Accidental Intra-Auricular Artery Injection of Ceftiofur in Two Beef Steers

Abstract

Two beef steers accidentally injected into a branch of the auricular artery with an oil-based formulation of ceftiofur died within 5 minutes of injection. Notable pathologic findings included distention and obstruction of cerebral and cerebellar arteries by a whitish tan material and hemorrhages within meningeal spaces, the choroid plexus, cerebrum, and cerebellum. Lipid material was identified within cerebral blood vessels in frozen sections stained with oil red O. This report describes an unusual case of brain ischemia in beef cattle.

Cerebral Injury from Intracarotid Injection in an Alpaca (Vicugna Pacos)

“…7 No convincing evidence of neuronal necrosis or perivascular edema was detected in the brain of cattle that died 5 min after inadvertent injection of a lipidbased antibiotic into the right auricular artery. 1 Neuronal necrosis was reported in a cow that died within 5 min of intracarotid injection of chloramphenicol, 9 although the very short time from injection to death suggests that neuronal changes might have been artifactual. Neuronal necrosis was described in a horse that died 6 hr after intracarotid injection of promazine.…”

“…2,4,9 Numerous studies have been made of experimental disruption of the bloodbrain barrier by intracarotid injection of a variety of compounds, 8,10,13 but few reports document the pathologic consequences of inadvertent intra-arterial injection in animals. 1,2,4,9 Cerebral injury occurring within 5 min after inadvertent injection of a lipid-based antibiotic into the auricular artery of cattle was attributed to vascular occlusion. 1 Cerebral injury after intracarotid injection of other compounds in cattle and horses has been attributed to breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and includes edema, hemorrhage, status spongiosis of white matter, neuronal necrosis, vascular necrosis, and thrombosis.…”

“…1,2,4,9 Cerebral injury occurring within 5 min after inadvertent injection of a lipid-based antibiotic into the auricular artery of cattle was attributed to vascular occlusion. 1 Cerebral injury after intracarotid injection of other compounds in cattle and horses has been attributed to breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and includes edema, hemorrhage, status spongiosis of white matter, neuronal necrosis, vascular necrosis, and thrombosis. 2,4,9 No studies to date include evaluation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry to detect reactive astrocytes in affected tissue.…”

“…"content-markup(./author-grp [1]/aff|./author-grp [1]/dept-list)> Unintentional intra-arterial injection of drugs is a recognized risk in human medicine 11 and in veterinary medicine. 1,2,4,9 The frequent administration of intravenous solutions into the jugular vein in large animals can result in inadvertent intracarotid injection. 2,4,9 Numerous studies have been made of experimental disruption of the bloodbrain barrier by intracarotid injection of a variety of compounds, 8,10,13 but few reports document the pathologic consequences of inadvertent intra-arterial injection in animals.…”

“…?show "fnote_aff1"$^! "content-markup(./author-grp [1]/aff|./author-grp [1]/dept-list)> Unintentional intra-arterial injection of drugs is a recognized risk in human medicine 11 and in veterinary medicine. 1,2,4,9 The frequent administration of intravenous solutions into the jugular vein in large animals can result in inadvertent intracarotid injection.…”