Unit 1 - Optimizing Detection of Toxins Flashcards
What is diagnostic toxicology?
A practice to investigate cases of potential toxin involvement in animals
Why is diagnostic toxicology done?
Animal health and welfare and food safety and human health
How is diagnostic toxicology accomplished?
A variety of analytical tests and knowledge of veterinary medicine
What recent events are important to know that may precede a morbidity/morality event?
Feed deliveries, recent transportation, compound applications, changes to the environment, new facilities, and trivial events
What toxicosis cases may happen more in early spring?
Lead (cracked batteries) and insecticide (planting/spraying)
What toxicosis cases may happen more in mid-spring?
Nitrate/Urea (fertilizers)
What toxicosis cases may happen more in late spring?
Poisonous plants
What toxicosis cases may happen more in late spring to early summer?
BG algae
What toxicosis cases may happen more in fall?
Nitrate/cyanide (Accumulation w/in plants during growing season)
What toxicosis cases may happen more in late fall to early winter?
H2S (manure pit pumping)
What toxicosis cases may happen more in winter?
Caffeine and theobromine (holiday chocolates and candies)
How can wet/cool spring weather affect grains and feedstuffs?
Accumulation of Ergot toxin
How can hot/drought weather affect grains and feedstuffs?
Accumulation of aflatoxin and nitrate
How can wet summer weather affect grains and feedstuffs?
Accumulation of zearalenone and vomitoxin
How does flooding lead to toxic scenarios?
Contamination of grains and water
What may tell you that there was an intentional/malicious poisoning?
History of arguments, confrontations, and odd happenings
Recent reports of suspicious animal deaths and odd behavior
Bait has been found
If you smell rotten fish/garlic at post mortem, what should you suspect is the causative agent?
Zn phosphide
If you smell a sweet smell at post mortem, what should you suspect is the causative agent?
Antifreeze
If you smell almonds at post mortem, what should you suspect is the causative agent?
Cyanide
A liver or kidney sample would be good for detecting what toxin?
Metals, minerals, drugs, chemical compounds, etc.
Basically anything that would be filtered through them
An ocular fluid sample would be good for detecting what toxin?
Ammonia, nitrate, and thiosulfate
T/F: You can get an ocular fluid sample from a live patient.
False - don’t do it
A stomach/rumen content sample would be good for detecting what toxin?
Ammonia, poisonous plants, and chemical compounds
A brain sample would be good for detecting what toxin?
Pesticides, enzyme activity, Na
A fat sample would be good for detecting what toxin?
Pesticides
A urine sample would be good for detecting what?
Drug and toxic compound metabolites
A skin/hair sample would be good for detecting what?
Topical exposure or chronic accumulation of metals
What supplementary tissues may you need for microscopic evaluation and confirmation of certain toxicoses?
Lung, heart, skeletal muscle, spleen, and bone
What ante-mortem samples can you get in cases of toxicosis?
Blood, serum, vomitus, and urine
Whole blood should go in a ______ top tube.
Purple
Serum should go in a ____ top tube.
Red
What is the protocol for collecting GI contents in potential toxin cases?
Collect it ASAP and freeze in an airtight container
The majority of error in feed analysis is due to errors in ______.
sampling
What is the protocol for feed analysis sample collection?
Collect multiple sub samples and mix well to create a composite pooled sample
Keep chilled or frozen
How much water should you collect for a water sample?
500 mL but make sure to run water for a few seconds before sampling
T/F: It is okay to pool samples in toxicology.
False - DONT DO IT - you are attempting to quantitate concentration of toxic agents
