Meiser H, Hagedorn HW, Schulz R. Development of a method for determination of cyanide concentrations in serum and rumen fluid of cattle.
Am J Vet Res 2000;
61:658-64. [PMID:
10850842 DOI:
10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.658]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To develop a reliable method for measurement of cyanide concentrations in cattle, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and establish reference ranges of cyanide concentrations in cattle.
ANIMALS
52 Fleckvieh cattle.
PROCEDURE
Cattle were allocated to 3 groups; 12 were fed leguminous grass and hay, 36 were fed whole-maize and corn-cob silages, and 4 were fed other feedstuffs. Samples of blood, rumen fluid, and liver were collected at time of slaughter. Serum, rumen fluid, and liver homogenate were assayed for cyanide content, using a derivatization procedure. A technique for analysis by GC-MS that used selected ion monitoring was developed.
RESULTS
Compared with a spectrophotometric method, detection of cyanide in serum and rumen fluid by use of GC-MS was selective and sensitive, with a limit of detection of 0.7 microM. Spectrophotometric analysis yielded false-negative and false-positive results. Thus, the GC-MS method was used for subsequent analysis. In all cattle except 1, cyanide concentration ranged from < 0.7 to 35 microM in serum and from < 0.7 to 28 microM in rumen fluid; cyanide concentration in that 1 animal was 206 microM. Cattle fed clover, grass, grass hay, and clover hay had 8.3- to 8.6-fold higher mean cyanide concentrations in rumen fluid and serum than cattle fed whole-maize and corn-cob silages.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Results of this study suggest a reference range that should be useful for aiding in the diagnosis of cyanide poisoning. Also, cattle can apparently accommodate a serum cyanide concentration of 206 microM without adverse effects.
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