Clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome of acute organophosphate or carbamate intoxication in 39 cats
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, 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.
“Clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome of acute organophosphate or carbamate intoxication in 39 cats” Sigal Klainbart, et al. Vet Rec. 2022 Apr 18;e1633. doi: 10.1002/vetr.1633.
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