VPT 421: Veterinary Toxicology (2+0)

PROPERTIES OF TOXICOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

• Metallic iron and ferric oxide (rust) are poorly soluble and are not considered as a threat for toxic ingestion. Iron is poorly absorbed.
• Iron absorption is influenced by extraluminal (level of erythropoietic activity, body iron stores and anemia) and intraluminal factors (ascorbic acid, dicarboxylic acid, sugars increase absorption, phosphates, oxalates, phytates, bicarbonates, tannins and fibre decrease absorption).
• In evaluating the potential toxicosis, the amount of elemental iron ingested should be taken into consideration.
• Ferrous salts are more bioactive and more rapidly absorbed. But the overall toxicity is more dependent on the total soluble concentration of elemental iron.
• Toxicity is usually noticed in pigs.
• Toxicity is more in piglets born to selenium and vitamin E deficient pigs.
• There is no effective mechanism for excretion of iron. So animals with enough iron in the body are susceptible than those actually requiring iron.