Iodine

Iodine is a naturally occurring element that is essential for the good health of people and animals. Iodine is found in small amounts in sea water and in certain rocks and sediments. Iodine occurs in many different forms that can be blue, brown, yellow, red, white, or colorless.

Sources

Ocean food like cod, bass, perch,seaweed

Iodinated salt taken daily in food.

Food- milk navy bean , potato with peel, turkey breast, boiled egg, fish stick.

An organic iodine, ethylene diamine dihydrideiodide (EDDI) and calcium iodate are widely used as feed additives for livestock and poultry.

Most of the Brassica spp. (turnips, rape, kale, cabbage), some of the crucifers, and soybeans are goitrogenic, but cooking, heating, or processing destroys the goitrogenic substance

Many compounds containing iodine has been used as therapeutic agent in veterinary medicine (Potassium and sodium iodide). Potassium iodide is available as a nutritional supplement, typically in combination products, such as multivitamin/mineral supplements. Iodine makes up approximately 77% of the total weight of potassium iodide.

Routes/ mode of transmission

Ingestion of iodine cause gastric pain, vomiting (brown stained), diarrhea, bloody stool, collapse and nephritis.

Inhalation of iodine causes inflammation of respiratory tract, cough and pulmonary edema.

Iodine produces inflammation, desquamation and erosion of mucous membrane.

Iodine poisoning usually results from taking too many iodine supplements. It’s very hard to urge iodine poisoning from food alone. Certain medications also can increase the quantity iodine in your system.

Toxicokinetics

Toxic dose for more than 500mg/head/day for 21 days in cattle.

Well absorbed from GI tract

Mainly excreted in urine, small amount through feces and sweat

Mechanism of toxicity.

Toxicity can occur through skin absorption, ingestion, or inhalation. When ingested, iodine can cause severe corrosive injury to the GI tract owing to its oxidative properties. In the body, iodine is converted rapidly to iodide and stored in the thyroid gland. Taking a one-time dose of an excessive amount of iodine usually won’t cause iodine poisoning. However, your risk increases if you consistently absorb an excessive amount of iodine. The additional iodine confuses your thyroid, causing it to supply extra hormone .These results in a phenomenon called the Wolff-Chaikoff effect, which may be a decrease in hormone production that sometimes lasts for a few weeks.

Clinical Signs.

In general clinical signs  include Gum and tooth soreness, Loss of appetite, Metallic taste in mouth, Mouth and throat pain and burning, No urine output, Rash, Salivation (producing saliva), Seizures Shock Shortness of breath Stupor (decreased level of alertness), Thirst, Vomiting, Reduced appetite Furthermore, chronic toxicosis results in goiter and decreased cell-mediated and humeral immune response. Cardiomyopathy has been reported in cats.

Lesions include dry, flaky skin, especially around the head, neck, and back.

 The thyroid gland is usually grossly enlarged and the tissue around the thyroid may be edematous, flabby, or thickened.

Excessive lacrimation, as well as excess serous to mucopurulent discharge and bronchopneumonia is seen. Anuria effect is also seen.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of iodine toxicity is usually based on results of thyroid function testing and imaging, which are correlated with clinical data. Iodine excretion may be more specific but is not usually measured. Some other keys for diagnosis are:

History of exposure to excess iodine.

Clinical signs (signs of acute iodine poisoning include burning of the mouth, throat, and stomach, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a weak pulse, cyanosis, and coma)

Postmortem changes include fatty degeneration of liver, kidney , heart and edema of brain.

Treatment

The best treatment for iodine toxicosis is removal of the source of iodine because it is rapidly mobilized and excreted from the tissues.

Gastric lavage with water or 1-1.5% solution of sodium thiosulphate.

Administration of starch solution and demulsantseg milk and egg white.

NaCl promotes excretion of iodine.

For skin lesions use 20% alcohol.

Differential diagnosis

Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and GIT bleeding due to other primary or secondary GIT

disease.

ARF.

Liver dysfunction or failure.

Ataxia, tremors, and paralysis due to other primary or secondary neurological disease.