Etiologic agents, incidence, and improved diagnostic methods of cantharidin toxicosis in horses

Ray, A.C.; Kyle, A.L.G.; Murphy, M.J.; Reagor, J.C.

Etiologic agents, incidence, and improved diagnostic methods of cantharidin toxicosis in horses

1989

Ray, A.C. | Kyle, A.L.G. | Murphy, M.J. | Reagor, J.C.

In addition to the 3-striped blister beetles (Epicauta temexa and E occidentalis), other sources of equine cantharidin toxicosis were identified at the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and included E albida and E attrivittata and the previously incriminated E pardalis and E pennsylvanica. Improved methods for diagnosing cantharidin or blister beetle toxicosis involve partial purification of urine and gastric content extracts, using silica cartridges, followed by analysis, using capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. During a 26-month period, 53 episodes of cantharidin toxicosis in horses were confirmed at our diagnostic laboratory. Concentrations of cantharidin in urine and gastric contents ranged from 0.0003 to 3.50 microgram/g. Peak incidences were observed in late summer and early fall.

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