Human Poisoning Research Articles

A Broad-Spectrum Phage Endolysin (LysCP28) Able to Remove Biofilms and Inactivate Clostridium perfringens Strains.

Clostridium perfringens is a gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium capable of producing four major toxins which cause disease symptoms and pathogenesis in humans and animals. C. perfringens strains carrying enterotoxins can cause food poisoning in humans and are associated with meat consumption. An endolysin, named LysCP28, is encoded by orf28 from C. perfringens bacteriophage BG3P. This protein has an N-terminal glycosyl-hydrolase domain (lysozyme) and a C-terminal SH3 domain. Purified LysCP28 (38.8 kDa) exhibited a broad spectrum of lytic activity against C. perfringens strains (77 of 96 or 80.21%), including A, B, C, and D types, isolated from different sources. Moreover, LysCP28 (10 μg/mL) showed high antimicrobial activity and was able to lyse 2 × 107 CFU/mL C. perfringens ATCC 13124 and C. perfringens J21 (animal origin) within 2 h. Necessary due to this pathogenic bacterium's ability to form biofilms, LysCP28 (18.7 μg/mL) was successfully evaluated as an antibiofilm agent in both biofilm removal and formation inhibition. Finally, to confirm the efficacy of LysCP28 in a food matrix, duck meat was contaminated with C. perfringens and treated with endolysin (100 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL), which reduced viable bacteria by 3.2 and 3.08 units-log, respectively, in 48 h at 4 °C. Overall, the endolysin LysCP28 could potentially be used as a biopreservative to reduce C. perfringens contamination during food processing.

Citrus Aurantifolia Essential Oil Composition, Bioactivity, and Antibacterial Mode of Action on Salmonella Enterica, a Foodborne Pathogen

Salmonella enterica is a well-known pathogenic bacterium that can cause intracellular illness and food poisoning in humans, especially salmonellosis. In the present study, 20 essential oils of aromatic plants were screened for their antibacterial activity against S. enterica. Among the essential oils screened, Citrus aurantifolia essential oil (CAEO) demonstrated most efficient activity against S. enterica. CAEO had minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 8 and 16 μl/mL, respectively. A significant scavenging of radical cations was observed with CAEO using 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl with an IC50 of 0.2147 mg/mL. Total phenolic content of CAEO was 10.90 mg GAE/100 μL. The treatment of bacterium with CAEO caused the leakage of cellular components, i.e., both nucleic acids and proteins. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to measure the ultrastructure of control and treated bacterium (due to CAEO). The results of SEM reveal a loss of cellular integrity and function of bacterial cell membrane. The GC/GC-MS analysis of CAEO revealed E-citral (67.97%) as a major chemical component. CAEO may be considered as a safe antibacterial agent against foodborne S. enterica. The present study investigated a detailed analysis of antibacterial activity of C. aurantifolia essential oil, which can provide insight for further studies.

Pretreatment of rhesus monkeys with transdermal patches containing physostigmine and procyclidine: implications of the delivery system for the potential application against VX nerve agent intoxication in humans.

Physostigmine (Phs) is a reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) that penetrates the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and could be used to protect the central nervous system (CNS) against the effects of nerve agents. For prophylactic effectiveness, long, steady, and adequate inhibition of AChE activity by Phs is needed to broadly protect against the CNS effects of nerve agents. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of transdermal patches containing Phs and procyclidine (PC) as prophylactic agents. Patches (25 cm2) containing 4.4mg Phs and 17.8mg PC had a protective ratio of approximately 78.6-fold in rhesus monkeys challenged with VX nerve agent and given an antidote. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic model in conjunction with an indirect pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) was developed for Phs and scaled to rhesus monkeys. The model was able to reproduce the concentration profile and inhibitory effect on AChE of Phs in monkeys, as evidenced by correlation coefficients of 0.994 and 0.992 for 25 cm2 and 49 cm2 patches, respectively (i.e., kinetic data), and 0.989 and 0.968 for 25 cm2 and 49 cm2 patches, respectively (i.e., dynamic data). By extending the monkey PBPK/ PD model to humans, the effective human dose was predicted to be five applications of a 25 cm2 patch (i.e., 22mg Phs), and two applications of a 49cm2 patch (i.e., 17.4mg Phs). Therefore, given that patch application of Phs in rhesus monkeys has a prolonged effect (namely, AChE inhibition of 19.6% for the 25 cm2 patch and 23.0% for the 49 cm2 patch) for up to 216h, patch formulation of Phs may provide similar protection against nerve agent intoxication in humans.

Determination of amygdalin in kernels and their products by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside, a natural toxicant in Rosaceae spp. such as almonds, peaches, and apricots, and may appear in products containing them. Amygdalin, after being absorbed into the body, will be hydrolyzed and release hydrocyanic acid, which is capable of causing poisoning in humans. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with negative mode electrospray ionization and multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used to develop and validate a method for determining amygdalin on food according to AOAC guidelines. Chloramphenicol was chosen as the internal standard. The mobile phase consists of two channels: channel A (formic acid 0.1%), channel B (acetonitril) and the solid phase is symmetry C18 column (3 mm × 150 mm, 3.5 μm). The method has been validated according to AOAC 2016 guidelines. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation of amygdalin in food was 15 and 50 μg/kg, respectively. The linearity ranges from 1.68 to 33.6 ng/mL. Recovery was from 86.2 to 110.0 %, and the relative standard was from 2.8 to 5.0 %. The validated method is applied to determine amygdalin content in some kernels and their products on Hanoi's market.  

An efficient Apriori algorithm for frequent pattern in human intoxication data

An efficient Apriori algorithm for frequent pattern in human intoxication data

A case series of accidental xylazine intoxication in humans; Is there a role of naloxone as an antidote?

Xylazine is a type of sedative commonly used in veterinary medicine. It acts on the central alpha-2 receptor and suppresses norepinephrine release from the peripheral nerve terminal. It is also reported to have action on cholinergic, serotogenic, H2-histamine, dopaminergic, and opioid receptors. Once administered in animals, it causes hypotension, bradycardia, central nervous system depression, and respiratory depression. The effect will start within minutes after absorption and last up to 4 h depending on the dosage given. Till date, it is only exclusively used in animals as approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Human intoxication is uncommon, and no specific antidote is available. Naloxone, a competitive opioid receptor antagonist, was postulated to have an antidotal effect on xylazine. We report two cases of accidental human injection with xylazine. Naloxone was administered in one of the cases. Acute hypertension and mydriasis were observed; however, no apparent reversal of toxidrome was seen. This finding reveals the question regarding the efficacy and benefit of naloxone usage in xylazine intoxication. General management remains supportive of care focusing on ventilation and hemodynamics. Attending physicians should be aware of potential xylazine intoxication incidents in the area of livestock or veterinary activities.

A calf with hind limb paralysis and dysstasia and a genome sequence analysis of an isolated Clostridium perfringens toxinotype E strain.

Clostridium perfringens toxinotype E infections are rare in calves, and the development of intestinal lesions were commonly observed. In 2012, a 6-day-old calf in Japan exhibited swelling with emphysema on the right gluteal region, sudden paralysis of the hind limb and dysstasia. A pathological examination revealed myositis of the gluteal muscle and neuritis of the ischiatic nerve. C. perfringens type E strain CP118 was isolated from the affected muscle. However, the intestinal symptoms and lesions that commonly develop in type E infections in calves were not detected in the present case. Genome analyses revealed that CP118 possessed 16 virulence-related genes, including enterotoxin, and was closely related to other type E and F strains. Particularly, CP118 was more closely related to type E strains from humans, including a food poisoning case, than calf isolates, suggesting its potential to cause food poisoning in humans and, thus, its importance as a potential risk to public health. Since CP118 did not possess the reported toxin genes associated with neuropathy, pyogenic inflammation caused by CP118 and/or other bacteria may have damaged the ischiatic nerve, resulting in neuropathy. Alternatively, unidentified CP118 toxins may have caused the neuropathy. This is the first study to report C. perfringens type E infection with peripheral neuropathy. The distribution of all the reported virulence-related genes in the C. perfringens population as well as the details of this rare case will provide further insights into C. perfringens type E infections.

Development of a new quantification method of Sarcocystis cruzi through detection of the acetyl-CoA synthetase gene.

Sarcocystis cruzi is a member of the genus Sarcocystis, infecting bovine animals such as cattle and bison as intermediate hosts, and canids such as dogs and raccoon dogs as definitive hosts. Acute sarcocystosis of S. cruzi causes occasional symptoms in cattle, including weight loss, reduced milk production, abortions, and death, and similar to other Sarcocystis species can potentially cause food poisoning in humans when raw or undercooked infected cattle meat is consumed. Despite these issues, genetic information on S. cruzi is scarce, and there is no specific quantitative method for the detection and quantification of the parasite in infected cattle. In this study, we aimed to develop a method based on high-throughput sequencing of S. cruzi genome and transcriptome that specifically and quantitatively detects the S. cruzi acetyl-CoA synthetase gene (ScACS). Cardiac muscles were collected from slaughterhouses in Saitama Prefecture to obtain sarcocysts from which DNA and RNA were extracted for the high-throughput sequencing. Using the sequences, we developed a specific quantitative PCR assay which could distinguish S. cruzi ACS from that of Toxoplasma gondii by taking advantage of the differences in their exon/intron organizations and validated the assay with the microscopic counting of the S. cruzi bradyzoites. Thus, this assay will be useful for future studies of S. cruzi pathogenesis in cattle and for the surveillance of infected animals, thereby easing public health concerns.

A metal ion-coordinated DNA probe for sensitive fluorescence detection of metallothionein via a dual nucleic acid amplification strategy.

Sensitively monitoring metallothionein (MT), a heavy metal-binding protein with substantial cysteine content, is of significance for evaluating heavy metal poisoning in both humans and animals. Based on a new metal ion-coordinated DNA probe and the heavy metal ion binding capability of MT, as well as the substantial signal enhancement of the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and rolling circle amplification (RCA), we demonstrate a highly sensitive fluorescence MT detection assay. MT binds the metal ions in the hairpin structured, metal ion-coordinated DNA probe to switch its hairpin structure into ssDNA, which triggers subsequent RCA reactions and HCRs to open plenty of fluorescently quenched signal hairpins to exhibit drastically amplified fluorescence recovery for assaying MT down to 0.58 nM within a dynamic range of 1-320 nM. In addition, the investigation of low contents of MT in diluted human serum by such an assay has also been verified, indicating its promising application potential for diagnosing heavy metal poisoning.

Amitraz poisoning – A rare and uncommon case of poisoning and its management

A 25-year-old male presented to the peripheral hospital with an alleged history of ingestion of amitraz toxin 12.5% (approximately 150 mL), and presented with complaints of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and weakness. On examination, he was conscious but disoriented and agitated, oxygen saturation (SpO2) was 89%–90% on room air, pulse rate was 40/min, blood pressure (BP) was 110/70 mmHg, and bilateral (B/L) crepitations were present on auscultation. Emergency treatment included – intravenous(IV) fluid, atropine 0.6 mg IV, and gastric lavage. Oxygen was given through an oxygen mask with a reservoir bag at 10 L/min. After some time, the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) started deteriorating, and arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis revealed severe acidosis with pH of 7.109, pCO2 – 73, and HCO3 – 23.1, and immediately, the patient was transferred to a higher center given falling GCS, decreased saturation, and ABG finding. On presentation in the emergency department in our tertiary care center, the patient was unconscious, SpO2 was 69% on oxygen nonrebreathing mask – NRBM Mask at 15 L, BP was 128/78 mmHg, pulse rate was 104/min, and B/L crepitations were present on auscultation. The patient was immediately intubated in casualty and shifted to the intensive care unit for further management. Amitraz is a triazapentadiene, 1,5 di (2,4 dimethylphenyl) 3 methyl 1,3,5 triaza penta 1,4 diene, a formamidine pesticide, α2 adrenergic agonist in the central nervous system belongs to the amidine chemical family. The systemic effect of amitraz toxin is due to the activation of the pure α2-adrenergic agonist. It is a rare kind of poisoning in humans, and there exists a paucity of literature on the management of the aforementioned poisoning. Only a limited number of case reports of human intoxication have been published and most of them are of accidental ingestion by children. Due to insubstantial data on its management, this case report will be advantageous for practitioners working in emergency and intensive care departments.

Hemolytic crisis in 8-year-old known case of glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency secondary to Heliotropium curassavicum ingestion: a case report

Background: The genus Heliotropium encompasses plants that exhibit a variety of pharmacological properties. Even though this plant has many therapeutic uses, some portions of salt heliotrope contain high concentrations of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), which have been extremely hazardous substances that can seriously impair the liver of both humans and animals. Human poisoning cases are extremely uncommon. Symptoms of poisoning, which often include hemolytic jaundice, photosensitization, and eventually death. Case Presentation: An 8-year-old boy, with a known case of autism and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, presented to our institute complaining of vomiting and diarrhea after ingestion of a part of a leaf in the farm (Heliotropium Curassavicum); blood workup was ordered and it showed hemolytic anemia crisis and was managed by hydration and blood transfusion. Conclusion: This case adds to the literature by documenting an acute hemolytic anemia crisis due to the ingestion of H. curassavicum in an 8-year-old child who has been diagnosed with G6PD deficiency.

Bacteria-mediated RNAi for managing fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea: screening target genes and analyzing lethal effect.

The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, an invasive forest pest found worldwide, causes serious ecological and economic damage. Currently, the application of chemical pesticides is the most widely used strategy for H. cunea management. However, long-term pesticide use leads to pest resistance, phytotoxicity, human poisoning, and environmental deterioration. RNA interference (RNAi) technology may provide an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option for H. cunea control. However, effective RNAi targets and application methods for H. cunea are lacking. We screened and obtained two highly effective RNAi targets, vATPase A (V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A) and Rop (Ras opposite), from 23 candidate genes, using initial and repeat screening tests with the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) injection method. RNAi against these two genes was effective in suppressing each target messenger RNA level and interfering with larval growth, leading to significant larval mortality and pupal abnormality. For massive production of dsRNA and practical application of RNAi technology in H. cunea, transformed bacteria expressing dsRNAs of these two genes were prepared using the L4440 expression vector and HT115 strain of Escherichia coli. Oral administration of bacterially expressed dsRNA targeting vATPase A and Rop genes showed high mortality and the same malformed phenotype as the injection treatment. To further investigate the lethal effects of targeting these two genes on larval development, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on RNAi samples. The results demonstrated disorders in multiple metabolic pathways, and the expression levels of most genes related to insect cuticle metabolism were significantly different, which may directly threaten insect survival. In addition, some new findings were obtained via RNA-seq analysis; for example, the progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation and oocyte meiosis processes were significantly different after silencing vATPase A, and the insect olfactory protein-related genes were significantly downregulated after dsHcRop treatment. vATPase A and Rop are two highly effective RNAi-mediated lethal genes in H. cunea that regulate insect growth via multiple metabolic pathways. Oral delivery of bacterially expressed dsRNA specific to vATPase A and Rop can potentially be used for RNAi-based H. cunea management. This is the first study to apply bacteria-mediated RNAi for the control of this invasive pest, which is a major step forward in the application of the RNAi technology in H. cunea. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Correlation Air CO Level with HbCo Level, Hemoglobin, and Blood Pressure to Street Vendors in The Gading Fajar Sidoarjo Street Vendor Area

Motor vehicles emit exhaust gas emissions that produce pollutants, one of the compounds contained is carbon monoxide (CO). CO may cause intoxication in humans if exposed for a long time especially street vendors because the work area is filled with vehicle fumes containing CO gas. High CO levels in the air indicate HbCO levels to increase. The increased of HbCO levels will cause abnormal hemoglobin levels and induce vasoconstriction which makes blood pressure increase. The purpose of this study was to prove the correlation between CO levels in the air with HbCO, hemoglobin, and blood pressure levels to street vendors in the Gading Fajar Sidoarjo Street Vendor Area. This research uses the Conway diffusion cell method and is an analytic observational study with a cross sectional design implemented at the Surabaya Health Laboratory Center and the Hematology Laboratory of Medical Laboratory Technology Department Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya in March 2022. Blood tests was carried out on 25 street vendors using random sampling technique. The results showed that average air CO level was 11.0 ppm and 13.3 ppm; mean HbCO levels 0.87%; mean hemoglobin levels 14.4 g/dL; mean systolic blood pressure levels 128 mmHg; and the mean of diastolic blood pressure levels 80 mmHg. The data were analyzed using SPSS. The outcome of normality test showed that the data was not normally distributed. Statistical tests was performed using Spearman correlation. The conclusion showed there was correlation between air CO level with HbCO level, hemoglobin level, and blood pressure level on street vendors in the Gading Fajar Sidoarjo Street Vendor Area. If CO levels in the air increase, then HbCO levels and blood pressure also increase. Street vendors are expected to always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as mouth masks when working to reduce the risk of exposure to CO gas and doing a healthy lifestyle as a preventive effort to avoid health problems.

Recent advances in development of electrochemical biosensors for the detection of biogenic amines.

Biogenic amines (BAs) are widely found in food as a consequence of diverse factors including free amino acid availability, microbial production of decarboxylases, and variations in processing and storage conditions. Hence, BAs are considered as an important marker for determining the freshness and quality of food. Owing to the documentation of BAs in different dietary products, their numerous negative impacts on human health have reported to be a serious concern in past few decades. Therefore, the quantification of these chemical species in food becomes crucial as it can immensely contributes toward control of new episodes on food intoxication in humans. In this line, various chromatographic and colorimetric methods have been developed to detect BAs. However, these methods are in use from a longer time, still are limited by high cost, lengthy procedures, huge infrastructure and skilled personnel requirements that hinder their on-field application. In pursuit of a reliable method offering accurate detection of BAs, this review presents the state-of-the-art of electrochemical strategies for BAs sensing in food. The core of the review discusses about the widely employed electrochemical transducers, such as amperometric, potentiometric, impedimetric and conductometric-based BAs biosensors with significant findings of research work conducted previously. The application of electrochemical sensors to analyze BAs in different fields including food systems (fermented and non-fermented types) and smart packaging systems has been reviewed. Moreover, existing challenges and further available prospects for the development of rapid, facile, and sensitive electrochemical strategies for on-site determination of BAs have also been discussed.

Collateral Effects of Insecticide-Treated Nets on Human and Environmental Safety in an Epidemiological Model for Malaria with Human Risk Perception.

Malaria remains a major health problem in many parts of the world, including Sub-Saharan Africa. Insecticide-treated nets, in combination with other control measures, have been effective in reducing malaria incidence over the past two decades. Nevertheless, there are concerns about improper handling and misuse of nets, producing possible health effects from intoxication and collateral environmental damage. The latter is caused, for instance, from artisanal fishing. We formulate a model of impulsive differential equations to describe the interplay between malaria dynamics, human intoxication, and ecosystem damage; affected by human awareness to these risks and levels of net usage. Our results show that an increase in mosquito net coverage reduces malaria prevalence and increases human intoxications. In addition, a high net coverage significantly reduces the risk perception to disease, naturally increases the awareness for intoxications from net handling, and scarcely increases the risk perception to collateral damage from net fishing. According to our model, campaigns aiming at reducing disease prevalence or intoxications are much more successful than those creating awareness to ecosystem damage. Furthermore, we can observe from our results that introducing closed fishing periods reduces environmental damage more significantly than strategies directed towards increasing the risk perception for net fishing.

Fresh vegetables and fruit as a source of Salmonella bacteria.

Increased consumer awareness of the health aspects of the diet has influenced the increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. Due to the fact that these products are mainly consumed raw and are usually not subjected to processes that reduce their microbiological contamination, they become a source of infection and transmit pathogens causing food poisoning in humans. Salmonella bacteria are a serious treat to human health and remain a serious problem in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to review the current state of knowledge regarding the prevalence of Salmonella bacteria on fresh fruit and vegetables. Attention is also given to the mechanisms by which these bacteria adapt to colonize plants. Methods that can prevent contamination of plant products by the bacteria are also analyzed. The review was based on data obtained from scientific articles published in the Science Direct and Pub Med database between 2007 - 2022, found with the use of the following keywords: Salmonella, fruit, vegetables, food contamination. Data from the literature report that fresh fruit and vegetables are a source of Salmonella contamination through contact with soil, manure, compost, water or staff. Actions targeting salmonellosis prevention should be undertaken by both the public and private sectors. Government regulations and stricter measures put in place can provide a framework that guides both domestic production and international imports. Periodic training of workers dealing with food is also important. Attention should be directed mainly to production control and less to the testing of final products. Education leading to increased awareness of salmonellosis should be indispensable.

Ozone disinfection of grain from granary weevil and confused flour beetle

The methods of combating the most common harmful insects in the central regions of the Russian Federation, which cause damage to agricultural products during storage, were studied. The experiment was carried out in laboratory conditions by ozonation disinsection of a grain heap of winter wheat. The object of research is granary weevils (Sitophilus granaries L.) and confused flour beetles (Tribolium confusum L.). It is noted that the currently recommended ozone concentrations for disinfection can be dangerous for the health of service personnel. The possibility of ozone treatment at lower values (up to 5 mg/m3) was investigated. It was found that ozone concentration in the range of 3-5 mg/m3 at an exposure of 300 min is sufficient for the complete destruction of the granary weevils. Since it is difficult to maintain a constant gas content, it is necessary to focus on the dose of ozone treatment over 1315 mg·min/m3. For the complete destruction of the confused flour beetles, at least 460 min should be ozonated at the specified parameters. The dose of ozone treatment should exceed 1935 mg·min/m3. Ozonation should be carried out until about half of the insects die.The remaining part of the pests dies within the next day after the treatment, since ozone, acting on the hemolymph, practically eliminates the possibility of survival of beetles after their paralysis. The use of the studied gas concentration indicators contributes to improving the quality of grain seeds.Ozone disinfection with the specified parameters can be combined with the operation of pre-sowing preparation of the seed material. Due to the high activity of ozone, such concentrations quickly decompose into molecular oxygen, which significantly reduces the risk of human poisoning.

Determination of Heavy Metals and Ascorbic Acids in Some Soft Drinks Sold Within Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria

Soft drinks are consumed in Nigeria due to their easy availability, distinct taste and ability to quench thirst. However, the high demand can reduce production quality due to possible heavy metal contamination, leading to human poisoning and death. This study evaluated some components of 100 soft drinks in Nigeria and investigated the presence of heavy metal contaminants and ascorbic acid concentrations. The presence of Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Manganese, Nickel and Chromium in soft drinks was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer; the Ascorbic acid was determined using the titrimetric method. The analysis of the soft drink revealed that Arsenic was present in all the samples in a concentration ranging from 0.017 to 0.33 mg/l; Cadmium - 0.027 to 0.160 mg/l; Lead - 0.046 to 0.109 mg/l; Manganese - 0.036 to 0.116 mg/l; Nickel - 0.002 to 0.110 mg/l; Chromium - 0.057 to 0.122 mg/l. The attention of ascorbic acid ranged between 4.03 to 7.2 mg/100 ml. Compared to WHO standards, the levels of the heavy metal contaminants were above the tolerated limits for good quality drinking water in most samples. Moreover, the ascorbic acid values in this analysis were lower than those the manufacturers reported. Therefore, the National Health Surveillance agency should monitor ascorbic acid. These results suggest that soft drinks in Nigeria may be contaminated with heavy metals, which constitute a significant public health problem. Quality control is recommended during production, especially during sterilization and purification steps.

Tissue accumulation of tetrodotoxin (TTX) and analogues in trumpet shell Charonia lampas

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin responsible for a human intoxication event in Spain associated with the consumption of trumpet shell Charonia lampas. In Europe, TTX is not regulated or monitored, and there is little knowledge about its presence in seafood. Here, we investigated the tissue distribution of TTX and analogues in three specimens of trumpet shell C. lampas bought in a market in southern Portugal. Toxin concentration was above the EFSA recommended limit in the non-edible tissues of all specimens and within the limit in the edible tissues of two specimens. 4,9-AnhydroTTX and 13 additional TTX analogues were detected in tissues, the most abundant being anhydrotrideoxyTTX and trideoxyTTX. These results suggest that although thorough evisceration may lower the amount of TTX consumed, it may not be sufficient to ensure consumer safety. Regular monitoring of TTX and analogues in trumpet shell and other edible gastropods is therefore recommended to avoid poisoning incidents.

Treatment of flurbiprofen overdose with therapeutic plasma exchange in a dog

AbstractA 2‐year‐old, spayed, female boxer was referred after ingestion of 30 mg/kg flurbiprofen. Treatment included therapeutic plasma exchange in addition to conventional medical management. Therapeutic plasma exchange was efficient in removing flurbiprofen from the dog's plasma, with one complication being a transient face swelling. Despite three‐times lethal dose (LD50) intoxication, the patient fully recovered after transient azotaemia and proteinuria. This case presentation confirms that extracorporeal blood purification may be effective in treating a lethal consumption of flurbiprofen and may provide important resources for human and veterinary patient intoxication care, as flurbiprofen is widely used.