Organic arsenic

Question 1

T/F: organic arsenic toxicosis will affect the CNS in the target species

Answer 1

FALSE

Peripheral neurotoxicant

**in the non target species the CNS will be affected

Question 2

What is organic arsenic used for?

Answer 2

Used as a growth promoter due to its antimicrobial effects - feed additive in swine and poultry

Question 3

What organic arsenic is used in swine and poultry?

Answer 3

Arsanilic acid - mainly swine

Roxarsone- mainly poultry

*these are usually okay at recommended doses unles the patient is too young, dehydrated, sick ,or the dose is too high

Question 4

What is the source of organic arsenic poisoning in animals?

Answer 4

Over dosage or prolonged use

Question 5

What state is organic arsenic in?

Answer 5

pentavalent oxidation statef

they are phenylarsonic acid derivatives

Question 6

What organic arsenic will cause illness in poultry?

Answer 6

Arsanilic acid (used mostly in swine)

and Roxarsone (mostly used in poultry)

Question 7

T/F: Both Arsanilic acid and Roxarsone can be toxic in swine

Answer 7

TRUE

Question 8

What clinical signs are associated with high levels of arsanilic acid in swine?

Answer 8

Signs of Peripheral nerve damage

Question 9

What clinical signs are associated with Roxarsone poisoning in swine?

Answer 9

sudden CNS excitability

Question 10

What amt (ppm) of arsanilic acid will cause toxicosis when a pig is exposed to that quantity for 7-10 days?

Answer 10

500 ppm

(recommended dose is 50-100ppm for growth promotion and 250-400ppm for control of swine desentery

Question 11

What amt (ppm) of Roxarsone will cause toxicosis when a pig is exposed to that quantity for 7-10 days?

Answer 11

250ppm

recommended dose for growth promotion is 25-50ppm and for swine dysentery 200ppm

Question 12

What patient factors will increase the toxicity of inorganic arsenic substances?

Answer 12

dehydration
water deprivation
renal insufficiency

Question 13

Where is organic arsenic absorbed, distributed, and how is it excreted?

Answer 13

absorbed via GIT (small amount)
Distributed throughout the body
Excreted unchanged in the urine

Question 14

The peripheral nerve demylination and axonal damage caused by organic arsenic is similar to what vitamin deficiency?

Answer 14

B

Question 15

T/F: Pigs that have arsanilic acid poisoning will still have a good appetite

Answer 15

TRUE!!!

but they may not be able to move to their food source

Question 16

What clinical signs are seen in pigs with arsanilic acid poisoning?

Answer 16

acute onset = 3-5 days
Incoordination, ataxia, partial paralysis
blindness may occur

Erythemia and sensitivity to sunlight

Chronic: gradual onset of blindness and partial paralysis

**in both - pigs will still eat and drink

Question 17

What clinical signs are associated with Roxarsone poisoning in swine?

Answer 17

CNS hyper-excitability (since this is not the target species)

tremors, collapse, coma

**NO blindness

Question 18

What clinical signs will be seen in poultry with Roxarsone poisoning?

Answer 18

Peripheral nerve damage (since this is the target spps)

incoordination and ataxia

Question 19

What specimens should be tests if you suspect organic arsenic poisoning?

Answer 19

feed, liver, and kidney

Question 20

What lesions are seen in swine with organic arsenic poisoning?

Answer 20

erythema in light skinned pigs
Muscle atrophy in chronic cases
Microscopically - peripheral nerve and optic nerve degeneration, demyelination, and gliosis

Question 21

What are the DDX for arsanilic acid toxicosis in swine?

Answer 21

Subacute selenium toxicosis (paralysis without blindness)
Organic mercury (Sz)
Vitamin B complex deficiency
Infectious diseases

Question 22

What are the DDX for roxarsone poisoning in swine?

Answer 22

anything causing excitability of the CNS:

pesticides, water deprivation/sodium ion toxicosis

Question 23

T/F: There is a specific antidote for organic arsenic poisoning

Answer 23

FALSE

Question 24

What is the recommended treatment for organic arsenic toxicosis?

Answer 24

general

withdrawal of organic arsenicals

Fluid therapy, vitamins, prophylactic antibiotics

recovery may take 2-4 weeks

if the myelin sheath is intact - can recover over time