2. Zootoxins
A poisonous substance produced by specific
types of animals that can induced harmful
effects when exposed to tissues.
Poisonous animals are widely distributed
throughout the animal kingdom; the only major
group that seems to be exempt is the birds.
3. Types of Poisons
Ingested Poison
Ingested Poisons are poisons that are
dangerous if consumed. The most common
ingested poisons are crafted from plants or
from common chemicals. Frequently,
poisoning occurs accidentally when a creature
unknowingly consumes a poisonous plant, or a
food that has been unintentionally
contaminated.
4. Parenteral poisons, or venoms
-Those that are produced by a
specialized poison gland and administered by
means of a venom apparatus.
5. Crinotoxins
Those that are produced by a specialized
poison gland but are merely released into the
environment, usually by means of a pore.
7. Arachnids
Class: Arachnida
Any arthropods comprising chiefly terrestrial
invertebrates having a segmented body
divided into two regions of which the anterior
bears four pairs of legs but no antennae.
E.g. Spiders, scorpions, mites and ticks
8. Spiders
All spiders are capable of producing venom.
Spider venoms work on one of two
fundamental principles; they are either
neurotoxic or necrotic.
Neurotoxic effect
-Attacks the nervous system
Necrotic effect
-attacking tissues surrounding the bite and
vital organs and systems.
9. Neutrotoxic venoms
Widow spider venom contains
components known as latrotoxins, which
cause the release of
the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
This can affect the body in several ways,
including causing painful abdominal
cramps, as well as interfering
with respiration, and causing other
systemic effects.
10. The venom of Australian funnel-web
spiders and mouse spiders works by
opening sodium channels, causing excessive
neural activity which interferes with normal
bodily function.
The venom of Brazilian wandering
spiders is also a potent neurotoxin, which
attacks multiple types of ion channels. In
addition, the venom contains high levels
of serotonin, making an envenomation by
this species particularly painful.
11. Necrotic Venom
Spiders known to have necrotic venom are
found in the family Sicariidae, a family which
includes both the recluse spiders and the six-
eyed sand spiders.
Spiders in this family possess a known
dermonecrotic agent sphingomyelinase D.
12. Pathophysiology
Initial reaction: No pain from the bite
Bites usually become painful and itchy within two to
eight hours.
pain and other local effects worsen 12 to 36 hours
after the bite, and then necrosis will develop over
the next few days.
Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting,
fever, rashes, muscle and joint pain.
Severe symptoms occur including hemolysis,
thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular
coagulation.
13. Venom assessment
LD-50
Give a rough approximation of
the medical consequences of
various spider bites to humans.
Based on experiments with
laboratory mice
15. Reptiles
Class: reptilia
Air breathing vertebrates
Characterized by completely ossified skeleton
with single occipital condyle
Body is usually covered with scales or bony
plates
E.g. alligators, crocodiles, lizards, snakes and
turtles.
16. Snake bite
The most fatal form of zoonotic
poisoning
Proteins constitute 90-95% of
venom's dry weight and they are
responsible for almost all of its
biological effects. Among hundreds,
even thousands of proteins found in
venom, there are toxins.
17. Protein and Enzymes in Snake
Venoms
digestive hydrolases,
L-amino acid oxidase,
Damage
phospholipases, vascular
thrombin-like pro-coagulant endothelium
kallikrein-like serine proteases
metalloproteinases (hemorrhagins)
18. Polypeptide toxins
include cytotoxins, cardio toxins, and
postsynaptic neurotoxins (such as α-
bungarotoxin and α-Cobratoxin), which
bind to acetylcholine receptors at
neuromuscular junctions.
Inhibits angiotensin converting enzymes
and potentiate bradykinin.
Phosphodiesterases
19. Neurotoxin
These toxins attack cholinergic neurons by
destroying acetylcholinesterase (AChE). ACh
therefore cannot be broken down and stays in
the receptor which causes tetany, that can
lead to death.
Hemotoxins
The toxin causes hemolysis, or destruction of
red blood cells (erythrocytes)
20. Dendrotoxins inhibit neurotransmissions by
blocking the exchange of + and – ions across
the neuronal membrane lead to no nerve
impulse. So they paralyse the nerves
Cardiotoxins are components that are
specifically toxic to the heart. They bind to
particular sites on the surface of muscle cells
and cause depolarisation. These toxins may
cause the heart to beat irregularly or stop
beating, causing death.
21. Venomous Snakes:
Mambas
Vipers
Rattlesnakes
King
cobra
Members of Naja genus
22. Prophylaxis
Antivenoms
Usually came from animals such as sheep, goat,
horse and rabbits.
The immune system of the subject animal
responds to the dose, producing antibodies to the
venom's active molecules.
the antibodies can then be harvested from the
animal's blood and injected into bite victims to
treat envenomation.
24. VENOMOUS FISH
Rajiformes (stingrays and mantas)
Scorpaenidae (scorpionfish, stonefish and
lionfish)
Siluroidei (catfish)
Squaliformes (sharks and dogfish)
Trachinidae (weevers).
They live in shallow water near the shore or
near reefs and lie in sand or among rocks
25. MOA
• inject venom through their spines
• it causes intense pain near the bite
and affects the muscles.
Venom from dead fish is still poisonous
for up to 24 hours after the fish has
died.
26. Poisoning from eating
SEAFOOD
Ciguatoxin poisoning
Poisoning from shellfish
Tetrodotoxin poisoning
Scombrotoxin poisoning
35. • Cigautoxin, tetrodotoxin and poisons from shellfish
affect the gut and the nervous system.
• Tetrodotoxin and the poison from the shellfish
paralyse muscles, including the muscles that are
used in breathing.
• Scombrotoxin causes an allergic type of reaction.
• Shellfish are most poisonous at times of the year
when the dinoflagellates on which they feed
multiply and form “red tides”.
37. What to do
If the patient is stung rescue him or her
immediately from the water
Soak the wounded part of the body at once in
the bowl or bath of water as hot as the patient
can safely bare (about 50 C ) for not more than
30 minutes.
Clean the wound and remove any broken spines
40. Plants that contain Atropine
1.Atropa belladonna
-a.k.a deadly night shade or enchanter’s shade
-Most common
-Shrub with Bell shaped purple or red flower
-Found in Europe, north africa and west Asia
Uses
-prevent or treat asthma in folk medicine
41. Datura stramonium
A.k.a thorn apple, jimson weed or
angel’strumpet
Funnel shaped white or mauve herb flowers
Fruits are prickly or spiny capsules and black
in colour
Unpleasant smell
Worldwide
Uses
42. Uses
Leaves are infused in water to make a drink
Made into cigarettes and smoked
Used to cause abortion.
3.Hyoscyamus niger
-A.k.a henbane
-herb with yellow flowers and purple markings
-unpleasant smell
-found in north& south America, Europe,India
and western Asia
43. How they cause harm
Excite brain and affect nerves that control
heart, eyes, gut and bladder
Make skin and mouth dry
Cause fever
Wide pupils
Fast breathing and heartbeat
44. How poisonous they are
Poisonous if eaten, even when cooked or
boiled because poison is not destroyed by
heat
Atropa and hyoscyamus both contain sap
irritant to skin and eyes
Atropa may cause poisoning to the eye
Poison may be severe in old and young
children
45. Special danger
Mistaken for spinach and the berries of Atropa
for edible fruits
Are abused for their hallucinogenic effects
Signs and symptoms
If swallowed
Red, dry skin, wide pupils, blurred vision
Dry mouth and thirst
Confusion and hallucination excitement and
aggression
46. Signs and symptoms continued
Fast pulse, can’t pass urine, unconsciousness
Fever and rarely fits
on skin
Redness and irritation
Blistering
In the eyes
Same effects as when swallowed
47. What to do
Give first aid
If breathing stops, give mouth –mouth
respiration, heart massage
It fever is present, sponge body with cool
water
Give activated charcoal, make him/her vomit
Wash eye for 15-20minswith running water
Take the patient to the hospital
48. Cannabis
A.k.a marijuana, indian hemp, hashish, ganja,
pot, dope and grass
Made from the indian hemp plant cannabis
saliva
Uses and abuses
Often abused
Makes people relax
Makes colours and sounds seem brighter and
louder
49. Uses and abuses continued
Taken as food or injected
Pipe and smoked
How it causes harm
Affects brain
How poisonous is it ?
Children get signs of poisoning but recover
Less harm to adults unless when injected
50. Signs and symptoms
Effects start within 10mins of smoking the drug
and last for 2-3hrs
When eaten, effects start within 30-60mins
and last 2-5mins
Effects are:
Feeling of well-being, happiness and
sleepness but high doses may cause fear,
panic and confusion
51. Effects continued
Fast pulse, hallucinations, drowsiness, slurred
speech and coughing if the drug is breathed
If injected may cause:
Dizziness, fever,low blood pressure
Severe headace,fever and unconsciousness
What to do
Same as atropines
52. Irritant plants
Cause skin reactions
Include:
1. Cashew nut tree (anacardium
occidentale)
- tropical countries
-Nut shell contains irritant brown
oily juice
-Roasting shell destroys chemicals
2 . Dumb-cane(dieffenbachia species
-lance shaped leaves with yellow or white
markings
-Common household plant
53. Irritants continued
Large group of plants
4. poison ivy
-climbing plant, may be found clinging to trees or
houses
5.Rhus radicans (toxicodendron radicans)
-shrub like tree with green leaves that turn
yellow, red violet in autumn
6.African poison
54. Irritants continued
7. Mango (mangifera indica)
8.Urtica dioica
-common stinging nettle
How they cause harm
-irritates skin and brain if swallowed
-dumb-cane causes sever irritations of lips,
mouth and throat and can affect heart and
muscles if swallowed.
55. How they cause harm
Intense allergic skin reactions depends on
sensitivity of the individual
Watering, blurred vision, burning pain,
Swelling of face and eye lids
Fever, blisters and pain that's worse in bright
light
What to do:
-wash skin with soapy water
-Apply hydrocortisone cream
56. oleanders
Nerium oleander
- Evergren shrub. White pink flowers with a
sweet smell
- China,india, mediterranean
- Garden plant
- All parts poisonous, crushed leaves and stems
are irritants to skin
57. Thevetia peruviana
-Small ornamental tree, bright yellow flowers
-Round fruits, green when unripe and black
when ripe
-Milky sap.
-Central and south America, gardens in tropics
and subtropical regions
58. How it causes harm
Poison affect heart in similar way to digitalis
Serious poisoning has been reported in
children and adults from eating fruit..very
poisonous
Special danger:
-bright flowers are attractive to children
-Eaten by people who want to kill themselves
59. Signs and symptoms
Numbness or burning pain in mouth,
Nausea and vomiting which maybe severe
Diarrhea, belly pain, drowsiness,possible fits
Unconsciousness, pulse maybe slow or fast
Effect of heart may result to death
What to do
-give magnesium sulphate with charcoal
-Activated charcoal, first aid
60. Ornamental beans
Abrus precatoris
-climbing tree, clusters of small white pink
flowers
-flat pod fruit with 2-5 shiny red with black patch
seeds
Subtropics, tropics
Ricinus communis
-large non woody, 3m high large palm like leaves
61. continued
Round pricky fruits. Bean shaped seed
Mottled pink and grey
Grown as crop and also scattered in farmlands
Tropics
Uses
-necklace and rosaries
-castor oil beans used to make castor oil
62. uses
Castor oil used as laxative
Seeds are given to children to use in
handicraft and counting and is not
recommended
How they cause harm
-damage blood cells, gut and kidneys
How poisonous are they?
-death, blindness, irritation and rash
63. Signs and symptoms
If swallowed:
effects are delayed for 2hrs to 2 days
-burning sensation, sever vomiting, belly pain
-Diarrhea with blood, dehydration. Drowsiness
-fits ,may pass blood stained urine in small
volumes
In the eye
-reddening and swelling
-sometimes blindness
64. continued
On skin
-Redness and rash
What to give:
Magnesium sulfate, sodium sulfate or activated
charcoal
-Wash skin with soap and water
-Wash eyes for 15-20mins in running water
-Take the seeds out of the mouth
65. Mushrooms
Covers Amanita species
1. A. mascaria and A.pantheria cause
hallucinations , sleep or unconsciousness
2. A. Phalloides, A. Virosa, A. Verna, cortinarius
speciosissimus and lepiota species contain
poisons that damage cells
3. Clitocybe and Inocybe species contain a
poison that causes sweating and affects gut
66. mushrooms
4. Coprinus atramentarius only causes poisoning
when alcohol is taken as well
5. Psilocybe semilanceata and P. Cubensis
cause hallucination without sleep
How poisonous they are:
-most cause mild to moderate poisoning but
some cause severe poisoning and death
Many people have died after eating A.phalloides
67. Special danger
Identification of poisonous to non-poisonous is
very difficult
Cooking may destroy the poison but many
kinds like Amanita species are poisonous even
after cooking
Sever effects in small children producing fits
and unconsciousness
68. Signs and symptoms
dizziness, incordination, stagering
hallucinations, deep sleep, muscle jerking
belly pain , nausea, sever vomiting,intense
thirst, diarrhea lasting 2-3 days
jaundice, signs of kidney failure,laughing
Palpitaions and chest pains,blurred vision
Drowsiness,anxiety, red face and neck
Metallic taste in the mouth,chills and headace
