Page 368 - Veterinary Toxicology, Basic and Clinical Principles, 3rd Edition

Ionizing Radiation in Veterinary Medicine Chapter | 19 335

VetBooks.ir for managing internally contaminated animals are limited. However, animal patients are much more likely to
become both externally and internally contaminated
However, providing good quality food and water in suffi-
because of their natural grooming behaviors, increased
cient quantities may be helpful. It will then be necessary
to remove the radiologically contaminated urine, manure, likelihood of consuming contaminated food and water,
and fecal material as soon as possible. A major challenge and the probable delay of addressing animal issues in a
to consider should be whether or not there are enough timely manner following a radiological event because
trained animal caretakers and veterinary personnel avail- people will have also been affected. Early effects of ARS
able who are willing to work in proximity to internally are somewhat nonspecific and more specific illness can
contaminated animals and their waste products for weeks manifest slowly over several weeks. Recovery of surviv-
or months depending on the radionuclides involved. ing animals may be prolonged and can result in increased
Based on human recommendations (Rella, 2015) and risk of chronic diseases, decreased fertility, and cancer.
if feasible, initial laboratory testing should include a com- Food-producing animals may never return to previous
plete blood count (CBC), urinalysis, baseline radiologic levels of production and at least temporarily their meat,
assessment of the urine, and initiation of a 24-hour urine milk, and eggs may not be safe for consumption. If time
collection. Nasal swabs, vomitus, and feces can also be and resources allow without compromising human safety,
collected for radiologic assessment. In people, decreased animals potentially exposed to radioactive contaminants
monocyte counts are associated with internal exposures to can be triaged, decontaminated, and treated by properly
radioisotopes that localize in bone, making monocyte trained personnel equipped with appropriate PPE and
count a potential tool in estimating exposure levels screening equipment.
to these particular radioisotopes (Ogunranti, 1989).
Hematopoietic-based algorithms, using standard CBCs
and serum chemistry results, have been developed to esti- REFERENCES
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CONCLUDING REMARKS AND FUTURE
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