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Rubini S, Rubini R, Bertocchi S, Zordan S, Magri A, Barsi F, Sampieri M, Locatelli CA, Baldini E, Manfredini S, Vertuani S. A case of severe benzalkonium chloride intoxication in a cat. Acta Vet Scand 2024; 66:18. [PMID: 38622748 PMCID: PMC11020912 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-024-00737-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC), that can be found in a wide variety of household products-from disinfectants to medicaments and home fragrances-but also professional products. In pets, cats have long been reported as more sensitive than dogs to QACs; in fact, signs of irritation such as oral ulcerations, stomatitis and pharyngitis can be observed after contact with concentrations of 2% or lower. In a review of 245 cases of BAC exposure in cats, reported by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (United Kingdom) only 1.2% of the cases died or were euthanized. Nevertheless, BAC toxidromes in cats can result in transitory CNS and respiratory distress, as well as severe mucosal and cutaneous lesions. Currently, only a few reports are available concerning BAC poisoning in this species. CASE PRESENTATION A 4 month-old kitten presented with severe glossitis, lameness in the hindlimbs and episodes of vomiting and diarrhoea. The cause was unknown until the owners reported use of a BAC-containing mould remover (5%) 4 days later. The patient developed severe oral burns requiring a pharyngeal tube for feeding and severe cutaneous chemical burns. The kitten was managed with supportive therapy and required hospitalization for 10 days. The symptoms disappeared completely 3 weeks after exposure. CONCLUSIONS BAC is a very common compound contained in several household and professional products but, to the best of our knowledge, no previous case had been reported in Italy. We hope that this report will help raise awareness on the hazards of BAC products for cats in both domestic and work contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silva Rubini
- Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, Ferrara Territorial Office, Via Modena 483, 44124, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto Rubini
- Europa Veterinary Clinic, Via Arginone 381/C, 44124, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Bertocchi
- Europa Veterinary Clinic, Via Arginone 381/C, 44124, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zordan
- Europa Veterinary Clinic, Via Arginone 381/C, 44124, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alice Magri
- Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, Ferrara Territorial Office, Via Modena 483, 44124, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Filippo Barsi
- Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, Ferrara Territorial Office, Via Modena 483, 44124, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Sampieri
- Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, Bologna Territorial Office, Via P. Fiorini 5, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Carlo Alessandro Locatelli
- Poison Control Center of Pavia-National Center for Toxicological Information-Clinical and Experimental Toxicology Laboratories, Clinical Scientific Institutes Maugeri SpA SB, IRCCS Pavia, Via Salvatore Maugeri 10, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Erika Baldini
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Stefano Manfredini
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Vertuani
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
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