VETS3050 Toxicology

sudden death ddx

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Terms in this set (10)

- Cyanide poisoning (sorghum, Johnson's grass)
- 1080 Fluoroacetate
- Cyanobacteria
- Urea poisoning
- MAM (cycads)
- Cardiac glycosides
- Nitrate-nitrite (fertiliser)

sudden death diagnosis

- Cyanobacteria: water sample, massive zonal necrosis of liver
- 1080: pasture walk, necropsy and examination of stomach contents, hx of access
- Cardiac glycosides: pasture walk, examination of stomach contents
- Cyanide: bright red blood
- Nitrate-nitrite: chocolate brown blood

MOA 1080 Fluoroacetate

- Inhibits the Krebs cycle
- Prevents oxidative metabolism >> NO ATP production
- Massive energy starvation
- Accumulation of citrate >> heart failure & sudden death in cows

Clonic seizures ddx

- Thiamine deficiency
- Lead poisoning
- Organophosphate poisoning
- Carbamates/metaldehyde
- Salt ingestion
- Brunfelsia
- Urea poisoning
- 1080 baiting

Clonic seizure diagnosis

- Organophosphate: hx of access, low serum AChE in fresh samples of blood & brain
- Thiamine deficiency: feed samples, polioencephalomalacia from brain necropsy
- Lead poisoning: anaemia, access to lead-based products, intra-nuclear inclusion bodies in kidney cortex
- Carbamates: hx & blue product within stomach (**)

Organophosphate MOA

- Binds AChE >> very strong permanent bond causing ACHe inhibition
- Leads to S.L.U.D.G.E

Tetanic seizures DDx

- Strychnine poisoning
- Geisha girl (Durant erecta)
- Metal phosphides (rodenticides & grain fumigants)

Coagulopathy DDx

- MAM (cycads)
- Cyanobacteria
- Xylitol
- Brown snake or tiger snake bite
- Coumarin derivatives (anti-coagulant rodenticides)

DDx coagulopathy

DDx:
Cyanobacteria: water sample & analysis
MAM: necropsy, elevated liver enzymes, hypoglycaemia & electrolyte abnormalities
Xylitol: hx of access & more acute presentation

Xylitol MOA:

- Tricks pancreas into releasing insulin but no real sugar there >> severe hypoglycaemia +/- liver failure