Poisoning in animals due to oral application of iron. With description of a case in a horse.
Abstract: Peroral application of iron salts in various types of anemia was previously considered atoxic. The increased use of iron has, however, led to an increasing number of poisoning in children, taking iron tablets for candy. There have only been reported a few number of spontaneous intoxications in animals, but experimentally it has been possible to produce fatal intoxications in various kinds of animal species. The clinical findings are quite similar in the various animals, starting with vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and metabolic acidosis. If the intoxication is severe, shock and coma may develop, and death occurs quite soon. The histological findings are also similar in the various animals, varying from erosions of the tops of the villi to necrosis of the mucosal membrane of the jejunum. Degenerative changes in the liver as well as in the kidney are seen in several cases. The mentioned case was a horse given about 475 g ferro fumarate over a period of 5 days. The horse developed the classic clinical picture and death occurred on day 7. The diagnosis was confirmed by very high levels of iron in the liver, kidney and serum. The blood values of the enzymes ASAT and gamma GT were extremely high as a sign of a severe damage of the liver.
Publication Date: 1981-02-01 PubMed ID: 7232149
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Summary
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The research article discusses the dangers of iron poisoning in animals, primarily through oral intake, and outlines a case study involving a horse. The study challenges the previous belief that oral application of iron salts for anemia was harmless.
About the Research
- The research came about after noticing the increasing numbers of iron poisoning cases, particularly in children who mistakenly ingested iron tablets believing them to be candy.
- While instances of such poisoning in animals were few, the researchers found that they could experimentally trigger a deadly toxic reaction in a variety of animal species.
- The clinical signs observed across species were similar and included vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, and metabolic acidosis. In severe cases, this could escalate to shock, coma, and eventual death.
- These findings challenge the previous thinking that the oral application of iron salts was toxin-free.
Case study of a Horse
- The researchers provided a specific case study of a horse treated with about 475 grams of ferro fumarate, a type of iron salt, over five days.
- The horse developed classic clinical signs of iron poisoning and unfortunately passed away on the seventh day.
- Post-mortem examinations revealed very high levels of iron in the horse’s liver, kidneys, and serum. It also showed extremely high levels of the enzymes ASAT and gamma GT, which indicated severe liver damage.
- The histological findings in the horse mirrored what was observed in other animals, with variations ranging from erosion at the top of the villi to necrosis in the mucosal membrane of the jejunum. Moreover, degenerative changes were observed in the liver and kidneys.
The Importance of this Research
- This research highlights the dangers of iron poisoning in animals, suggesting the need for additional safeguards in environments where animals and children share spaces.
- It prompts the need for more care in the prescription of iron for anemic animals and raises questions about the assumed safety of oral iron salts.
- The findings suggest the need for further research into safe iron dosage and treatment protocols for different animal species.
Cite This Article
APA
Arnbjerg J.
(1981).
Poisoning in animals due to oral application of iron. With description of a case in a horse.
Nord Vet Med, 33(2), 71-76.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Ferrous Compounds / poisoning
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horses
- Iron / poisoning
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Arantes JA, Borges AS, Zakia LS, Surette MG, Weese JS, Costa MC, Arroyo LG. Effect of dietary iron supplementation on the equine fecal microbiome. Can J Vet Res 2023 Apr;87(2):97-104.
- Braun JP, Benard P, Burgat V, Rico AG. Gamma Glutamyl Transferase in domestic animals. Vet Res Commun 1983 Mar;6(2):77-90.
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