Brodifacoum toxicosis and abortion in an Arabian mare

A 3-year-old pregnant Arabian mare was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz with a history of bleeding and rodenticide ingestion. The results of paraclinical examinations showed severe normocytic and normochromic anemia, decreased serum total protein, albumin, and fibrinogen concentrations, increased serum total bilirubin, urea, and creatinine concentrations, as well as increased serum aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase activity. Three days after treatment, all the clinical signs were resolved, however, fetus abortion occurred. In order to confirm the suspected cause of abortion and toxicosis, high-performance liquid chromatography was performed on serum sample of mare and liver tissue of the aborted fetus and toxicosis was confirmed. Poisoning with brodifacoum is considered as an important and lethal poisoning for both human being and animals. To our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous toxicosis and abortion with brodifacoum. Brodifacoum toxicosis can be effectively managed with early diagnosis, good paraclinical examinations and appropriate treatment.