Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Northwest University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa
Verster, R.S., Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Northwest University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa; Sekhesa, M., Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Northwest University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa
Organophosphorus and carbamates are used world wide on a large scale and accidental poisonings are often seen. The objective of the trials was to evaluate newer antidotes, using chickens as experimental animals. Pilot trials were done to establish the lethal dosages of each poison. In Study 1, fourteen broilers were dosed orally with diazinon at 8 mg/kg and seven broilers were also given sodium bicarbonate at 504 mg/kg by intravenous route 30 minutes later. In Study 2, fourteen broilers received coumaphos orally at 25 mg/kg and 30 minutes later sodium bicarbonate was administered intravenously at a dosage of 504 mg/kg to seven broilers. In Study 3, fourteen broilers received aldicarb at 4 mg/kg and 30 minutes later seven broilers also received hydroxypropyl-β-yclodextrin at 250 mg/kg intravenously. In all the studies, the controls also received sterile, de-ionized water intravenously 30 minutes after dosing as a placebo. The results indicated that sodium bicarbonate had made a significant difference (P < 0.05) to the survival times of broilers in trial 1 and trial 2. Hydroxypropyl-β-yclodextrin treated broilers also had significant longer survival times (P < 0.05) than the controls in trial 3. The final conclusion is that sodium bicarbonate has the potential to inactivate organophosphors, while hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin can be useful for lipid-soluble insecticides with a molecular weight below 250 Daltons. The recommendation is to administer these compounds as adjunctive treatments together with the standard antidotes to improve the outcome of organphosphor or carbamate poisoning.