Therapeutic management of atrazine poisoning associated with nervous form of ketosis in a crossbred cow

Abstract

Atrazine is a triazine herbicide widely used in agriculture, and accidental ingestion by cattle may lead to toxicosis characterized by gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal and neurological dysfunctions. Nervous form of ketosis, is a metabolic disorder of high yielding dairy cattle in early lactation and it is characterized by abnormal behaviour with certain degree of neurological signs. This report describes a unique case of atrazine poisoning associated with nervous form of ketosis in a crossbred cow, its clinical presentation, diagnosis and successful therapeutic management. Prompt diagnosis and an integrated approach involving detoxification, hepatoprotective agents, energy supplementation and supportive care resulted in complete recovery.