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Home / Equine Research Bank / Sci Total Environ / Suspected poisoning of domestic animals by pesticides.
The Science of the total environment2015; 539; 331-336; doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.005

Suspected poisoning of domestic animals by pesticides.

Abstract: A retrospective study was carried out by reviewing all suspected cases of domestic animal poisoning attributed to pesticides, reported to the Milan Poison Control Centre (MPCC) between January 2011 and December 2013. During this period, pesticides were found to be responsible for 37.3% of all suspected poisoning enquiries received (815). The most commonly species involved was the dog (71.1% of calls) followed by the cat (15.8%), while a limited number of cases involved horses, goats and sheep. Most cases of exposure (47.1%) resulted in mild to moderate clinical signs. The outcome was reported in 59.9% of these cases, with death occurring in 10.4% of them. Insecticides (40.8%) proved to be the most common group of pesticides involved and exposure to pyrethrins-pyrethroids accounted for the majority of calls. According to the MPCC data, there has been a decrease in the number of suspected poisonings cases attributed to pesticides that have been banned by the EU, including aldicarb, carbofuran, endosulfan and paraquat. In contrast, there has been an increase of suspected poisoning cases attributed to the neonicotinoids, imidacloprid and acetamiprid, probably due to their widespread use in recent years. Cases of suspected poisoning that involved exposure to rodenticides accounted for 27.6% of calls received by the MPCC and anticoagulant rodenticides were the primary cause of calls, with many cases involving brodifacoum and bromadiolone. Herbicides were involved in 14.2% of calls related to pesticides and glyphosate was the main culprit in cases involving dogs, cats, horses, goats and sheep. As far as exposure to molluscicides (11.5%) and fungicides (5.9%), most of the cases involved dogs and the suspected poisoning agents were metaldehyde and copper compounds respectively. The data collected are useful in determining trends in poisoning episodes and identifying newly emerging toxicants, thus demonstrating the prevalence of pesticides as causative agents in animal poisonings.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2015-09-11 PubMed ID: 26367188DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.005Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research paper reviews cases of domestic animal poisonings believed to come from pesticides, which accounted for over a third of the inquiries received by the Milan Poison Control Centre between 2011 and 2013. Dogs were most commonly involved, with insecticides like pyrethrins-pyrethroids being the most common cause of these poisonings.

Pesticides as the Cause of Domestic Animal Poisoning

The research examined incidences of domestic animal poisonings attributed to pesticides. This data was sourced from investigations carried out by the Milan Poison Control Centre (MPCC) over a period of two years. The study found that pesticides were implicated in 37.3% of suspected poisonings, a clear indication of their significant role in animal poisoning cases.

Domestic Animal Species Most Affected

According to the data, the domestic animal most frequently affected was the dog, making up 71.1% of all poisoning calls. Cats followed at 15.8%, while horses, goats and sheep accounted for the minority of cases. This suggests that dogs and cats are more prone to pesticide poisoning, likely due to their frequent and close interaction with environments where pesticides are commonly used.

Severity and Outcome of Pesticide Poisoning

  • The study found that in just under half of the cases, the poisonings resulted in mild to moderate clinical signs, highlighting the potential health risks of pesticide exposure to domestic animals.
  • The outcomes were reported in approximately 60% of these cases. Of these, death occurred in about 10% of incidents, illustrating the fatal risk posed by pesticide poisoning.

Common Pesticides Involved

Insecticides, particularly pyrethrins-pyrethroids, accounted for the majority of poisoning calls. These compounds are widely used in agriculture and pest control, thus increasing the odds of domestic animals coming into contact with them. Cases of rodenticide poisoning were also significant, constituting 27.6% of calls, with the substances most often implicated being anticoagulant rodenticides like brodifacoum and bromadiolone.

Decrease in Poisonings Attributed to Banned Pesticides and Increase in Newer Pesticides

The study observed a trend in the use of pesticides, noting that suspected poisoning cases linked to banned pesticides like aldicarb, carbofuran, endosulfan, and paraquat decreased. However, the number of suspected poisoning cases attributed to newer pesticides, such as neonicotinoids imidacloprid and acetamiprid, increased.

Herbicides, Molluscicides and Fungicides also involved in Poisoning

Herbicides, molluscicides, and fungicides were also involved in the poisoning of domestic animals to some degree. Dogs were primarily affected, and the compounds most often involved were glyphosate (a herbicide), metaldehyde (a molluscicide) and copper compounds (fungicides).

The study proves useful in identifying evolving trends in animal poisoning episodes and aids in forecasting potential emerging toxicants.

Cite This Article

APA
Caloni F, Cortinovis C, Rivolta M, Davanzo F. (2015). Suspected poisoning of domestic animals by pesticides. Sci Total Environ, 539, 331-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.005

Publication

The Science of the total environment
ISSN: 1879-1026
NlmUniqueID: 0330500
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 539
Pages: 331-336
PII: S0048-9697(15)30666-5

Researcher Affiliations

Caloni, Francesca
  • Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.caloni@unimi.it.
Cortinovis, Cristina
  • Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
Rivolta, Marina
  • Milan Poison Control Centre, Ospedale Niguarda Cà Granda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162 Milan, Italy.
Davanzo, Franca
  • Milan Poison Control Centre, Ospedale Niguarda Cà Granda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162 Milan, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic
  • Cats
  • Dogs
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Horses
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Pesticides / poisoning
  • Poison Control Centers
  • Poisoning / epidemiology
  • Sheep

Citations

This article has been cited 23 times.
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