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[[Image:Ragwort.JPG|thumb|right|200px|<p>'''Ragwort''']]

[[Image:Ragwort.JPG|thumb|right|200px|<p>'''Ragwort''']]

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

Toxicology is the study of chemicals or substances that can damage tissues or destroy life. Such chemicals and substances are commonly referred to as poisons, and can include plants, pharmacological agents, heavy metals, herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, mycotoxins and snake bite venoms. The key to understanding the effects of potential poisons is to recognise that they all have a dose dependant adverse effect - even water can be toxic when administered or consumed in large quantities!

Toxicology is the study of chemicals or substances that can damage tissues or destroy life. Such chemicals and substances are commonly referred to as poisons, and can include plants, pharmacological agents, heavy metals, herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, mycotoxins and snake bite venoms. The key to understanding the effects of potential poisons is to recognise that they all have a dose dependent adverse effect - even water can be toxic when administered or consumed in large quantities!

Exposure to a toxic substance does not always result in poisoning - the substance must be absorbed and react with tissues/organs for toxicity to occur. The study of this is known as toxicokinetics.

Exposure to a toxic substance does not always result in poisoning - the substance must be absorbed and react with tissues/organs for toxicity to occur. The study of this is known as toxicokinetics.

===Absorption===

===Absorption===

The rate of absorption is dependant on the route of administration and the bioavailability of a substance.  

The rate of absorption is dependent on the route of administration and the bioavailability of a substance.  

The route of administration is significant because of the natural barriers that exist which may prevent or lessen a toxic effect by reducing the dose absorbed. Gastric acid and the low pH of the stomach are significant barriers to the absorption of swallowed substances, but conversely, substances that cause local irritation to the intestinal lining, where most absorption will occur, can enhance uptake as a result of this disruption to the gastrointestinal barrier. In addition, some drugs can increase absorption by utilising transport carrier systems present in the GI tract, and lipid soluble compounds will be more readily absorbed across the GI epithelium. Dermal absorption is more readily achieved in people where there is no fur and an increased vascularity in the dermis, but dermal absorption in animals is increased in areas where there are abrasions, waterlogged skin of exposure to organic solvents.

The route of administration is significant because of the natural barriers that exist which may prevent or lessen a toxic effect by reducing the dose absorbed. Gastric acid and the low pH of the stomach are significant barriers to the absorption of swallowed substances, but conversely, substances that cause local irritation to the intestinal lining, where most absorption will occur, can enhance uptake as a result of this disruption to the gastrointestinal barrier. In addition, some drugs can increase absorption by utilising transport carrier systems present in the GI tract, and lipid soluble compounds will be more readily absorbed across the GI epithelium. Dermal absorption is more readily achieved in people where there is no fur and an increased vascularity in the dermis, but dermal absorption in animals is increased in areas where there are abrasions, waterlogged skin of exposure to organic solvents.

In some tissues there are additional barriers to compounds - the blood brain barrier protects the CNS from water soluble compounds and infectious agents. Lipid soluble substances can cross this barrier - other mechanisms for crossing natural barriers include cellular transport mechanisms (e.g.cyclosporin) or endocytosis (insulin accesses cells in this fashion).

In some tissues there are additional barriers to compounds - the blood brain barrier protects the CNS from water soluble compounds and infectious agents. Lipid soluble substances can cross this barrier - other mechanisms for crossing natural barriers include cellular transport mechanisms (e.g.cyclosporin) or endocytosis (insulin accesses cells in this fashion).

Protein binding can have a number of effects on a potential toxin. When bound to a protein a toxin is usually inactivated, but it cannot be excreted in this form so accumulation can occur. Toxicity can occur when protein levels are low (hypoprotinaemia) or when another substance competeds for the protein binding site - Warfarin is 97% protein bound once absorbed, but can be displaced by NSAIDs and Sulphonamides.

Protein binding can have a number of effects on a potential toxin. When bound to a protein a toxin is usually inactivated, but it cannot be excreted in this form so accumulation can occur. Toxicity can occur when protein levels are low (hypoprotinaemia) or when another substance competes for the protein binding site - Warfarin is 97% protein bound once absorbed, but can be displaced by NSAIDs and Sulphonamides.

===Metabolism===

===Metabolism===

===Organ function===

===Organ function===

There are several classes of drugs that are nephrotoxic, and any underlying condition which reduces renal blood flow or known renal failure will increase the toxic effect of the substance. Several classes of antibiotics are to be nephrotoxic - aminoglycosides (particularly neomycin and  streptomycin, sulphonamides, Amphotericin B and Oxytetracycline (cattle and dogs seem particularly susceptible). The coccidiostat Monensin which is commonly added to cattle and chicken feeds is nephrotoxic to horses - it damages muscle tissue too. Other organs which can be specifically affected by drugs include ototoxicity associated with Gentamicin, and liver toxicity from aflatoxins produced by Aspergillis species that grow in certain cereal grains, most notably corn.

There are several classes of drugs that are nephrotoxic, and any underlying condition which reduces renal blood flow or known renal failure will increase the toxic effect of the substance. Several classes of antibiotics are to be nephrotoxic - aminoglycosides (particularly neomycin and  streptomycin, sulphonamides, Amphotericin B and Oxytetracycline (cattle and dogs seem particularly susceptible). The coccidiostat Monensin which is commonly added to cattle and chicken feeds is nephrotoxic to horses - it damages muscle tissue too. Other organs which can be specifically affected by drugs include ototoxicity associated with Gentamicin, and liver toxicity from aflatoxins produced by ''Aspergillus'' species that grow in certain cereal grains, most notably corn.

==Specific Poisons==

==Specific Poisons==

==Sudden death cases==

==Sudden death cases==

[[File:anthrax.jpg|right|thumb|150px|<small><center> photomicrograph of Bacillus anthracis bacteria using Gram-stain technique. (CDC unknown, Wikimedia commons)</center></small>]]

[[File:anthrax.jpg|right|thumb|150px|<small><center> Photomicrograph of ''Bacillus anthracis'' bacteria using Gram-stain technique. (CDC unknown, Wikimedia commons)</center></small>]]

Investigation of sudden death cases in large animals '''MUST''' start with a check for [[Anthrax#Diagnosis|'''ANTHRAX''']] before any further examination is carried out.  

Investigation of sudden death cases in large animals '''MUST''' start with a check for [[Anthrax#Diagnosis|'''ANTHRAX''']] before any further examination is carried out.  

Try and examine the animal in the place where it fell so that you can look for signs of a struggle/convulsions or any obvious poisons nearby such as yew trees. Look for evidence of lightning strikes too, such as a damaged tree nearby. Check food and water troughs carefully for signs of any contamination. Where groups of animal are affected, examine all the animals present carefully using a full clinical examination as you may get a whole range of symptoms and abnormalities from individual animals which will increase the accuracy of your final diagnosis.  Make very careful notes as your findings may well become crucial at a later date if any further investigation (or court case) is required. Approach these cases as a search for clinical disease or accidental death as this is far more likley than poisoning statistically. As always, take a full clinical history from the owner.  

Try and examine the animal in the place where it fell so that you can look for signs of a struggle/convulsions or any obvious poisons nearby such as yew trees. Look for evidence of lightning strikes too, such as a damaged tree nearby. Check food and water troughs carefully for signs of any contamination. Where groups of animal are affected, examine all the animals present carefully using a full clinical examination as you may get a whole range of symptoms and abnormalities from individual animals which will increase the accuracy of your final diagnosis.  Make very careful notes as your findings may well become crucial at a later date if any further investigation (or court case) is required. Approach these cases as a search for clinical disease or accidental death as this is far more likely than poisoning statistically. As always, take a full clinical history from the owner.  

===Pathological Examination===

===Pathological Examination===

Note any signs of struggle and check the mouth carefully to check for substances such as yew. Check for external sign of trauma or burning (lightning). Open the carcass carefully noting any unusual smells present. Phosphorous poisoning gives a faint smell of garlic, metaldehyde poisoning causes a formulin smell, phenol poisoning smells like carbolic soap and cyanide poisoning created a 'silver polish' smell. These are quickly lost once the carcass has been opened. Check the mucous membranes - bright red membranes can suggest cyanide poisoning, brown membranes are associated with nitrate poisoning. Check for evidence of internal bleeding, and examine the entire GI tract carefully. Some plant toxins such as ragwort demonstrate delayed toxicity so are not detected in the GI tract at time of death. Examine all internal organs, recording the condition of target organs such as the gut, liver, kidneys lungs, heart and CNS. Take the time to contact your regular laboratory and ask them for advice on what samples to collect for laboratory analysis. Always collect duplicate samples in case of any postal delivery problems and label fully at the time of collection. Fresh (or frozen if necessary) samples are often required for analysis of poisons, and faecal and urine samples should be free from preservative. Use glass rather than plastic pots and record all the samples collected. Formal saline samples are indicated where histology is required.

Note any signs of struggle and check the mouth carefully to check for substances such as yew. Check for external sign of trauma or burning (lightning). Open the carcass carefully noting any unusual smells present. Phosphorous poisoning gives a faint smell of garlic, metaldehyde poisoning causes a formulin smell, phenol poisoning smells like carbolic soap and cyanide poisoning created a 'silver polish' smell. These are quickly lost once the carcass has been opened. Check the mucous membranes - bright red membranes can suggest cyanide poisoning, brown membranes are associated with nitrate poisoning. Check for evidence of internal bleeding, and examine the entire GI tract carefully. Some plant toxins such as ragwort demonstrate delayed toxicity so are not detected in the GI tract at time of death. Examine all internal organs, recording the condition of target organs such as the gut, liver, kidneys lungs, heart and CNS. Take the time to contact your regular laboratory and ask them for advice on what samples to collect for laboratory analysis. Always collect duplicate samples in case of any postal delivery problems and label fully at the time of collection. Fresh (or frozen if necessary) samples are often required for analysis of poisons, and faecal and urine samples should be free from preservative. Use glass rather than plastic pots and record all the samples collected. Formal saline samples are indicated where histology is required.