A near-fatal case of acute poisoning by amitraz/xylene showing atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Amitraz has become a signifi cant cause of acute poisoning because of its wide use in veterinary medicine during the last decade. The majority of published cases of amitraz poisoning have dealt with children, while severe life-threatening poisoning in adults is very rare. In this report, the clinical and laboratory features in a case of acute poisoning by amitraz and xylene in an adult are presented. A 72-year-old man accidentally swallowed about 40 g of Mitac 20, a commercial formulation of amitraz dissolved in xylene. The ingested dose was estimated to be about 10 g of amitraz and 35 g of xylene. Initial symptoms were dizziness and nausea, followed by coma, respiratory insuffi ciency, miosis, and hyperglycemia. As an α 2 -adrenergic agonist, amitraz usually causes bradycardia, but the present patient showed atrial fi brillation with rapid ventricular response, which was successfully treated by digoxin. Amitraz itself and xylene metabolites were confi rmed in his blood and urine, respectively, by instrumental analysis. Supportive and symptomatic measures were taken over 3 days, and the patient recovered fully despite the signifi cant ingested amounts of amitraz and xylene.

Amitraz: a mimicker of organophosphate poisoning

“…Importantly, the serum cholinesterase levels are normal with amitraz poisoning, while they are low in the case of OPC poisoning 5. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas liquid chromatography may be employed to measure the levels of amitraz and its metabolites in the serum and urine, but are not available in day-to-day practice 2 10 12…”

Intoxicación por amitraz: reporte de un caso clínico

“…La intoxicación por amitraz responde fácilmente al tratamiento sintomático y de soporte vital, incluso ante la presencia de compromiso neurológico. Varios informes han mencionado que, con medidas de apoyo, se obtiene una recuperación del deterioro neurológico en menos de 24 horas y de otros signos y/o síntomas dentro de las primeras 48 horas [32,35,36].…”

Amitraz poisoning: The (Un) common poisoning

“…Amitraz, 1,5-di-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-3-methyl-1,3,5-triazapenta-1,4-diene, is an acaricide/insecticide of formamidine pesticides, being used worldwide to control pests in animals. [ 1 ] It is commonly indicated for the treatment of generalized demodicosis in dogs, cattle, and sheep as an ectoparasite and to control psylla infestations of pears and mites on cotton crops. [ 2 ]…”