Etiologic agents, incidence, and improved diagnostic methods of cantharidin toxicosis in horses.
In addition to the 3-striped blister beetles (Epicauta temexa and E occidentalis), other sources of equine cantharidin toxicosis were identified at the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and included E albida and E attrivittata and the previously incriminated E pardalis and E pennsylvanica. Improved methods for diagnosing cantharidin or blister beetle toxicosis involve partial purification of urine and gastric content extracts, using silica cartridges, followed by analysis, using capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. During a 26-month period, 53 episodes of cantharidin toxicosis in horses were confirmed at our diagnostic laboratory. Concentrations of cantharidin in urine and gastric contents ranged from 0.0003 to 3.50 micrograms/g. Peak incidences were observed in late summer and early fall.
Ray
A C
AC
Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station 77841.
Kyle
A L
AL
Murphy
M J
MJ
Reagor
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000652:urine; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000032:analysis; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006736:Horses
D002193:Cantharidin