Aspectos clínicos e terapêuticos da intoxicação por fluoroacetato de sódio em animais domésticos: revisão

The sodium monofluoroacetate (FAC) or Compound 1080 is a potent rodenticide widely used for rodents and vertebrate pest control since 1946. It was prohibited in many countries because of its high toxicity. The FAC is also naturally found in some toxic plants as active principle in Brazil, Australia and South Africa. The toxic effects are caused by fluoroacetate metabolite, the fluorocitrate. This metabolite blocks the body energy production by inhibiting the Krebs cycle, resulting in neurological and cardiacs clinical signs and hypocalcemia due to increased citrate and its calcium quelant effect. The cardiotoxicity is presented by cardiac arrhythmias as ventricular fibrilation and cardiac arrest. The neurotoxicity is demonstrated by ataxia, hyperexcitation and convulsion. The clinical variability is evident in the fluoroacetate intoxication due to the different sensitivity among individuals and species. Many cases of intoxication involving the human and domestic animals have been diagnosed since FAC was discovered and used as rodenticide. Therefore, many researches are looking for the toxic characteristic of clinical signs and effective antidotes.