Epidemiology and toxicology of arsenic poisoning in domestic animals.

Abstract

Arsenic poisoning is one of the more important causes of heavy metal poisoning in domestic animals. Two speciedogs and cattle-are intoxicated more frequently than other animals; yet sporadic instances of poisoning have been observed in cats, horses, and pigs. Cases observed by veterinary dinicians are either peracute, acute, or chronic intoxications. Frequently the initial and only indication that a severe problem exists with peracute poisoning in a cattle herd is dead animals. Chronic intoxications are also observed in cattle. Acute intoxication is the most common form of arsenic poisoning observed and documented in the dog. Also intoxicated dogs were younger, i.e., 2-6 months of age. Arsenic is a severe alimentary tract irritant in domestic animals, and treatment in most instances consists mainly of symptomatic and supportive treatment. The source of intoxication, when it can be determined, is usually dips, sprays, powders, or vegetation contaminated by pesticides containing arsenic.

Concentration of trace elements in blood and feed of homebred animals in Southern Serbia

“…The high Br content is probably a result of large biomass burning events that occurred during blood sampling, as other authors have pointed out (Gribble 2003). The elevated As concentration, higher than reported by Alonso et al (2000) and Selby et al (1977), correlates with geochemical peculiarities of the Balkans. In other words, higher content of this element is found in Southern Serbia than in the wider region and some parts of Europe (Frontasyeva et al 2004;Popovic et al 2008).…”

Metallurgy, environmental pollution and the decline of Etruscan civilisation

“…'The average arsenic content in freshwater fish is of 0.54 μg g −1 on the basis of total wet weight, but some values reach as high as 77.0 μg g −1 in the liver oil of freshwater bass' (Whitacre and Pearse 1972) In domestic animals, severe cases, presenting with an array of physical and behavioural symptoms, may have been manifest as lesions observed in butchering etc. as part of dissection for divination rituals, 'Arsenic poisoning is most frequently encountered in the bovine as a result of contamination of its food supply' (Selby et al 1977). 'Occurrence of arsenical poisoning is closely followed in other forage-eating animals, such as sheep and horses' (Selby et al 1977).…”

“…as part of dissection for divination rituals, 'Arsenic poisoning is most frequently encountered in the bovine as a result of contamination of its food supply' (Selby et al 1977). 'Occurrence of arsenical poisoning is closely followed in other forage-eating animals, such as sheep and horses' (Selby et al 1977). 'Symptoms of acute arsenic poisoning are manifested by intense abdominal pain, staggering gait, extreme weakness, trembling, salivation, vomiting (pigs, cattle?)…”

“…'Symptoms of acute arsenic poisoning are manifested by intense abdominal pain, staggering gait, extreme weakness, trembling, salivation, vomiting (pigs, cattle?) diarrhea, feeble pulse, subnormal temperature, collapse and death' (Selby et al 1977). 'Characteristic gross lesions associated with arsenic poisoning include… soft yellow liver… hepatic fatty change and necrosis' (Selby et al 1977).…”

Essential and Toxic Effects of Macro, Trace, and Ultratrace Elements in the Nutrition of Animals

“…Hence, in future it may be necessary to examine both faces (essential and toxic effects of arsenic) of this element (Frost 1983, McDowell 1992, Selby et al 1977, Anke et al 1990b). …”