Concurrent ivermectin and Solanum spp. toxicosis in a herd of horses.
Abstract: Representatives from a herd of horses with acute onset of neurologic signs after administration of ivermectin presented for evaluation and treatment. Objective: Describe clinical signs of horses intoxicated by ingestion of Solanum sp. and administered ivermectin. Methods: Six of 11 affected unrelated horses presented for evaluation and treatment. The remaining 5 affected horses were treated at the farm. Four additional horses, housed separately, were unaffected. Methods: Case series is presented. Serum ivermectin concentrations were evaluated in the 6 hospitalized horses. The remnants of the tubes of ivermectin paste were analyzed for ivermectin concentration. The hay fed to the affected horses was analyzed for the presence of toxic plants. Results: Serum ivermectin concentrations were higher than expected, given the dosage of ivermectin administered. The ivermectin concentration remaining in the administration tubes did not exceed specifications. The hay was heavily contaminated by 2 Solanum species. All horses returned to normal neurologic function with supportive care. Conclusions: Horses might exhibit signs of ivermectin toxicity after appropriate dosing of the drug if they concurrently consume toxic plants of the Solanum family.
Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2012-09-04 PubMed ID: 22947027DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00996.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper reveals that horses, which ingested a species of toxic plants in the Solanum family concurrently with being administered ivermectin, displayed signs of ivermectin toxicity, despite the drug dosage being appropriate. This was observed in a herd of horses that demonstrated sudden onset of neurological symptoms. Recovery was achieved in all cases through supportive care.
Objective and Method
- The study aimed to present and analyse the clinical symptoms of horses intoxicated by ingesting Solanum species while being administered ivermectin.
- Six out of eleven affected horses were taken in for evaluation and treatment. The remaining five affected horses were treated on the farm while the four horses kept separately showed no signs of intoxication.
- This study accounts for the cases in form of a series.
Investigation and Findings
- Investigation was performed by analysing serum ivermectin concentrations in the six hospitalized horses.
- The remaining paste of ivermectin from the tubes was also analyzed for its concentration.
- The hay consumed by the affected horses was scrutinized for the presence of toxic plants.
- Interestingly, the serum concentrations of ivermectin in affected horses were found to be higher than what would be expected given the dosage of the drug that was administered. The unused ivermectin left in the tubes was found to be within its specified concentration limits.
- Furthermore, the hay consumed by the horses was found to be heavily contaminated with two species of the Solanum plants.
Conclusion
- Despite the standard dosing of ivermectin, signs of ivermectin toxicity were apparent, this occurrence was linked to the concurrent consumption of Solanum family toxic plants.
- All the horses were eventually able to return to their normal neurological function after receiving supportive care.
Cite This Article
APA
Norman TE, Chaffin MK, Norton PL, Coleman MC, Stoughton WB, Mays T.
(2012).
Concurrent ivermectin and Solanum spp. toxicosis in a herd of horses.
J Vet Intern Med, 26(6), 1439-1442.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00996.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX 77843, USA. tnorman@cvm.tamu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antiparasitic Agents / administration & dosage
- Antiparasitic Agents / adverse effects
- Antiparasitic Agents / therapeutic use
- Central Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced
- Central Nervous System Diseases / pathology
- Central Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
- Food Contamination
- Herb-Drug Interactions
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Ivermectin / administration & dosage
- Ivermectin / adverse effects
- Ivermectin / therapeutic use
- Plants, Toxic
- Solanum / classification
- Solanum / toxicity
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Rosa B. Equine Drug Transporters: A Mini-Review and Veterinary Perspective. Pharmaceutics 2020 Nov 8;12(11).
- Schrenk D, Bignami M, Bodin L, Chipman JK, Del Mazo J, Hogstrand C, Hoogenboom LR, Leblanc JC, Nebbia CS, Nielsen E, Ntzani E, Petersen A, Sand S, Schwerdtle T, Vleminckx C, Wallace H, Brimer L, Cottrill B, Dusemund B, Mulder P, Vollmer G, Binaglia M, Ramos Bordajandi L, Riolo F, Roldán-Torres R, Grasl-Kraupp B. Risk assessment of glycoalkaloids in feed and food, in particular in potatoes and potato-derived products. EFSA J 2020 Aug;18(8):e06222.
- Kees M, Beckel N, Sharp C. Successful treatment of Solanum dulcamara intoxication in a Labrador retriever puppy. Can Vet J 2015 Dec;56(12):1283-6.
- Darby S, DeNotta S, Gomez DE. Ivermectin toxicosis in a foal: Use of intravenous lipid emulsion therapy. Can Vet J 2025 Sep;66(9):1004-1008.
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