Lethal Ricin Intoxication in Two Adult Dogs: Toxicologic and Histopathologic Findings

Abstract

Abstract. Two adult dogs with the same owner were intoxicated by ingestion of fertilizer composed of residual plant material of the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis L.). Both dogs died within 2 and 3 days, respectively, after the first signs of vomiting and abundant hemorrhagic diarrhea. Toxicologic and histopathologic examinations were performed on different organs. Histopathologic examination of the kidneys revealed tubular degeneration and necrosis and membranous glomerulonephritis. Additionally, myocardial degeneration with localized inflammation, lymphoid necrosis, and depletion in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes and hemorrhagic ulcerative gastroenteritis were found. The 2 cases could be used to elucidate the lethal dose of ricin and the histopathologic lesions in dogs.

Management of Castor Bean Seed-Associated Intraventricular Hemorrhage with Fresh Frozen Plasma: A Case Report

“…It causes dissolving of the endothelial cells of the capillaries and other small vessels of the internal organs. This condition is followed by the extravasation of blood into the injured tissues (17). Ricin is relatively resilient to digestion by peptidases.…”

“…Ricin is relatively resilient to digestion by peptidases. After ingestion, it causes injuries to many organs (17). Histopathological examination of the intestinal mucosa of poisoned dogs has revealed congestion, hemorrhage of the capillaries, erosion, distraction of villi, infiltration by inflammatory cells and necrotic epithelial cells (17).…”

“…Intraventricular hemorrhage is bleeding into the ventricular system of the brain (17). Ricin like some snake venom, is a member of class of cytolytic toxins.…”

Toxicidade da ricina presente nas sementes de mamona

“…À necropsia, os achados macroscópicos incluem lesões gastrointestinais com hemorragia, congestão pulmonar e leve edema; petéquias no pericárdio, fígado aumentado de tamanho e congesto, e congestão renal (SOTO-BLANCO et al, 2002;ASLANI et al, 2007;BOTHA;PENRITH, 2009). Na análise histológica podem-se encontrar hemorragia e necrose multi-focal em órgãos linfoides; coração com áreas hemorrágicas e necróticas, podendo haver áreas de depósito de material indeterminado; degeneração de hepatócitos e dilatação dos sinusoides hepáticos; baço com diminuição da polpa vermelha e acúmulo de hemossiderina; rins com degeneração tubular necrótica e glomerulonefrite membranosa; no trato gastrointestinal pode ser observado congestão, hemorragia, células epiteliais das criptas focalmente necróticas e submucosa difusamente hemorrágica (SOTO-BLANCO et al, 2002;ASLANI et al, 2007;BOTHA;PENRITH, 2009;ROELS et al, 2010;HONG et al, 2011).…”

“…O diagnóstico de intoxicação por ricina é, geralmente, baseado na história clínica de consumo de mamona (BOTHA; PENRITH, 2009), observação de êmese contendo partes da planta, e ocorrência de surto grave de doença gastrointestinal ou respiratória (ROELS et al, 2010). Pode ser feita a identificação de mamona no conteúdo gastrointestinal ou fezes (BOTHA; PENRITH, 2009).…”