Page 99 - Veterinary Toxicology, Basic and Clinical Principles, 3rd Edition

66 SECTION | I General

VetBooks.ir OTHER TOXINS in animals, particularly in domestic animals such as cattle
(including buffaloes) and dogs; farm animals such as cat-
A number of other toxins such as botulinum, algae (cya-
tle, sheep, goats, poultry; and wild animals and vultures
nobacteria toxic blooms), venomous bites, strychnine,
(but rarely cats or other animals).
HCN, aconite, and other phytotoxins (deadly herbal poi-
Drug poisonings in animals occur commonly due to
sons), zinc phosphide, chlorinated hydrocarbon insecti-
off-label use of medicines, wrong dosage, negligence,
cides, and zootoxins, such as caterpillars, have been
accidental ingestion, and deliberate poisonings. Accidental
reported to cause poisoning in wildlife (Arora, 2003).
or malicious poisonings are due to organophosphorus and
Several toxins are known to involve domestic animals,
carbamate insecticides, fumigants such as aluminum phos-
stray cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, monkeys, poultry, pigs,
phide and zinc phosphide, rodenticides, and rarely due to
and wild animals. Botulism outbreaks in poultry, sheep,
other agents. Most production animals are kept in some
and cattle are fairly common. Algae are the cause of mass
form of confinement, which limits the potential for expo-
mortality of wild animals and birds in inland water.
sure to toxic agents. However, mistakes in management,
Venomous bites by poisonous snakes, insects, mites and
such as feed mixing errors or improper ventilation, may
scabies have been reported from time to time in almost all
result in acute or chronic toxicosis in large number of ani-
species of animals (Gupta, 2016). Several cases of alope-
mals. The most common amongst them is due to nitrate-
cia, with active crushed dermatitis, and an accumulation
and nitrites, fluoride, Se, Cu (common in sheep) ingestion
of thick scales and fissuring of the skin, have been
of plant, or paddy straw. The other common sources of
reported in monkeys and other animals. Sarcoptes
poisoning include mycotoxins, botulinum, and ionophores
(Scabies) and other mites can also affect macaques apart
(monensin, lasalocid, narasin, and salinomycin).
from domestic animals, and other wild animals such as
Contamination of feed with antibiotics, pesticides, metals
foxes, wolfs, and gorillas (Nagarajan et al., 2004;
and with other toxins is quite common but their long
Sudhakara Reddy et al., 2014; Sivajothi and Sudhakara
terms effects are still unknown. For example, in the
Reddy, 2015).
absence of any systematic survey, the extent to which
household kerosene and solid fuels-biomass (wood, agri-
RADIATION EFFECTS OF THE HIROSHIMA cultural residues, and animal dung) and coal fuels cause
AND NAGASAKI ATOMIC BOMBS long-term damage including morbidity and mortality in
companion animals is currently unclear. The scarcity of
The first operational atomic bomb Nicknamed “Little adequate epidemiologic and exposure investigations in
Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, August 6, 1945. various Asian countries and the potential for short- and
There was probably a 40% death rate (140,000) of the long-term exposure to a vast variety of agents, including
350,000 people estimated to have been in Hiroshima at the household use products and chemicals, suggest a need for
time. In Nagasaki, on which the second operational atomic agencies to collect epidemiological data on human beings
bomb was dropped, nicknamed “Fat Man,” was dropped and animals.
August 9; about 73,884 were killed and 74,909 injured.
Among those who survived, the long-term effects of radia-
tion sickness, genetic and chromosome injury, and mental
trauma have been catastrophic, even unborn children hav- REFERENCES
ing been stunted in growth and sometimes mentally
Abdulkaf, K., Tariku, J., Fanos, T., et al., 2015. Assessment on chemi-
retarded. The bomb not only harmed people but animals
cals and drugs residue in dairy and poultry products in Bishoftu and
as well. The number of animals died during these opera-
Modjo, Central Ethiopia. J. Nutr. Food Sci. S13, 002.
tions is unlimited. The surviving animals showed severe Al-Qudah, K.M., Rousan, L.M., Ereifej, K.I., 2009. Nitrate/nitrite
after effects. For example, burnt hip skin was common in poisoning in dairy cattle associated with consumption of forages irri-
horses that survived during the incidents (Anon, 1981). gated with municipally treated wastewater. Toxicol. Environ. Chem.
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American Petroleum Institute, 2010. American Petroleum Institute (edi-
CONCLUDING REMARKS AND FUTURE
tor PHT Group). Kerosene/jet fuel category assessment document
DIRECTIONS #201 16846A. American Petroleum Institute, Washington, DC.
Anon, 1981. Report -Committee on Damage by Atomic Bombs in
Animals are exposed to potentially toxic agents on a daily
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Physical,
basis but the lack of a central reporting agency for animal
Medical and Social Effects of the Atomic Bombings, London.
poisonings makes epidemiological study difficult. With Anon, 2013a. Reports of animal cruelty cases on the rise Department of
no mandated reporting, many suspected poisoning cases the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, APR 17, pp. 1 3. ,http://
are managed by the attending veterinarian and forgotten. www.straitstimes.com/singapore/reports-of-animal-cruelty-cases-on-
Poisonings are a serious cause of morbidity and mortality the-rise..