title: Lethal ricin intoxication in two adult dogs: toxicologic and histopathologic findings.
abstract: Two adult dogs with the same owner were intoxicated by ingestion of fertilizer composed of residual plant material of the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis L.). Both dogs died within 2 and 3 days, respectively, after the first signs of vomiting and abundant hemorrhagic diarrhea. Toxicologic and histopathologic examinations were performed on different organs. Histopathologic examination of the kidneys revealed tubular degeneration and necrosis and membranous glomerulonephritis. Additionally, myocardial degeneration with localized inflammation, lymphoid necrosis, and depletion in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes and hemorrhagic ulcerative gastroenteritis were found. The 2 cases could be used to elucidate the lethal dose of ricin and the histopathologic lesions in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA/CERVA), Operational Direction of Interactions and Surveillance, Unit of Pathology, Groeselenberg 99, 1180 Brussels (Ukkel), Belgium. stroe@var.fgov.be
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roels
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Coopman
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanhaelen
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cordonnier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D012276:Ricin / Q000633:toxicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D012276:Ricin