Page 390 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Clinical chemistry 359

Table 7.7 diagnostic samples to submit for various suspected toxicants.

Suspected toxicant Source of toxic Species most Samples to diagnostic
compound often affected and submit feature
evidence
Metals Old or industrial paint Cattle - CNS disease Hair Elevated metal
lead (Pb), fluoride (F), (Pb) Subacute mortality Serum levels
mercury (Hg), Mine dust, tailings Birds – mortality Urine CNS cortical
cadmium (Cd) (Cd, F) Population declines Kidney necrosis
Released from
flooding (Hg)
Seed treatments (Hg)
Minerals Copper sulfate Sheep – acute Blood Haemolysis
(wound disinfectant) mortality Kidney Dark
Bison – subacute discoloured
mortality kidneys
Man-made biocides, Consuming treated Wild birds Whole carcass Population
insecticides, vegetation or Honey bees Sample of declines
fungicides poisoned insects suspected
agrochemical
Anticoagulants Dicoumarol (mouldy Cattle & dogs Vomitus/gastric Widespread
sweet clover) – widespread content frank
Bracken fern ecchymosis Blood haemorrhage
Rodenticides or or massive Brain Ecchymosis or
consuming poisoned haemorrhage Liver petechiae
rodents Death of healthy Samples of feed
Mycotoxins? born calves
Organophosphates Insecticides Cattle-ataxia, Feed, water Chemical
and/or Carbamates dyspnoea & acute Stomach contents residues
mortality Brain Acetylcholine-
Serum esterase
Liver activity (brain,
serum)
Herbicides Paraquat Accidental exposure Lung History of
Glyphosate Aquatic wildlife Blood exposure
Fibrosis of lung
Pharmaceuticals Iron (Fe) treatment Piglets Serum/blood Mineral levels
(overdoses or mixing Vitamin D Pigs Liver Pathology
problems) Vitamin E/Se Deer highly Liver
susceptible Heart
Anti-inflammatory Phenylbutazone Horses- Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal
drugs Carprofen & Dogs tract tract ulcers
deracoxib Kidney (medulla) ulcers
Gastrointestinal Renal papillary
tract necrosis
Gi tract ulcers

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