Cantharidin Toxicosis to Animal and Human in the World: A Review

In the order Coleoptera, cantharidin is produced by two families, Meloidae (true blister beetles) and Oedemeridae (false blister beetles). Cantharidin is of veterinary and medical importance, since it is super toxic to animals and humans. The present work was conducted aiming to review the cantharidin investigation and cantharidin toxicosis to animals including pathology, symptomatology, preventive measures and curative treatments. Although cantharidin toxicosis in animals had been widely documented, the literature reports on birds are still limited. A comprehensive discussion of the human cantharidiasis had been provided stressing on the most reported cases in the world, pathological effects, clinical symptoms, mode of action, preventive measures and curative treatments.