Aldicarb intoxications in dogs and cats: a retrospective study

In a retrospective study of the autopsy files of the last four years (1995- 1998) at the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, the cases of intoxication in dogs and cats were analysed, Aldicarb and other carbamate esters were by far the most frequent causes of intoxication. In 75 cases of intoxication among 1764 autopsied dogs (4.2% intoxications), aldicarb was found in 17 ou t of 50 toxicological examinations (34%). In 150 cases of intoxication amon g 916 cats (16.4% intoxications) this product was observed in 85 out of 117 toxicological examinations (73%). In this paper, the abuse, the kinetics a nd consequences of carbamate esters are discussed and the initiation and th e consequences of a criminal law procedure are described. A preliminary exp eriment with Daphnia magna turned out to offer a promising perspective as a screening test in cases suspected of intoxication at autopsy.