Bufo marinus 30%

Question 1

What is Bufo?

Answer 1

toad poisoning (Rhinella marina/ Bufo marinus are the marine toad, cane toad, or giant neotropical toad)- parotid glad toxins secreted- established in FL, HI, TX (invasive species)

Question 2

Toxin exposure/ pathogenesis (Bufo)

Answer 2

Patients are exposed to toxins when they ingest or mouth the toad (highly absorbed across MM). Cases have also been reported after ingestion of dried Bufo toads, toad eggs, or tadpoles. Toads or tadpoles that sit in a water dish for prolonged periods of time also leave behind enough toxins to affect animals that drink the water.
Toxins are bufagins (bufoteninies)> digitalis cardiac glycoside effect (pressor agents + catecholamines + serotonin), hallucinogenic

Question 3

Clinical signs (bufo)

Answer 3

Gastrointestinal (GI) signs (hypersalivation, head shaking, pawing at mouth, brick red gums) typically occur immediately or within 15 minutes.
Respiratory signs- tachypnea, dyspnea, cyanosis
Cardiac signs are more severe and may occur within 15 minutes or be delayed up to 4 hours- arrhythmias (VPCs, AV block, escape beats) dyspnea, cyanosis, seizures, polycythemias
Neurologic signs can occur within 15-20 minutes of toxin exposure- seizures, ataxia, tremors leading to hyperthermia, stiff gait, nystagmus, hyperexcitability, vocalizations.

Question 4

Treatment (bufo)

Answer 4

No antidote- oral lavage, emesis (if ate toad) to minimize absorption, AC, IV fluids, oxygen, atropine (for cardiac signs and salivation) propranolol and lidocaine. Diazepam, phnobarbitol for seizures, methocarbamol for muscle tremors

Question 5

Prognosis (bufo)

Answer 5

The toxic contents of both parotid glands of one marine toad is enough to kill a 10-15 kg dog. Mortality rates 20-100% depending on interventions to reduce toxin exposure. Without appropriate therapy, mortality after marine toad intoxication can approach 100%.