supportive care
- fluids
- electrolyte therapy
- epinephrin
- short acting barbituates
- NO BENZOs
Prognosis
- non-susceptible breeds: good if exposed to <5 mg/kg
- Guarded at dosages >5mg/kg any breed
Can test dogs prior to admin higher doses
Other rodenticides that affect CNS
Bromethalin: mitochondria inhibitor
- Single-dose rodenticide
- Kills in 3-5 days (delay toxicity)
- Parent and metabolite uncouple oxidative phosphorylation in CNS
Nicotine
- Usually stimulate then block nicotinic ACh receptor
- LD50 1-2 mg/kg
Metaldehyde
- Sources include fuel for small heaters and molluscicides
- 3-4 oz bait toxic to average sized dog/sheep
- metabolism to acetaldehyde = CNS excitation
- acetaldehye: hangovers
Mycotoxins (aflatoxin)
Fungal metabolites cause pathological, physiological and/or biochemical alterations
- usually on several organ systems
Can affect all species
- peanut butter routinely screened
- 2004 outbreak in Kenya
- outbreaks in dog food
Mycotoxin
Slaframine
Produced by ‘Black patch’ fungus on red clover
- rain, high humidity, cool weather triggers growth
ACh mimic
- primarily acts as a muscarinic cholinergic agonist (esp in exocrine glands)
- SLUDGE-M
Occurs regularly in Central, south-east, and south-west US
Most common in horses and cattle
Slaframine
Clinical Signs
Copious salivation
- may be only clinical sign
Bloat, diarrhea, frequent urination
Feed refusal
*mild toxicosis