A simple and highly sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of cyanide in equine blood.
Abstract: An epidemiological association among black cherry trees (Prunus serotina), eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americana), and the spring 2001 episode of mare reproductive loss syndrome in central Kentucky focused attention on the potential role of environmental cyanogens in the causes of this syndrome. To evaluate the role of cyanide (CN (-)) in this syndrome, a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive method for determination of low parts per billion concentrations of CN (-) in equine blood and other biological fluids was developed. The analytical method is an adaptation of methods commonly in use and involves the evolution and trapping of gaseous hydrogen cyanide followed by spectrophotometric determination by autoanalyzer. The limit of quantitation of this method is 2 ng/mL in equine blood, and the standard curve shows a linear relationship between CN (-) concentration and absorbance (r >. 99). The method throughput is high, up to 100 samples per day. Normal blood CN (-) concentrations in horses at pasture in Kentucky in October 2001 ranged from 3-18 ng/mL, whereas hay-fed horses showed blood CN (-) levels of 2-7 ng/mL in January 2002. Blood samples from a small number of cattle at pasture showed broadly similar blood CN (-) concentrations. Intravenous administration of sodium cyanide and oral administration of mandelonitrile and amygdalin yielded readily detectable increases in blood CN (-) concentrations. This method is sufficiently sensitive and specific to allow the determination of normal blood CN (-) levels in horses, as well as the seasonal and pasture-dependent variations. The method should also be suitable for investigation of the toxicokinetics and disposition of subacutely toxic doses of CN (-) and its precursor cyanogens in the horse as well as in other species.
Publication Date: 2003-01-01 PubMed ID: 20021191DOI: 10.1080/15376510309847Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research involves an innovative spectrophotometric method for accurately detecting the presence of cyanide in horse blood which may help understand its role in causing mare reproductive loss syndrome in Kentucky in 2001.
Research Objectives and Methodology
- The study aimed to investigate the possible impact of cyanide (CN(-)) in causing mare reproductive loss syndrome, which affected horses in central Kentucky in 2001.
- An adapted analytical procedure was utilized for the detection and quantification of cyanide in equine blood and other biological fluids.
- This procedure is a version of those that are already in regular use. It includes creating and collecting gaseous hydrogen cyanide, and then using an autoanalyzer for spectrophotometric determination.
Sensitivity and Efficiency of the Research Method
- The method is highly sensitive, being able to identify cyanide quantities as low as 2 ng/mL in horse blood. The accuracy of the method was backed up by a linear standard curve that indicated a strong bond between cyanide concentration and absorbance.
- Besides, the methodology is quite efficient, capable of processing up to 100 samples daily.
Preliminary Findings and Fast Identification Responses
- Preliminary data collected in October 2001 from horses at pasture in Kentucky showed cyanide levels ranging from 3-18 ng/mL in the blood. In contrast, hay-fed horses showed 2-7 ng/mL cyanide levels.
- Also it turned out that other species, like cattle, had similar kinds of cyanide concentration levels in their blood.
- Moreover, the administered sodium cyanide and mandelonitrile and amygdalin orally could instantly trigger detectable spikes in cyanide concentrations in the blood.
Suitability and Potential Applications
- This analytical method was observed to be quite effective in identifying nominal blood cyanide levels in horses, along with the seasonal and field-related variations.
- It is also suitable for the exploration of the toxicokinetics and disposition of subacute toxic cyanide doses and its preliminary cyanogenic compounds both in horses and other species.
Cite This Article
APA
Hughes C, Lehner F, Dirikolu L, Harkins D, Boyles J, McDowell K, Tobin T, Crutchfield J, Sebastian M, Harrison L, Baskin SI.
(2003).
A simple and highly sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of cyanide in equine blood.
Toxicol Mech Methods, 13(2), 129-138.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15376510309847 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Bortey-Sam N, Jackson R, Gyamfi OA, Bhadra S, Freeman C, Mahon SB, Brenner M, Rockwood GA, Logue BA. Diagnosis of cyanide poisoning using an automated, field-portable sensor for rapid analysis of blood cyanide concentrations.. Anal Chim Acta 2020 Feb 15;1098:125-132.
- Bebarta VS, Tanen DA, Boudreau S, Castaneda M, Zarzabal LA, Vargas T, Boss GR. Intravenous cobinamide versus hydroxocobalamin for acute treatment of severe cyanide poisoning in a swine (Sus scrofa) model.. Ann Emerg Med 2014 Dec;64(6):612-9.
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