title: Aldicarb toxicosis in a flock of sheep.
abstract: Aldicarb toxicosis was diagnosed in 200 sheep that died suddenly. Carbamate insecticide toxicosis was suspected based on observed clinical signs (hypersalivation, diarrhea, urination, paddling, seizures, miosis, and deaths occurring within 1 hour). Tissue samples were submitted from 4 Columbian ewes for pathologic and analytical evaluation. Severe diffuse pulmonary edema was observed on gross and histologic examination. Inhibition of cholinesterase activity in retina (21.2-68.1% of normal activity, n = 3), brain (40.6-45.6% of normal activity, n = 3), and whole blood (27% of normal activity, n = 1) supported a diagnosis of carbamate toxicosis. Reversal of brain and whole blood cholinesterase activities (reactivation factor greater than 1.4) following an in vitro 1 hour incubation at 37 C was also consistent with carbamate poisoning. Aldicarb toxicosis was confirmed following its detection in rumen contents at 1.5, 5.5, and 334 ppm using both high-pressure liquid chromatography with UV detection and gas chromatography with nitrogen/phosphorus detection.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois, Laboratories of Veterinary Diagnostic Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana 61801.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Dorman
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Harlin
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Haschek
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wisse
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Meerdink
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D000448:Aldicarb / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D012160:Retina / Q000201:enzymology; D012417:Rumen / Q000737:chemistry; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000448:Aldicarb; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase