Treatment and diagnosis of a dog with fulminant neurological deterioration due to anatoxin‐a intoxication

Abstract

Anatoxin-a intoxication is rarely confirmed in dogs but should be considered as a differential diagnosis in any dog with acute neurologic signs. We report the first successful detection of anatoxin-a in urine and bile of a dog exposed to blue green algae. This new test provides an enhanced diagnostic tool in suspect cases and has possible therapeutic implications in dogs.

Cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) toxins

“…Based on the rapid onset of clinical signs after oral exposure, rapid absorption of the toxins is suspected. Anatoxin-a has been detected in the urine and bile of a poisoned dog, confirming that anatoxin-a is, at least in part, excreted unchanged in urine and bile (Puschner et al, 2010).…”

“…Although anatoxin-a is considered unstable in the environment, certain environmental conditions are known to result in continuous toxin production. Reports of anatoxin poisoning are less frequent than those of microcystin toxicosis; however, poisoning has occurred worldwide (Edwards et al, 1992;Gunn et al, 1992;Beltran and Neilan, 2000;Fromme et al, 2000;Gugger et al, 2005;Yang and Boyer, 2005;Wood et al, 2007;Puschner et al, 2008Puschner et al, , 2010. Anatoxins are neurotoxins and can generally be divided into anatoxin-a, homoanatoxin-a, and anatoxin-a(s).…”

“…Death usually occurs within minutes to a few hours. Anatoxin-a poisonings have been reported in dogs in Europe (Edwards et al, 1992;Gunn et al, 1992;James et al, 1997;Gugger et al, 2005) and the United States (Puschner et al, 2008(Puschner et al, , 2010. Anatoxin-a is also considered a contributing factor in the deaths of Lesser Flamingos in Kenya (Krienitz et al, 2003).…”

“…Since Francis' publication in 1878, numerous case reports describing animal morbidity and mortality after exposure to cyanotoxins have been published (Fitzgerald and Poppenga, 1993;Naegeli et al, 1997;Puschner et al, 1998Puschner et al, , 2008Puschner et al, , 2010Gugger et al, 2005;Nasri et al, 2008; C H A P T E R Wood et al, 2010). The frequency of blue-green algae poisoning in animals is likely underreported due to lack of methods to confirm exposure; in addition, geographical distribution of these case reports is likely biased by available resources.…”

Anatoxin-A(s): Natural Organophosphorus Anticholinesterase Agent

“…Determination of anatoxin-a(s) in environmental samples is hampered by the lack of specific methods for its detection (Dörr et al, 2010). Recently, Puschner et al (2008Puschner et al ( , 2010 reported an LC-MS based method for quantitation of anatoxin-a in a variety of matrices. A simple and fast method is to detect anatoxin-a(s) using a biosensor based on the electrochemical detection of the activity of AChE.…”