Fenamiphos poisoning of native geese.

A case of fenamiphos (phenamiphos) (NEMACUR) poisoning of geese was investigated. The birds had grazed on turf grass in a golf course adjoining a reserve and shallow lake. The turf grass had been treated earlier with NEMACUR at the correct application rate.

Simazine toxicosis in sheep.

A case of simazine toxicosis in sheep was investigated. Affected animals exhibited generalized muscle tremors which progressed to mild tetany followed by collapse of the hind legs. Other signs included a short prancing gait with head tucked in a similar manner to that of a show pony. Death occurred within 2 to 3 d of the appearance of clinical signs. Mild to acute myocardial degeneration was evident; the livers had mild to acute hepatic fatty change. The levels of simazine found in livers varied from less than 0.2 mg/kg to almost 2 mg/kg in the worst affected animals.

Chromatographic analysis of cis- and trans-mevinphos in poisoned wildlife.

A method is described for the analysis of the cis- and trans-isomers of mevinphos in baits and avian tissues. The procedure involves extraction of the mevinphos isomers with acetone-dichloromethane (1:1) followed by clean-up on alumina. Bait samples were initially screened by thin-layer chromatography and identity of extracts confirmed by infrared spectrophotometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Column extraction of chlorpyrifos from contaminated fish.

A method for measuring chlorpyrifos in fish, which combines extraction, filtration, and cleanup in one step, is described. Minced fish samples were mixed with potassium dihydrogen phosphate and disodium hydrogen phosphate, ground with anhydrous sodium sulfate, and eluted from a prepacked chromatographic column containing silica gel. The endogenous coextractives were retained by the column while chlorpyrifos was quantitatively eluted with 40 mL of 5% ether in hexane. Recoveries averaged 86.8% for unexposed fish fortified with 2-12 ppm of chlorpyrifos. The method was applied to the analysis of fish from a lagoon contaminated with chlorpyrifos by a spray treatment of a wooden bridge for termites.

Analysis of tissues of ducks poisoned by alpha-chloralose.

A method is described for the analysis of alpha-chloralose in avian tissues. The procedure involves extraction of chloralose with acetone, drying of extracts with anyhydrous magnesium sulphate, followed by derivatisation with dichlorodimethylsilane in the presence of triethylamine. The dimethylsilyl derivatives were cleaned-up using mini-columns containing Florisil and the eluates subsequently analysed by gas chromatography. Extracts were initially screened by thin-layer chromatography and the identity of derivatised extracts confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Determination of sodium fluoroacetate (Compound 1080) in biological tissues.

A sensitive gas chromatographic method was developed for the determination of sodium fluoroacetate (Compound 1080 and 1080 poison) in baits and avian tissues. The procedure involves extraction of 1080 with acetone/water (8:1) followed by derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide. Cleanup of the esterified extracts was carried out using minicolumns containing Florisil and the eluates were subsequently analyzed by electron capture gas chromatography. Bait samples were initially screened by thin-layer chromatography and identity of derivatized extracts was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of oxantel and pyrantel pamoate.

A method is described for the determination of oxantel and pyrantel pamoate in proprietary broad spectrum anthelmintic tablets. Quantitation is performed by using an octyl Spherisorb column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water modified with butylamine. Carbaryl-(1-naphthyl methylcarbamate) is used as internal standard.

High-pressure liquid chromatographic determination of thioridazine and its major metabolites in biological tissues and fluids.

A method is described for the determination of thioridazine and its major metabolites in postmortem tissues and fluids by enzymic digestion, followed by a micro-extraction technique using ethyl acetate. Quantitation was performed by using a cyano-bonded silica (mu Bondapak-CN) column packing and a mobile phase consisting of n-octylamine, methanol, and water.

Liquid chromatographic analysis of promethazine and its major metabolites in human postmortem material.

A method is described for the determination of promethazine and some of its major metabolites in postmortem specimens by enzymic digestion followed by high-pressure liquid chromatography of the extracts using a cyano-bonded (mu-Bondapak-CN) silica column packing and a mobile phase consisting of methanol, water, and n-octylamine (adjusted to pH 8). The system will separate and quantitate promethazine sulphoxide, desmonomethyl promethazine, didesmethyl promethazine, and promethazine. Pericyazine (2-cyano-10-[3-(4- hydroxypiperidino )propyl] phenothiazine) was used as internal standard. The parent drug and metabolites were extracted from a enzyme digested tissue homogenates with ethyl acetate using a simple, single micro-extraction procedure. The method was applied to four cases of fatal poisoning involving promethazine ingestion.

Extraction and analysis of chlorpromazine and its major metabolites in post mortem material by enzymic digestion and HPLC.

A method is described for the determination of chlorpromazine and some of its major metabolites in post mortem specimens by enzymic digestion of the tissues with ethyl acetate using a simple, single micro-extraction method, followed by HPLC of the extracts using a 10 micron silica column packing and a mobile phase consisting of ethanolamine:methanol:water. Separation and quantitation of 7-hydroxy-chlorpromazine, chlorpromazine, chlorpromazine sulfoxide, norchlorpromazine and norchlorpromazine sulfoxide was achieved employing mesoridazine as an internal standard.

Suicidal poisoning by endothall.

A fatal case of suicidal ingestion of the herbicide endothall (7-oxabicyclo [2,2,1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) is described. Endothall was determined after initial phosphotungstic acid deproteination followed by extraction using 1,2-dichloroethane:tert-butanol (2:1) and subsequent injection into the gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. Identity was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography, infrared spectrophotometry, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Colchicine poisoning as a mode of suicide.

Two cases of suicide involving colchicine are examined. Colchicine and colchicum preparations have been used for the relief of pain in acute gout and are reported to be effective for the treatment of periodic peritonitis. A method using enzymatic digestion, extraction, and high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis for the extraction and analysis of colchicine in autopsy specimens is described.

Post mortem tissue levels of ascorbic acid in a scurvy case.

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) deficiency varies in degree from a mild condition scarcely recognizable, to a profound state resulting in death. In human beings, the latter condition is rarely seen except under extreme stress. One such case involving an infant is described. The analytical procedure used to determine the levels of Vitamin C in autopsy samples utilized a sensitive amino-bonded reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) technique. Several control cases were compared to determine average normal levels.