4.7 Article

Clinical and Pathological Findings Associated with Aerosol Exposure of Macaques to Ricin Toxin

期刊

TOXINS
卷 7, 期 6, 页码 2121-2133

出版社

MDPI AG
DOI: 10.3390/toxins7062121

关键词

ricin; toxin; aerosol exposure; syndromic diagnosis; biodefense; telemetric monitoring

资金

  1. NIH [U01 AI082210]
  2. NIH/OD [OD-011104-53]
  3. Research Institute for Children (New Orleans, LA, USA), Louisiana Vaccine Center (LA Board of Regents) [LEQSF-ENH-PKSFI-PRS-02]
  4. LA Clinical and Translational Science Center (LA CaTS, USPHS) [U54 GM104940]

向作者/读者索取更多资源

Ricin is a potential bioweapon that could be used against civilian and military personnel. Aerosol exposure is the most likely route of contact to ricin toxin that will result in the most severe toxicity. Early recognition of ricin exposure is essential if specific antidotes are to be applied. Initial diagnosis will most likely be syndromic, i.e., fitting clinical and laboratory signs into a pattern which then will guide the choice of more specific diagnostic assays and therapeutic interventions. We have studied the pathology of ricin toxin in rhesus macaques exposed to lethal and sublethal ricin aerosols. Animals exposed to lethal ricin aerosols were followed clinically using telemetry, by clinical laboratory analyses and by post-mortem examination. Animals exposed to lethal aerosolized ricin developed fever associated with thermal instability, tachycardia, and dyspnea. In the peripheral blood a marked neutrophilia (without immature bands) developed at 24 h. This was accompanied by an increase in monocytes, but depletion of lymphocytes. Red cell indices indicated hemoconcentration, as did serum chemistries, with modest increases in sodium and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Serum albumin was strikingly decreased. These observations are consistent with the pathological observations of fluid shifts to the lungs, in the form of hemorrhages, inflammatory exudates, and tissue edema. In macaques exposed to sublethal aerosols of ricin, late pathologic consequences included chronic pulmonary fibrosis, likely mediated by M2 macrophages. Early administration of supportive therapy, specific antidotes after exposure or vaccines prior to exposure have the potential to favorably alter this outcome.

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