VPT 421: Veterinary Toxicology (2+0)

ORGANOCHLORINE (Chlorinated hydrocarbon)

Sources

• Environmental residues are a source of chlorinated hydrocarbon poisoning. These agents were heavily used in the control of pests and in agricultural practices from 1950 to 1970s.
• Contaminated soils or leakage from old dump sites occasionally leads to residues.
• The organochlorine insecticides that are present already in the environment are slowly degraded and low levels of residues may persist in select areas.
• The highly lipid soluble nature of these agents, combined with their environmental persistence, favour bioaccumulation upward in food chains from environment to animal or human hosts.
• Accidental exposure to these products may lead to toxicity.
• Improper dilution of organochlorines in sprays and dips may cause toxicity.
• They are grouped as
  • Diphenyl aliphatic gents - DDT, methoxychlor, perthane, and dicofol
  • Cyclodiene agents – Aldrin, dieldrin, endosulpahan, chlordane, endrin, and heptachlor
  • Hexachlorocyclohexane agents – Lindane, mirex, kepone and paradichlorobenzene
• Aldrin, endrin and heptachlor are used in termite control. They are also used in animal dips.
• Lindane toxicosis is common in cats and dogs. It was never approved for cats, it is used for dogs (fleas, ticks, sarcoptic mange) and also for human beings (for scabies).