Evidence of a sudden increase in α-chloralose poisoning in dogs and cats in the Netherlands between 2018 and 2021.

BACKGROUND: After changes in European Union biocide legislation, the Dutch Poisons Information Center observed a strong increase in information requests concerning dogs and cats exposed to α-chloralose. To investigate whether α-chloralose-based rodenticides are safe for non-professional use, additional information regarding poisoning scenarios and clinical course was collected. METHODS: Veterinarians reporting α-chloralose exposure over a 2.5-year period were contacted by mail for follow-up information concerning exposure scenario, product formulation, clinical course and treatment, and outcome. In total, information was collected for 96 dogs and 41 cats. RESULTS: Fifty-three of 96 dogs and 17 of 19 cats known to have been exposed to α-chloralose-based rodenticides developed signs of central nervous system (CNS) depression or sensory-induced CNS excitation. Mortality in dogs and cats following exposure was 1% and 18%, respectively. An additional 22 cats presented with clinical signs suggestive of α-chloralose poisoning, with a mortality of 5%. LIMITATIONS: Exposure to α-chloralose was not confirmed by biochemical analyses. CONCLUSION: Dogs and especially cats were at risk of poisoning from α-chloralose. If criteria such as acute toxicity and risk of (secondary) poisoning are applied during the approval of α-chloralose-based rodenticides, similar to anticoagulant-based rodenticides, it can be concluded that α-chloralose is also not safe for non-professional use.

Anticoagulant rodenticide exposure and toxicosis in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the United States.

Raptors, including eagles, are geographically widespread and sit atop the food chain, thereby serving an important role in maintaining ecosystem balance. After facing population declines associated with exposure to organochlorine insecticides such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) have recovered from the brink of extinction. However, both bald and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are exposed to a variety of other toxic compounds in the environment that could have population impacts. Few studies have focused on anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) exposure in eagles. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the types of ARs that eagles are exposed to in the USA and better define the extent of toxicosis (i.e., fatal illness due to compound exposure). Diagnostic case records from bald and golden eagles submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (University of Georgia) 2014 through 2018 were reviewed. Overall, 303 eagles were examined, and the livers from 116 bald eagles and 17 golden eagles were tested for ARs. The percentage of AR exposure (i.e., detectable levels but not associated with mortality) in eagles was high; ARs were detected in 109 (82%) eagles, including 96 (83%) bald eagles and 13 (77%) golden eagles. Anticoagulant rodenticide toxicosis was determined to be the cause of mortality in 12 (4%) of the 303 eagles examined, including 11 bald eagles and 1 golden eagle. Six different AR compounds were detected in these eagles, with brodifacoum and bromadiolone most frequently detected (81% and 25% of eagles tested, respectively). These results suggest that some ARs, most notably brodifacoum, are widespread in the environment and are commonly consumed by eagles. This highlights the need for research to understand the pathways of AR exposure in eagles, which may help inform policy and regulatory actions to mitigate AR exposure risk.

Bromadiolone poisoning leading to subarachnoid haemorrhage: A case report and review of the literature.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Many cases of rodenticide poisoning have been reported. Bromadiolone, often called a super-warfarin, is a second-generation dicoumarin rodenticide with long half-life. The main clinical manifestations of bromadiolone poisoning are excessive or inappropriate bleeding of skin mucosa, digestive tract and urinary tract. However, the phenomenon of central nervous system (CNS) toxicity is an uncommon medical emergency. We present a case of SAH and intracerebral haematoma mediated by bromadiolone intoxication, revealing that bromadiolone poisoning might cause intracerebral haematoma. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 44-year-old woman presented with skin mucosa haemorrhage and haematuresis initially. The patient developed lethargy, headache, nausea and vomiting. The toxicology test result revealed that the presence of bromadiolone in her blood. Coagulation test results showed a longer prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and a high international normalized ratio (INR). SAH, frontal lobe haematoma, midline shift and brain oedema were discovered by skull CT examination. The coagulation disorders were addressed after the treatment of vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma. The intracranial symptoms were relieved after surgery and the treatment with mannitol. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This case suggests that bromadiolone poisoning should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Bromadiolone poisoning might cause SAH and intracerebral haematoma, which is rare but potentially lethal. It is important to strengthen the diagnosis and post-treatment monitoring.

Life-Threatening Bleeding and Deaths from Synthetic Cannabinoids.

'Fake weed' containing rat poison raises alarm.

VKORC1 sequence variants associated with resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in Irish populations of Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus domesticus.

While resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides is known to occur in many European populations of Norway rat and house mouse, to-date no data is available on the occurrence in Ireland of such resistance. No genetic evidence for the occurrence of resistance was found in 65 Norway rat samples analysed, indicative of an absence, or low prevalence, of resistance in rats in at least the Eastern region of the island of Ireland. The presence of two of the most commonly found amino acid substitutions Leu128Ser and Tyr139Cys associated with house mouse resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides was confirmed. The occurrence of two such mutations is indicative of the occurrence of resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in house mice in the Eastern region of the island of Ireland.

Rodenticide Causing Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Resident Simulation.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is becoming more common with an aging population. Lower GI bleeding is less common than its upper GI bleed counterpart. Incidence of bleeding is increasing because more patients are on anticoagulation medication. Abnormal coagulation can lead to this life-threatening condition requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment by a skilled medical provider. Simulation can be used to practice recognition of this disease process and work through treatment algorithms. Methods: This simulation case used a high-fidelity simulator to teach emergency medicine providers how to manage lower GI bleeding in a patient with abnormal coagulation secondary to intentional ingestion of rodenticide. The case simulated a 58-year-old female with history of bipolar disorder presenting with brisk rectal bleeding. Residents were expected to identify the type of GI bleed, leading to recognition that the patient was in hemorrhagic shock; they then had to appropriately reverse the anticoagulation and resuscitate with blood products. Afterward, learners were given a short survey to evaluate the case and debriefing process. Results: The case was performed at the University of Pennsylvania Simulation Center as part of the Emergency Medicine Resident Simulation Curriculum. Twenty-eight learners took part; of these, 20 (71%) found the simulation realistic, and 24 (86%) agreed or strongly agreed that the simulation was useful. Discussion: Main learning points include management of lower GI bleeding and reversal of abnormal anticoagulation. This simulation case is straightforward to run, requires minimal resources, and has been well received by learners at our institution.

Yellow phosphorus-induced Brugada phenocopy.

BACKGROUND: Metallic phosphides (of aluminum and phosphide) and yellow phosphorus are commonly used rodenticide compounds in developing countries. Toxicity of yellow phosphorus mostly pertains to the liver, kidney, heart, pancreas and the brain. Cardiotoxicity with associated Brugada ECG pattern has been reported only in poisoning with metallic phosphides. METHODS AND RESULTS: Brugada phenocopy and hepatic dysfunction were observed in a 29-year-old male following yellow phosphorus consumption. He had both type 1 (day1) and type 2 (day2) Brugada patterns in the electrocardiogram, which resolved spontaneously by the third day without hemodynamic compromise. CONCLUSION: Toxins such as aluminum and zinc phosphide have been reported to induce Brugada ECG patterns due to the generation of phosphine. We report the first case of yellow phosphorus-related Brugada phenocopy, without hemodynamic compromise or malignant arrhythmia.

Use of anticoagulant rodenticides in outdoor urban areas: considerations and proposals for the protection of public health and non-target species.

Rodent control operations represent an important tool for the prevention and management of infestations, in outdoor environments, by synanthropic rodents (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus), which are a source of economic and environmental damage with significant sanitary implications. Although the use of anticoagulants is safer to humans and pets compared to the use of acute poisoning substances, an intrinsic hazard of the active ingredients exists, i.e. the possible poisoning of non-target organisms (e.g., children, pets and wildlife) following exposure. The risks arising from the use of anticoagulants for rodent control operations in anthropic contexts can therefore only be mitigated by a proper selection of the active ingredient, bait formulation and administration techniques, since an active ingredient with selective action towards non-target species does not currently exist on the market. This document lists practical proposals aimed at reducing the possibility of toxic exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides and mitigate the toxicological risk of human baits and non-target species.

Recovery of brodifacoum in vomitus following induction of emesis in dogs that had ingested rodenticide bait.

AIM: To assess the benefit of inducing emesis in dogs that have ingested rodenticide bait containing brodifacoum (BDF), by determining the amount of BDF in bait recovered from the vomitus relative to the estimated amount consumed. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2015 samples of vomitus from seven dogs that ingested rodenticide baits containing BDF were submitted by veterinarians in New Zealand. All seven dogs had been given apomorphine by the veterinarian and vomited within 1 hour of ingesting the bait. Some or all of the bait particles were retrieved from each sample and were analysed for concentrations of BDF using HPLC. Based on estimations of the mass of bait consumed, the concentration of BDF stated on the product label, and the estimated mass of bait in the vomitus of each dog, the amount of BDF in the vomited bait was calculated as a percentage of the amount ingested. RESULTS: For five dogs an estimation of the mass of bait ingested was provided by the submitting veterinarian. For these dogs the estimated percentage of BDF in the bait retrieved from the vomitus was between 10-77%. All dogs were well after discharge but only one dog returned for further testing. This dog had a normal prothrombin time 3 days after ingestion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The induction of emesis within 1 hour of ingestion can be a useful tool in reducing the exposure of dogs to a toxic dose of BDF. The BDF was not fully absorbed within 1 hour of ingestion suggesting that the early induction of emesis can remove bait containing BDF before it can be fully absorbed.

A negative association between bromadiolone exposure and nestling body condition in common kestrels: management implications for vole outbreaks.

BACKGROUND: Vole outbreaks have been extensively described, along with their impacts on humans, particularly in agricultural areas. The use of rodenticides is a common legal practice to minimise crop damage induced by high vole density for biocidal use. However, rodenticides can have negative direct and indirect impacts on non-target species that feed on voles. We studied whether the use of a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR), bromadiolone, can be detected in the blood of fledglings of wild common kestrels Falco tinnunculus in two areas of central Spain, exploring its possible indirect effects. RESULTS: We found that 16.9% of fledglings had a detectable concentration of bromadiolone in their blood, with an average concentration of 0.248 ± 0.023 ng mL-1 . Fledglings with bromadiolone in their blood, regardless of the concentration, had 6.7% lower body mass than those without detectable bromadiolone. CONCLUSION: The use of bromadiolone was detectable in the blood of alive non-target species. Detected bromadiolone in blood may reduce the body condition of nestlings, potentially reducing their fitness. The source of bromadiolone found in nestlings needs to be determined in future studies to derive accurate management advice. However, we urge the discontinuation of official SGAR distribution to farmers and their use in agrarian lands to minimise damage of voles on crops, particularly where common kestrels breed, and encourage the use of alternative effective practices. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Estudio comparativo de los efectos de hidrato de cloral y etanol en ratas expuestas a fluoracetato de sodio / Comparative study of the effects of cloral hydrate and ethanol in rats exposed to sodium fluoracetate

El fluoroacetato de sodio, es un raticida prohibido en algunos países y permitido en otros, que causa severas intoxicaciones humanas y animales. Actúa por inhibición del ciclo de Krebs e interfiere con la producción de energía, lo cual conduce a disfunción celular irreversible, especialmente en sistema nervioso central y corazón. El alcohol etílico, debido a su oxidación a acido acético y a su amplia disponibilidad, es uno de los fármacos usados en esta intoxicación, lo que podría causar controversias éticas y legales. La biotransformación del hidrato de cloral a tricloroetanol y a ácido tricloroacético, el efecto anticonvulsivante y su amplio uso en Pediatría, fueron las razones para su evaluación en la intoxicación por fluoroacetato. Se realizó un estudio experimental, para comparar los efectos de hidrato de cloral y alcohol en ratas intoxicadas con fluoroacetato de sodio. El análisis estadístico aplicado fue la prueba de chi cuadrado. Los resultados mostraron que el hidrato de cloral a dosis bajas, permite la sobrevivencia en 100% de los animales expuestos. Se confirmó igualmente la efectividad del alcohol etílico a dosis altas. Este resultado sugiere que el hidrato de cloral puede ser una opción tan útil como el etanol y que podría ser el fármaco de elección en aquellos pacientes que no puedan recibir monoacetin o etanol o porque haya mayor accesibilidad al hidrato de cloral.

Sodium fluoroacetate is a banned rodenticide in some countries and allowed in others, which causes severe human and animal poisonings. It acts for inhibition of Krebs's cycle and interferes with energy production leading to irreversible cellular dysfunction, specially in nervous central system and heart. Ethyl alcohol, because oxidation to acetic acid and to its wide availability, is one of the drugs used in this poisoning, which should can cause ethical and legal controversies. Biotransformation of chloral hydrate to trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid, the anticonvulsant effect and its widespread use in Pediatrics, were the reasons for its evaluation in fluoroacetate poisoning. An experimental study was conducted, to compare effects of chloral hydrate and ethanol in poisoned rats with sodium fluoroacetate. The statistical analysis applied was the chi square test. The results showed that chloral hydrate in low doses allows survival in 100 % of the exposed animals. It also confirms the effectiveness of ethyl alcohol at high doses. This result suggests that chIoral hydrate may be an option as useful as ethanol and could be the choice drug in those patients who could not receive monoacetin or ethanol or because there is greater accessibility to chloral hydrate.

Pathogen and rodenticide exposure in American badgers (Taxidea taxus) in California.

Urban and agricultural land use may increase the risk of disease transmission among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans as we share ever-shrinking and fragmented habitat. American badgers (Taxidae taxus), a species of special concern in California, USA, live in proximity to urban development and often share habitat with livestock and small peridomestic mammals. As such, they may be susceptible to pathogens commonly transmitted at this interface and to anticoagulant rodenticides used to control nuisance wildlife on agricultural lands. We evaluated free-ranging badgers in California for exposure to pathogens and anticoagulant rodenticides that pose a risk to wildlife, domestic animals, or public health. We found serologic evidence of badger exposure to Francisella tularensis, Toxoplasma gondii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, canine distemper virus, and three Bartonella species: B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii. Badger tissues contained anticoagulant rodenticides brodifacoum and bromadiolone, commonly used to control periurban rodent pests. These data provide a preliminary investigation of pathogen and toxicant exposure in the wild badger population.

Hair as a specimen to document tetramethylene disulfotetramine exposure.

Tetramethylene disulfotetramine (tetramine) is a rodenticide that has been banned for many years in China. Since 2005, inhabitants of a village in the Henan Province have been suffering from grand mal seizures. To investigate the possibility of tetramine as the cause, we developed a method to determine tetramine in human hair. Sample preparation involved external decontamination, frozen pulverization, and ultrasonication in 2 mL ethyl acetate in the presence of cocaine-d3 as an internal standard. The method exhibited good linearity; calibration curve was linear over a range of 0.1-20 ng/mg hair. The limit of detection for the assay was 0.05 ng/mg hair. Except for one subject (No. 4), all head and pubic hair samples were positive for tetramine. The concentrations of tetramine in pubic hair were significantly higher than those in the same subjects' head hair samples. Because of a long retention in body, segmental head hair analysis cannot provide an accurate exposure history of tetramine in the body.

Quinestrol treatment induced testicular damage via oxidative stress in male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

The hypothesis that quinestrol exerts testicular damage via oxidative stress was investigated in male gerbils using a daily oral gavage of 3.5 mg/kg body weight for 2 weeks (the multidose-treated group) or 35 mg/kg body weight (the single-dose-treated group). The testicular histological morphology, antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in testicular tissue and plasma were assessed at 15, 30, and 60 days following treatment. The results showed that the activity of the antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), at 15 days after treatment in testicular tissue decreased, which led to the MDA concentration increasing while at the same time germ cells were rarefied and showed an irregular distribution in seminiferous tubules of quinestrol-treated gerbils. At 30 days, the testicular weight and antioxidant capacity continued to decrease, while the MDA concentration continued to increase, and testicular histopathological changes were more pronounced. Single-dose and multidose drug treatment had a similar effect on the antioxidant enzymes and MDA, but testicular damage was relatively severe at 15 and 30 days after multidose treatment. By 60 days of treatment withdrawal, however, the above parameters recovered to control levels. The results show that quinestrol causes reversible damage to gerbil testes that might be caused by the oxidative stress and that multidose treatment has more effects on testicular damage compared with one-dose treatment.

Side effects of rodent control on non-target species: Rodenticides increase parasite and pathogen burden in great bustards.

For many years anticoagulant rodenticides have been used in vole control campaigns, in spite of the proven risk of secondary poisoning of non-target predators and scavengers. In this paper we analyse for the first time great bustard exposure and intoxication by anticoagulant rodenticides in Spain, based on residues found in the livers of 71 bustard carcasses collected during 1991-2010. Ten individuals contained chlorophacinone and one flocoumafen. Chlorophacinone level was significantly correlated with the pathogen and parasite burden of intoxicated birds. Moreover, through the last 12 years the annual number of great bustards that present chlorophacinone in liver collected in our study areas was correlated with vole peaks at a nearby area, suggesting that the ingestion of rodenticide was proportional to the amounts spread in the fields. We conclude that rodenticide consumption is a regular event among great bustards when baited cereal is spread on fields, and that this may cause chronic weakening of intoxicated individuals, possibly affecting their survival. Future rodent control actions should consider these negative side effects on non target granivorous steppe and farmland species, particularly when they are globally threatened.

Successful therapy of coumatetralyl rodenticide induced pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis in a dog.

A 5-year-old, intact male, golden retriever was presented with an acute onset of lethargy and respiratory distress. The dog was diagnosed as having rodenticide intoxication with pericardial effusion. Pericardiocentesis was successfully performed and was followed with a blood transfusion. This case suggests that rodenticide intoxication might cause pericardial effusion in dogs.

Práticas e sentidos atribuídos ao uso e à divulgação de agentes químicos potencialmente tóxicos no ambiente doméstico / Practices and meanings attributed to the use and disclosure of potentially toxic chemicals in the home environment

Atualmente o uso de substâncias químicas no ambiente domiciliar é muitodifundido e utilizado para diferentes finalidades como limpeza doméstica (desinfetantes, detergentes),e controle de vetores (inseticidas, raticidas, carrapaticidas) sendo que osconsumidores na maioria das vezes desconhecem as propriedades tóxicas dos componentes das formulações que utilizam. O comércio oferta uma variedade de produtos e marcas de inseticidas e raticidas com diferentes formas de apresentações (líquidos, em pó, em pasta, e elétricos), e com grande diversidade de princípios ativos.O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os sentidos atribuídos ao uso de agentes químicos potencialmente tóxicos utilizados no controle dos vetores no ambiente doméstico, relacionando-os com a influência de peças publicitárias desses produtos na mídia televisiva e das mensagens de rótulos desses produtos e sua conformidade com alegislação pertinente. A pesquisa é do tipo quali-quantitativa e foi realizada nomunicípio de Niterói, na Região Oceânica em 2010. Adotamos estratégias distintas e complementares: análise documental; observação participante; questionários; eentrevistas semi-estruturadas sobre peças publicitárias de inseticidas domésticos. A pesquisa incluiu questionários em 125 residências para avaliar as práticas e a percepçãodos riscos no uso de inseticidas e raticidas no ambiente domiciliar. Destes 50 foram realizados em condomínio de classe média alta e 75 em Comunidade de baixa renda ambos na Região Oceânica de Niterói. Nossos resultados demonstraram que 92 por cento dogrupo Condomínio usam inseticidas e 77,7 por cento do grupo Colônia de Pescadores também usam. Em relação aos cuidados com manuseio de inseticidas, 54 por cento dos entrevistados do Grupo Condomínio e 25,3 por cento dos entrevistados do Grupo Colônia de Pescadores,disseram que não tomavam nenhum cuidado ao usar estes produtos. Em relação à freqüência de uso dos inseticidas, no Grupo Condomínio, 22 por cento dos entrevistados faziamuso dos inseticidas diariamente, 42 por cento só aplicavam o inseticida quando havia inseto e 10 por cento semanalmente. Já no Grupo Colônia de Pescadores, 16 por cento aplicavam inseticidas diariamente, 26 por cento quando apareciam insetos, e 9,3 por cento semanalmente. Quanto à leiturados rótulos das embalagens dos inseticidas, 60 por cento dos entrevistados do Grupo Condomínio disseram que liam estes rótulos, e 29,3 por cento do Grupo Colônia de Pescadores fizeram a mesma afirmação. Quanto à forma de conhecimento dos inseticidas foi através das propagandas de televisão referidas pelos dois grupos pesquisados. Em uma segunda etapa verificamos a influência de peças publicitárias de inseticidas domésticosno sentido atribuído a tais produtos. Para isso foram: 1) selecionadas 03 peças publicitárias em circulação na mídia televisiva; 2) analisadas e criadas categorias; 3) submetidas aos entrevistados. Foram analisadas 3 peças publicitárias de inseticidas veiculadas na mídia televisiva no período de 2008, 2009, 2010, utilizando-se o métodode análise de conteúdo. As categorias geradas pela análise foram: Apelo ao status do usuário; Ocultação e minimização dos riscos; Símbolos de modernidade e cientificidade; Representações de um mundo asséptico; Representações de força, podere controle. Com base nelas realizamos entrevistas semi-estruturadas em uma subamostra composta por 20 residências. A análise das entrevistas revelou o grau de eficácia de taisestratégias de persuasão e mostrou o quanto as propagandas influenciam na compra dos produtos.

Evidenciamos ainda que risco à saúde e ao ambiente no uso destas substâncias é percebido no grupo de maior escolaridade e que a leitura e a compreensão dos rótulos dos inseticidas é dificultada pela linguagem técnica e excesso de informação. O fato de que o uso indiscriminado e contínuo destes produtos podem acarretar resistência aos inseticidas, não foi observado por nenhum entrevistado. Observamos neste estudo que a vulnerabilidade do consumidor é (independente da classe social, uma vez que todos se expõem aos inseticidas de alguma forma. O Grupo Colônia de Pescadores (baixa renda) se expõe mais para o risco de intoxicações agudas, pois são eles que aplicam os produtos usados no ambiente doméstico, já o Grupo Condomínio (alta renda) usam mais produtos e contaminam mais o ambiente coletivo, mas também se expõem de forma crônica, pois usam inseticidas de uso contínuo, e pulverizam seus condomínios com o fumacê. Concluímos que todas as propagandas analisadas utilizaram estratégias que ocultam o risco dos inseticidas no ambiente doméstico e não cumprem a legislação.

¿Es seguro para la salud humana y animal el uso de raticidas que contienen Salmonella? / Is safety for human and animal health the use of Salmonella-based rodenticides?

Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática para identificar publicaciones sobre la seguridad ante la exposición de raticidas que contienen Salmonella para humanos y animales. Se consideraron publicaciones a texto completo que incluían descripción de su metodología y la presentación adecuada de sus resultados. De 545 publicaciones recuperadas, 47 se revisaron a texto completo de las que se seleccionaron 12. En seis se reportan casos de salmonelosis en humanos, incluso casos fatales, asociados a la exposición a versiones anteriores de estos raticidas. El único ensayo clínico encontrado reporta una mayor frecuencia de diarrea y fiebre en el grupo que ingirió Salmonella contenida en Biorat® (presentación comercial actual); sin embargo, la diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa, pero el ensayo presentó problemas metodológicos. Las cepas de Salmonella enteritidis contenidas en una versión anterior (Ratin®) y en la versión actual corresponden a la misma variedad (Danysz) y fagotipo (6a), y están cercanamente relacionadas según la técnica de electroforesis en gel de campo pulsado (PFGE). No se reporta efectos patógenos de esta Salmonella para las diferentes especies de animales ensayadas; sin embargo, se encontraron limitaciones en la metodología empleada. Se concluye que la Salmonella enteritidis contenida en versiones anteriores de raticidas produjo enfermedad en humanos por lo que fue prohibida su comercialización y que existiría un riesgo potencial de la versión actual por contener una bacteria muy similar y por no tener evidencia suficiente que garantice su seguridad. Son necesarios estudios bien diseñados por instituciones sin conflicto de interés, antes de su aplicación en salud pública o agricultura.

We conducted a systematic search of the literature to identify publications on the safety of exposure to Salmonella-based rodenticides by humans and animals. We included full-text publications that described the methods and presented their results satisfactorily. Of 545 publications retrieved, 47 were reviewed in full text and from those 12 were selected. Six reports featured cases of salmonellosis in humans, with fatal cases, associated with exposure to previous versions of this type of rodenticide. A clinical trial reported an increased frequency of diarrhea and fever in the group that ingested Biorat ® (the current commercial form) containing Salmonella, however the difference from the control group was not significant, but the trial had methodological problems. Strains of Salmonella enteritidis from an earlier version of the rat poison (Ratin®) and those in the current version correspond to the same variety (Danyzs) and phage type (6a), and were found to be closely related using the technique of pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). No pathogenic effects of this Salmonella were reported in different animal species tested; however, we found limitations in the methodology. We conclude that the Salmonella enteritidis contained in earlier rat poison formulations produced illness in humans so that its commercialization was prohibited, and that there would be a potential risk with the present formulation because it contains a very similar bacteria, and because there is not sufficient evidence to guarantee its safety. Well-designed studies still need to be done by institutions that do not have a conflict of interest before it can be applied in the areas of public health and agriculture.