NCJ Number
129277
Journal
Journal of the Forensic Science Society Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: (November/December 1990) Pages: 371-376
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A case of paraquat poisoning is reported for 5 foxhounds out of a pack of 10 after returning to their kennels from hunting. Residue levels of paraquat were compared in dogs exhibiting symptoms of acute and sub-acute poisoning.
Abstract
A high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) was used for determining paraquat in the tissue analyses. Paraquat was detected in urine up to six days after exposure. The first two cases were identified as acute paraquat poisoning on the basis of the rapid deterioration and death of the dogs with concomitant high levels of paraquat in the urine and tissues. The post-mortem findings in the third case suggest acute poisoning, whereas in the fourth and fifth cases, the post-mortem findings together with the urine level of 0.18 to 0.62 micrograms/milliliter suggest subacute poisoning. The circumstantial history of the outbreak together with the clinical, post-mortem, and histopathological findings are consistent with a diagnosis of paraquat poisoning. The sources of the paraquat is thought to be a puddle contaminated with paraquat. 1 table and 15 references (Author abstract modified)