Subacute atropine toxicity in a pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps.

Abstract

Atropine, an anticholinergic agent commonly used in human and veterinary medicine, is reported to cause toxicity associated with its antimuscarinic action. A juvenile pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps, was treated with atropine in an attempt to relieve symptoms similar to pyloric stenosis, as has been used in humans. Two doses of 0.01 mg/kg were given i.m., 12 hr apart, followed by three doses of 0.005 mg/kg i.m. s.i.d. over the next 3 days. Symptoms associated with atropine toxicity developed gradually and included hyperexcitability, a generalized ascending paralysis of body musculature, shallow, rapid respiration, vomiting, aspiration of seawater, and pulmonary edema. Treatment with physostigmine salicylate (two doses of 2 mg i.m., I hr apart) was effective in counteracting the paralysis, as well as other symptoms, beginning in as little as 17 min after the first dose, and the whale was back to swimming on its own after 8 hr. All overt symptoms of atropine toxicity were gone in about 24 hr, but there were other possible sequella that lasted much longer.

• Authors: Charles A Manire, Lynne Byrd, Howard L Rhinehart, Petra Cunningham-Smith, David R Smith
• Journal: Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (J Zoo Wildl Med) Vol. 33 Issue 1 Pg. 66-72 (Mar 2002) ISSN: 1042-7260 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12216796 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cholinesterase Inhibitors
• Diuretics
• Muscarinic Antagonists
• Atropine
• Furosemide
• Physostigmine

Topics

• Animals
• Atropine (administration & dosage, adverse effects, blood)
• Behavior, Animal (drug effects)
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Diuretics (administration & dosage)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Fatal Outcome
• Furosemide (administration & dosage)
• Heart Rate (drug effects)
• Male
• Muscarinic Antagonists (administration & dosage, adverse effects, blood)
• Paralysis (chemically induced, drug therapy, veterinary)
• Physostigmine (administration & dosage)
• Pyloric Stenosis (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Respiration (drug effects)
• Whales (physiology)