Case report
Disulfoton Poisoning of Beef Cattle
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol35no1p66-69Keywords:
acetylcholinesterase, beef cattle, blood chemistry, case reports, cotton, disulfoton, enzymes, insecticides, nontarget effects, poisoning, toxicityAbstract
A herd of beef cattle routinely fed cotton industry by-products was poisoned by disulfoton-treated cotton seed that was disposed in cotton gin trash. Disulfoton is an organophosphorus insecticide. Eighteen of 48 animals died. Blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels were used to determine clearance of disulfoton from the surviving animals, and to determine when the animals could be sold. At 36 days post-exposure three animals, although asymptomatic, hadAChE levels that suggested persistentAChE inhibition. At 77 days following initial exposure, AChE levels were within normal limits.