Evaluation of amitraz and derivatives in poisoned cat fur: a new screening method via Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - case report

ABSTRACT Amitraz is a toxic pesticide that causes severe poisoning in animals; however, few reports of poisoning in cats can be found. Current diagnostic techniques mostly use invasive sampling and require a long time. A new noninvasive technique presented in this report provides accurate diagnosis....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: L.P.T. Prado, J.M.G. Barbosa, M.C. Vicente, A.C.M. Barros, N.M.S. Correia, L.L.P. Silva, B.K. Rodrigues, L.C. David, A.F.M. Botelho, N.R. Antoniosi FILHO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais 2025-07-01
Series:Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-09352025000401300&lng=en&tlng=en
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850094705574936576
author L.P.T. Prado
J.M.G. Barbosa
M.C. Vicente
A.C.M. Barros
N.M.S. Correia
L.L.P. Silva
B.K. Rodrigues
L.C. David
A.F.M. Botelho
N.R. Antoniosi FILHO
author_facet L.P.T. Prado
J.M.G. Barbosa
M.C. Vicente
A.C.M. Barros
N.M.S. Correia
L.L.P. Silva
B.K. Rodrigues
L.C. David
A.F.M. Botelho
N.R. Antoniosi FILHO
author_sort L.P.T. Prado
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Amitraz is a toxic pesticide that causes severe poisoning in animals; however, few reports of poisoning in cats can be found. Current diagnostic techniques mostly use invasive sampling and require a long time. A new noninvasive technique presented in this report provides accurate diagnosis. Here, we report a case of a 5-year-old male Persian cat with no prior history of illness, presenting vomiting, decreased consciousness, ataxia, and prostration following topical amitraz application for flea control. When admitted to the emergency service, 0.1% of intravenous yohimbine hydrochloride solution was administered to reverse the α-2 adrenergic agonist effects caused by the pesticide. Clinical tests indicated a slight increase in the alanine transaminase (ALT). Furthermore, samples from fur were collected during hospitalization to confirm and follow up the amitraz diagnosis using headspace/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS/GC-MS) analysis. The presence of amitraz in the fur was detected by HS/GC-MS through its derivative products 2,4-dimethylaniline (DMA) and 2,4-Dimethylphenylformamide (DMF). After 24 hours, the patient was released with recommendations to avoid amitraz use and a recommendation for a bath and clipping. Fast aid and antidote administration were decisive factors in the successful treatment. Fur HS/GC-MS stands out as a definitive diagnosis of amitraz poisoning using non-invasive samples.
format Article
id doaj-art-9f4a9c65ade4444bb5c1fb6a329301be
institution DOAJ
issn 1678-4162
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
record_format Article
series Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia
spelling doaj-art-9f4a9c65ade4444bb5c1fb6a329301be2025-08-20T02:41:36ZengUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisArquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia1678-41622025-07-0177410.1590/1678-4162-13294Evaluation of amitraz and derivatives in poisoned cat fur: a new screening method via Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - case reportL.P.T. Pradohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0749-9006J.M.G. Barbosahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3560-5838M.C. Vicentehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5873-833XA.C.M. Barroshttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-4813-865XN.M.S. Correiahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5492-9881L.L.P. Silvahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4024-7692B.K. Rodrigueshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0264-5705L.C. Davidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0457-2749A.F.M. Botelhohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5204-0512N.R. Antoniosi FILHOhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3067-0385ABSTRACT Amitraz is a toxic pesticide that causes severe poisoning in animals; however, few reports of poisoning in cats can be found. Current diagnostic techniques mostly use invasive sampling and require a long time. A new noninvasive technique presented in this report provides accurate diagnosis. Here, we report a case of a 5-year-old male Persian cat with no prior history of illness, presenting vomiting, decreased consciousness, ataxia, and prostration following topical amitraz application for flea control. When admitted to the emergency service, 0.1% of intravenous yohimbine hydrochloride solution was administered to reverse the α-2 adrenergic agonist effects caused by the pesticide. Clinical tests indicated a slight increase in the alanine transaminase (ALT). Furthermore, samples from fur were collected during hospitalization to confirm and follow up the amitraz diagnosis using headspace/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS/GC-MS) analysis. The presence of amitraz in the fur was detected by HS/GC-MS through its derivative products 2,4-dimethylaniline (DMA) and 2,4-Dimethylphenylformamide (DMF). After 24 hours, the patient was released with recommendations to avoid amitraz use and a recommendation for a bath and clipping. Fast aid and antidote administration were decisive factors in the successful treatment. Fur HS/GC-MS stands out as a definitive diagnosis of amitraz poisoning using non-invasive samples.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-09352025000401300&lng=en&tlng=enfelinepesticidepoisoninghairHS/GC-MS
spellingShingle L.P.T. Prado
J.M.G. Barbosa
M.C. Vicente
A.C.M. Barros
N.M.S. Correia
L.L.P. Silva
B.K. Rodrigues
L.C. David
A.F.M. Botelho
N.R. Antoniosi FILHO
Evaluation of amitraz and derivatives in poisoned cat fur: a new screening method via Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - case report
Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia
feline
pesticide
poisoning
hair
HS/GC-MS
title Evaluation of amitraz and derivatives in poisoned cat fur: a new screening method via Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - case report
title_full Evaluation of amitraz and derivatives in poisoned cat fur: a new screening method via Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - case report
title_fullStr Evaluation of amitraz and derivatives in poisoned cat fur: a new screening method via Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - case report
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of amitraz and derivatives in poisoned cat fur: a new screening method via Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - case report
title_short Evaluation of amitraz and derivatives in poisoned cat fur: a new screening method via Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - case report
title_sort evaluation of amitraz and derivatives in poisoned cat fur a new screening method via headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry case report
topic feline
pesticide
poisoning
hair
HS/GC-MS
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-09352025000401300&lng=en&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT lptprado evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport
AT jmgbarbosa evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport
AT mcvicente evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport
AT acmbarros evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport
AT nmscorreia evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport
AT llpsilva evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport
AT bkrodrigues evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport
AT lcdavid evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport
AT afmbotelho evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport
AT nrantoniosifilho evaluationofamitrazandderivativesinpoisonedcatfuranewscreeningmethodviaheadspacegaschromatographymassspectrometrycasereport