Diagnostic Toxicology

Question 1

What is a tentative diagnosis?

Answer 1

Can be obtained by detailed case history, through clinical and PM examinations

Question 2

What is a presumptive diagnosis?

Answer 2

• Can be reached when hx and clincal signs are supported by circumstantial evidence and identification of the source of poisoning
• sometimes responses to a specific antidotal tx may help making a presumptive dx

Question 3

What is a confined dx?

Answer 3

May be reached by using all criteria of dx that include lab work

Question 4

What are the 5 things that go into a criterial of diagnosis?

Answer 4

Case history
Clinical signs
PM findings
Chemical analysis
Lab animal tests

Question 5

When looking at case history it is important to make sure of what?

Answer 5

That the animal has ingested or has been exposed to the poison at a certain level

Question 6

What do you have to take into account in case history for farm animals? For companion animals?

Answer 6

Farm- # of animals, # affected, # dead, course of dz management, feeding, vx, use of insecticides, herbicides, past illness, presence of poisonous plants, detailed CS+ and PM findings

Companion- indoor or outdoor animal, use of any drugs, insecticides, rodenticides, household chemicals, vx

Question 7

True or False. In PM findings, negative results are as good as positive results.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

In chemical testing, what do positive and negative results mean?

Answer 8

Positive- do not always mean intoxication

Negative- do not always mean that poisoning did not occur

Question 9

In lab animal tests, it is more relevant to administer the suspected material to the _____________ (same/diff) species that was exposed to the suspected toxicant

Answer 9

Same

Question 10

What are lab animals tests important in?

Answer 10

Bacterial, fungal, and plant toxins and feed additives in animal feeds

Question 11

What should the specimens be like when submitted for chem analyses?

Answer 11

Should be representing, avoiding dilution, contamination, or putrefaction

Question 12

What are some of the precautions required for sending specimens to be tested chemically?

Answer 12

Animal and tissue specimens should be frozen 
Blood samples refrigerated, other fluids frozen
Send enough material 
-serum 5mL live animal, 10mL dead animal
-whole blood 10mL live and dead animal
-Urine 50mL live and dead
-vomitus or baits 200g
-liver, kidney, or fat 100g
-brain 1/2 frozen, 1/2 in formalin
-rumen or stomach contents 500g

Question 13

What is some of the criteria for obtaining a serum sample?

Answer 13

Allow enough time for blood to clot (1-2 hours)

Avoid hemolysis of sample by avoiding pressure, aspiration, or shaking

Question 14

What length should forages be cut to for sampling feeds?

Answer 14

3 inches

Sample size should be one quart or kilogram