Oxygen therapy and toxicity.

Oxygen (O2) supplementation increases the O2 content of blood, increases the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in the capillary blood, and improves tissue delivery of O2. In addition to improving tissue oxygenation, the administration of O2 may improve the function of O2-dependent cellular systems, such as the cytochrome P450 system, which is important to drug and toxin metabolism; nitric oxide synthase, which regulates vasodilation; and host defense systems. Improved tissue oxygenation is also beneficial for wound healing. Given the important contributions that supplemental O2 can make, it is no wonder that O2 is one of the most common drugs administered in the emergency and intensive care settings.     

Pet bird toxicity and related environmental concerns.

Birds may be exposed to toxins through various sources in their everyday environment. Toxicity may occur through inhalation or oral or dermal exposures. Clinicians diagnose and treat these toxicities in an effort to correct the disease of the individual patient. Recognition of toxicity in the avian patient has further significance as it relates to the patient's environment, including the health of other animals, humans, and the ecosystem. While some toxicities, such as lead and zinc toxicosis, are well-documented in avian species, others are limited to anecdotal reports and extrapolation from other species. Continued research is needed in this area of avian medicine to expand our knowledge and improve our ability to diagnose and treat toxic conditions in birds.     

Fumonisin toxicity in broiler chicks.

The effects of dietary fumonisin B1 were evaluated in young broiler chicks. The experimental design consisted of 5 treatments each with 9 randomly allotted male broiler chicks. Day-old chicks were fed diets containing 0 (feed control), 100, 200, 300, or 400 mg fumonisin B1/kg feed for 21 days. Response variables measured were chick performance, organ weights, serum biochemistry, and histologic parameters. Body weights and average daily gain dramatically decreased with increasing dietary fumonisin B1, and liver, proventriculus, and gizzard weights increased. Diarrhea, thymic cortical atrophy, multifocal hepatic necrosis, biliary hyperplasia, and rickets were present in chicks fed diets containing fumonisin B1. Serum calcium, cholesterol, and aspartate aminotransferase levels all increased at higher fumonisin dietary levels. Results indicate that fumonisin, from Fusarium moniliforme culture material, is toxic in young chicks.     

Oral toxicity of topical preparations.

This chapter covers the hazards that some topical pharmaceutical preparations pose to animals who consume them. Included are medications containing calcipotriene, vitamins A and D, zinc oxide, 5-fluorouracil, brimonidine, imidazoline decongestants, local anesthetics, corticosteroids, antibiotics, salicylates, and benzoyl peroxide.     

Acute urea toxicity in sheep.

Twenty-seven sheep were assigned to three groups in order to study acute urea toxicity. Groups I, II and III were dosed with 0.5, 0.6 annd 0.75 g/kg of urea, respectively. The mean survival times were 165, 109 and 60 minutes, respectively. The following clinical signs such as pronounced muscle fasciculation, trembling, grinding teeth, ataxia, lateral recumbency, bloating, regurgitation, hyperesthesia, mydriasis and convulsions were observed. Anuria and lack of salivation were also present. The primary cause of death in this study was due to respiratory arrest and not cardiovascular collapse. Plasma examinations showed a marked increase in glucose, ammonia and urea levels but no change in ketone body concentration.     

The toxicity of ochratoxin to ruminants.

Among the mold toxins the most toxic ochratoxin, ochratoxin A, commonly occurs in many grains, other feedstuffs, and in soil but in low concentrations. The amount required to produce acute toxicity in ruminants makes such occurrences unlikely. Toxic effects are more likely to occur in chronic low-level intoxication. The lethal single oral dose in cattle is high, probably being a few milligrams more than 13 mg/kg. The lethal level produced by repeated feeding to goats was 3 mg/kg. Ochratoxin A occurred in cows milk and urine but only when massive doses were ingested. Abortion or fetal death, though occurring in rodents, are unlikely to be induced in cattle.