Cyanide Poisoning in Animals

The plants, which contain hydrocyanic acid or cyanogenetic glycosides, are called as cyanogenetic plants or cyanogenic plants. In plants, cyanide is present in two forms:-

ü  Free hydro cyanic acid.

ü  Bonded cyanogenic glycosides.

Following ingestion or application free hydro cyanic acid is released from the glycosides. 

The principle sources of cyanide poisoning:-

There are more than 100 plants containing sufficient quantities of cyanogenic glycosides and are responsible for poisoning in animals. Some of the most commonly occur in cyanogenetic plants are listed below:-

•        Growing bamboo shoot.

•        Linseed, Cherry plants.

•        White clover, Sudan grass.

•        Kasava, Lotus.

•        Leaves of acacia, Sorghum.

Chemical sources:-

•       Hydrocyanic acid:- It can be evaporated in ordinary temperature. So poisoning may occur through inhalation.

•       Poisoning may occurs through ingestion of Na, K, Ca, Mercuric and silver cyanide compounds.

•       Careless use of certain fertilizer containing calcium cyanide.

Treatment of CN poisoning:- 

The main target of the treatment of the CN poisoning is to prevent the combination of CN radical compounds with cytochrome oxidase enzyme.

A) Supply of nitrate enhances the formation of cyanomethomoglobin instead of ferric cytochrome oxidase.

B) Supply of sulphur producing thicyanide, which is practically nontoxic and can easily, comes out through urine.

 Specific treatment

Name of drug ingredients.	Dog	Sheep/goat	Cattle
a) 1% Na2No3	25mg/kg Bd. wt.	1gm/ kg Bd. wt.	3gm/ kg Bd. wt.
b) 25% sodium thiosulphate	1.25mg/ kg Bd. wt.	3gm/ kg Bd. wt.	15gm/ kg Bd. wt.
Distilled water.	20ml/ kg Bd. wt.	15ml/ kg Bd. wt.	20ml/ kg Bd. wt.

Supportive treatment:-

1 Liter of 5% acetic acid in 5-6 liter of cold water should be administered slowly to slow the microbial hydrolysis of cyanogenetic glycosides.