Characterization of a Swine (Sus scrofa) Model of Oral Potassium Cyanide Intoxication

Abstract

Cyanide is a readily available and potentially lethal substance. Oral exposure can result in larger doses, compared with other routes. Currently, there are no antidotes specific for use in the treatment of oral cyanide poisoning, and studies cannot be done in humans. We report on a new large animal model of oral cyanide toxicity to evaluate potential antidotes. Six female swine (; weight, 45 to 55 kg) were anesthetized, intubated, and instrumented. Animals received a KCN bolus of either 5 or 8 mg/kg delivered via orogastric tube. Time to apnea was recorded; parameters monitored included heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO2, arterial blood gasses, and lactate concentrations. The Welch test was used to calculate confidence intervals, mean, and standard deviation, and a Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to compare survival between the 2 groups. At baseline, all animals in both groups were similar. Animals in the 5-mg/kg group had a more rapid time to apnea (5.1 ± 2.1 min), longer time to death (48.5 ± 38.1 min), and a greater rate of survival than the 8-mg/kg group (apnea, 10.6 ± 10.7 min; death, 26.1 ± 5.8 min). All animals displayed signs of toxicity (acidemia, hyperlactatemia, hypotension, apnea). We here report a large animal (swine) model of oral cyanide poisoning with dose-dependent effects in regard to time to death and survival rate. This model likely will be valuable for the development of medical countermeasures for oral cyanide poisoning.

Tetrapleura Tetraptera Fruit Protects Against Cyanide Induced Toxicity in Rats

“…Presently, there is no food and drug approved antidote that is specifically used for oral cyanide poisoning. Hence there is need for counter measure to oral cyanide exposure [23]. Previously, cyanide has been established to cause liver damage in different organisms [3,4] and cyanide-induced Kadiri et al Iraqi Journal of Science, 2020, Vol.…”

Post-Mortem analyses of Oryctolagus cuniculus acutely poisoned with potassium cyanide and dichlorvos (sniper)ER®)

“…Its oral exposure can result in larger doses, compared with other modes of administration. Presently, there are no antidotes specific for use in the treatment of oral cyanide poisoning, and studies cannot be done in humans (Ng et al 2018). The toxicity of cyanide has been known for over 200 years (Bhattacharya and Lakshmana-Rao 1997).…”