Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)
Volume 7, No. 2, 2025
Pages 316-321
DOI: 10.36108/jvbs/5202.70.0240
Mass Mortality and Public Health Crisis Following Organophosphate (Sniper®) Poisoning in a Herd of Cattle Grazing in a Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) Plantation at Ayigba, Kogi State, Nigeria: A Case Report
Victor Eyikojonwa Amedu1* and Khalid Talha Biobaku2
1Postgraduate College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria, Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology.
2Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
A herd of 460 indigenous cattle suffered acute poisoning after grazing a cashew (Anacardium occidentale) plantation where fruits had been sprayed with Sniper® (dichlorvos, an organophosphate insecticide) by the farm owner as a retaliatory measure against recurrent cattle invasion. Within 30 minutes, 70 animals died before veterinary responders arrived. Emergency interventions saved 280 animals, all of which recovered fully. However, several carcasses were later processed and sold for consumption, creating a public health crisis. This report outlines the toxicological mechanism, clinical findings, emergency pharmacological management, and One-Health implications of this catastrophic event.
Keywords: Organophosphate poisoning, Dichlorvos, Cattle, One Health, Nigeria, Toxicology