EFFECTS OF SORBENTS DURING ORGANOPHOSPHATE INTOXICATION IN SHEEP

Effects of zeolite and active charcoal during organophosphate VX intox ication in sheep were studied. In the first group of experiments zeoli te was given to experimental sheep at a dose of 2 g/kg b.w. followed ( after 20 min) by oral administration of organophosphate. After the org anophosphate doses of 80, 41 and 33 mu g/kg b.w. all of the animals di ed. In animals treated with 33 mu g/kg b.w. of the organophosphate and zeolite, higher cholinesterase activities were observed (experimental group AChE(30min) = 19,4%, BuChE(30min) = 17,6%, control group AChE(3 0min) = 15,1%, BuChE(30min) = 5,7%), despite the deaths of all animals . Protective effects of zeolite were observed in sheep at the poison d oses of 26 mu g/kg b.w. (experimental group AChE(48hr) = 24,1%, BuChE( 48hr) = 36,7%; control group AChE(48hr) = 2,7%, BuChE(48hr) = 25,4%) a nd 21 mu g/kg b.w. (experimental group AChE(60min) = 38.1%, BuChE(60mi n) = 50%; control group AChE(60min) = 15.3%, BuChE(60min) = 14.9%; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, resp.). In the second group of experiments, organo phosphate was given to sheep at a dose of 33 mu g/kg b.w. mixed with 2 0 g of zeolite. The decrease in cholinesterase activities in the exper imental animals was rather slow. In one sheep that survived, the choli nesterase activities on 21st day reached nearly the initial values (AC hE = 104%, BuChE = 89.7%). In the third group of experiments, organoph osphate was administered to sheep at a dose 33, 66, and 131 mu g/kg b. w. mixed with 20 g of the active charcoal - Norit A. All animals treat ed with Norit A survived and showed only moderate decrease in cholines terase activities (Fig. 1, 2).