Unit 1 - Optimizing Detection of Toxins

Question 1

What is diagnostic toxicology?

Answer 1

A practice to investigate cases of potential toxin involvement in animals

Question 2

Why is diagnostic toxicology done?

Answer 2

Animal health and welfare and food safety and human health

Question 3

How is diagnostic toxicology accomplished?

Answer 3

A variety of analytical tests and knowledge of veterinary medicine

Question 4

What recent events are important to know that may precede a morbidity/morality event?

Answer 4

Feed deliveries, recent transportation, compound applications, changes to the environment, new facilities, and trivial events

Question 5

What toxicosis cases may happen more in early spring?

Answer 5

Lead (cracked batteries) and insecticide (planting/spraying)

Question 6

What toxicosis cases may happen more in mid-spring?

Answer 6

Nitrate/Urea (fertilizers)

Question 7

What toxicosis cases may happen more in late spring?

Answer 7

Poisonous plants

Question 8

What toxicosis cases may happen more in late spring to early summer?

Answer 8

BG algae

Question 9

What toxicosis cases may happen more in fall?

Answer 9

Nitrate/cyanide (Accumulation w/in plants during growing season)

Question 10

What toxicosis cases may happen more in late fall to early winter?

Answer 10

H2S (manure pit pumping)

Question 11

What toxicosis cases may happen more in winter?

Answer 11

Caffeine and theobromine (holiday chocolates and candies)

Question 12

How can wet/cool spring weather affect grains and feedstuffs?

Answer 12

Accumulation of Ergot toxin

Question 13

How can hot/drought weather affect grains and feedstuffs?

Answer 13

Accumulation of aflatoxin and nitrate

Question 14

How can wet summer weather affect grains and feedstuffs?

Answer 14

Accumulation of zearalenone and vomitoxin

Question 15

How does flooding lead to toxic scenarios?

Answer 15

Contamination of grains and water

Question 16

What may tell you that there was an intentional/malicious poisoning?

Answer 16

History of arguments, confrontations, and odd happenings
Recent reports of suspicious animal deaths and odd behavior
Bait has been found

Question 17

If you smell rotten fish/garlic at post mortem, what should you suspect is the causative agent?

Answer 17

Zn phosphide

Question 18

If you smell a sweet smell at post mortem, what should you suspect is the causative agent?

Answer 18

Antifreeze

Question 19

If you smell almonds at post mortem, what should you suspect is the causative agent?

Answer 19

Cyanide

Question 20

A liver or kidney sample would be good for detecting what toxin?

Answer 20

Metals, minerals, drugs, chemical compounds, etc.

Basically anything that would be filtered through them

Question 21

An ocular fluid sample would be good for detecting what toxin?

Answer 21

Ammonia, nitrate, and thiosulfate

Question 22

T/F: You can get an ocular fluid sample from a live patient.

Answer 22

False - don’t do it

Question 23

A stomach/rumen content sample would be good for detecting what toxin?

Answer 23

Ammonia, poisonous plants, and chemical compounds

Question 24

A brain sample would be good for detecting what toxin?

Answer 24

Pesticides, enzyme activity, Na

Question 25

A fat sample would be good for detecting what toxin?

Answer 25

Pesticides

Question 26

A urine sample would be good for detecting what?

Answer 26

Drug and toxic compound metabolites

Question 27

A skin/hair sample would be good for detecting what?

Answer 27

Topical exposure or chronic accumulation of metals

Question 28

What supplementary tissues may you need for microscopic evaluation and confirmation of certain toxicoses?

Answer 28

Lung, heart, skeletal muscle, spleen, and bone

Question 29

What ante-mortem samples can you get in cases of toxicosis?

Answer 29

Blood, serum, vomitus, and urine

Question 30

Whole blood should go in a ______ top tube.

Answer 30

Purple

Question 31

Serum should go in a ____ top tube.

Answer 31

Red

Question 32

What is the protocol for collecting GI contents in potential toxin cases?

Answer 32

Collect it ASAP and freeze in an airtight container

Question 33

The majority of error in feed analysis is due to errors in ______.

Answer 33

sampling

Question 34

What is the protocol for feed analysis sample collection?

Answer 34

Collect multiple sub samples and mix well to create a composite pooled sample Keep chilled or frozen

Question 35

How much water should you collect for a water sample?

Answer 35

500 mL but make sure to run water for a few seconds before sampling

Question 36

T/F: It is okay to pool samples in toxicology.

Answer 36

False - DONT DO IT - you are attempting to quantitate concentration of toxic agents