Anticoagulant Rodenticide Intoxication in Animals – A Review

The newest measures for the control of harmful rodent populations are from the anticoagulant rodenticide group, whichare divided into 2 subgroups: first and second generations, and indandione derivatives. Non-target organisms are potentially at riskof direct consumption of baits (primary hazard) and of eating poisoned rodents (secondary hazard). Anticoagulant rodenticidesinhibit the enzyme vitamin K-dependent carboxylase and thus impair the reactivation of vitamin K1, indirectly affecting physiologicalblood coagulation. The diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical signs (massive hemorrhages), laboratory findings, and especially thechanges in coagulation markers (APTT, PT, TT, PCT, ACT, FDPs, and PIVKA). The specific antidote is vitamin K1. The generalprophylaxis consists of placing baits out of reach of animals, daily control of baits and dead rodents, which are to be timely removed.