Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How often anticholinesterase insecticides poison animals in Thailand
By Chansiripornchai, Piyarat et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2026·Department of Veterinary Pharmacology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Frequency of anticholinesterase insecticide positive samples in non-target animals in Thailand.
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A study in Thailand found that 26% of animals tested for poisoning from certain insecticides (anticholinesterase insecticides) were positive, with dogs being the most affected. Out of 16 positive cases, 11 were dogs, indicating they are at significant risk of accidental poisoning from these chemicals used in agriculture and pest control. The researchers noted that stomach contents were the best samples for detecting this type of poisoning. This highlights the importance of being aware of potential insecticide exposure for pets, especially if they show symptoms like vomiting or lethargy.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anticholinesterase insecticides (antiChE), including organophosphates and carbamates, are widely used to control crop pests in agriculture, household pests, and animal parasites, making them a potential source of poisoning in both humans and animals. This retrospective study aimed to document the frequency of antiChE positive samples in animal specimens analysed at the Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2024 using a cholinesterase kit based on Ellman’s method, to raise awareness and mitigate the risk to non-target animals. RESULTS: During the study period, specimens from 61 animal cases involving accidental or environmental exposure were submitted for antiChE detection. Of these, 16 cases (26.2%) tested positive. Dogs accounted for the majority of positive cases (11/16; 68.75%), followed by chickens (2/16; 12.5%), cats (2/16; 12.5%), and one duck (1/16; 6.25%). Stomach ingesta were the most frequently submitted specimens and consistently yielded antiChE positive results in confirmed cases. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the ongoing risk of cholinesterase inhibitors in domestic animals and avian species, which are non-target of these compounds. The cholinesterase kit proved to be a useful screening tool, particularly when ingestion was not directly observed. Stomach ingesta specimens were the most reliable sample type for detecting antiChE poisoning. This study provided reference data for future research on antiChE toxicosis among non-target species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41857665/