Clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome of acute organophosphate or carbamate intoxication in 39 cats

Sigal Klainbart*, Meital Grabarnik, Efrat Kelmer, Orit Chai, Olga Cuneah, Gilad Segev, Itamar Aroch

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Organophosphates and carbamates are important sources of intoxication for humans and animals. However, large-scale studies of these intoxications in cats are unavailable. Methods: The medical records of 39 cats presented to a veterinary teaching hospital with acute organophosphate or carbamate intoxication were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Mortality in intoxicated cats was 15%. Low respiratory rate and low rectal temperature at presentation were associated with death. Other common clinical signs included weakness, ataxia, apathy, recumbency, anorexia and bradycardia, but these were unassociated with the outcome. The common biochemical abnormalities included decreased serum butyryl-choline esterase activity, acidaemia, hypercarbaemia and total hypocalcaemia, and increased creatine kinase activity and total plasma protein concentration. There were no significant differences in haematological, biochemical and blood gas analytes between survivors and non-survivors. Common medications and treatments included 2-pyridine aldoxime methyl-chloride-pralidoxime (2-PAM) (74%), metoclopramide (64%), antibiotics (64%), diphenhydramine (59%) and atropine sulphate (54%). There were no significant drug and treatment differences between survivors and non-survivors. The secondary complications of the intoxication included pneumonia (10%), acute kidney injury (10%) and pancreatitis (8%). Conclusions: Acute cholinergic crisis due to organophosphate or carbamate intoxication has a fair prognosis in cats. Low respiratory rate and low rectal temperature at presentation were associated with death. The most commonly used specific medications in this study included 2-PAM, diphenhydramine and atropine sulphate.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)no
JournalVeterinary Record
Volume191
Issue number1
Early online date18 Apr 2022
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This manuscript contains some results from a DVM dissertation, submitted by Dr. M. Grabarnik to the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 British Veterinary Association.

Keywords

  • acetylcholine esterase
  • butyrylcholine esterase
  • feline
  • poisoning
  • toxicity

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