What is organophosphate used for?
Organophosphates are the most widely used insecticides today. They are used in agriculture, the home, gardens, and veterinary practice. Organophosphate insecticides (such as diazinon) are one type of pesticide that works by damaging an enzyme in the body called acetylcholinesterase.
What does organophosphate poisoning do?
Organophosphate poisoning is poisoning due to organophosphates (OPs). Organophosphates are used as insecticides, medications, and nerve agents. Symptoms include increased saliva and tear production, diarrhea, vomiting, small pupils, sweating, muscle tremors, and confusion.
What are the symptoms of organophosphate poisoning?
Organophosphates are used as medications, insecticides, and nerve agents as a weapon. Symptoms include increased saliva and tear production, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, small pupils, sweating, muscle tremors, and confusion. The onset of symptoms is often within minutes, and it can take weeks to disappear.
What is atropine in organophosphate poisoning?
Atropine is given to poisoned patients to block muscarinic overstimulation.
When should I stop taking pralidoxime?
The infusion can be discontinued after 24 hours if the patient is well. The patient will require close observation for 24 hours and if toxicity reoccurs they will need another 24 hours of therapy.
What is the mechanism of action of an organophosphate?
The primary mechanism of action of organophosphate pesticides is inhibition of carboxyl ester hydrolases, particularly acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE is an enzyme that degrades the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) into choline and acetic acid.
How can organophosphate poisoning be prevented?
Do not smoke, drink, eat or rub your mouth or eyes until you have washed your hands and face with soap and water. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants of tightly woven fabric, socks, a hat and shoes. Do not wear canvas shoes or sandals. Change clothing daily and do not re-wear it until it has been laundered.
How toxic are organophosphates?
Poisoning can occur after short or long-term exposure. It can cause nerve damage and disrupt hormone production in humans and animals. Organophosphates are also toxic to plants and insects. Agricultural workers and others who handle agricultural chemicals may be at risk, with most exposure occurring in rural areas.
Are organochlorines still used?
Organochlorine pesticides are chlorinated hydrocarbons used extensively from the 1940s through the 1960s in agriculture and mosquito control. As neurotoxicants, many organochlorine pesticides were banned in the United States, although a few are still registered for use in this country.
How is DDT poisoning treated?
No specific antidotes are available for organochlorine poisoning. Decontamination may be indicated to prevent continued absorption, as well as exposure of health care personnel. For dermal decontamination, remove clothing and wash skin with soap and water. This is best performed in the field.
What is the TCID50 assay protocol?
Viral Titering-TCID50 Assay Protocol. Viral quantitation determines the number of viruses in a specific volume of fluid. Its utility is most apparent in the production of recombinant proteins or viral vaccines that use viral vectors as a manner for cellular entry or propagation.
How do you calculate TCID50 titer?
Visualization and calculation of TCID50 The endpoint is determined when the CPE or immunofluorescence assay (IFA) read-out appear the same per dilution for 3 separate readings. The titer is calculated using the method of Muench and Reed.
How to convert TCID 50 to plaque forming units?
The TCID 50 can be converted to plaque forming units (PFU) through the Poisson distribution. This conversion is an estimate based on the rationale that the limiting dilution, which would infect 50% of the cell layers challenged, would be expected to produce a single plaque in a cell monolayer. For research use only.