Earwax: A clue to discover fluoroacetate intoxication in cattle

Abstract

An innovative method was developed to detect fluoroacetate poisoning in cattle by headspace/gas chromatographic analysis of earwax samples of intoxicated cattle. Samples were collected from 2 groups of cattle subjected to induced fluoroacetate intoxication, each group receiving a different dose of acetamide (antidote). Monofluoroacetic acid was detected in samples of intoxicated cattle in concentrations inversely proportional to the dose of acetamide. Thus, earwax analysis represents a successful approach for detection and monitoring of fluoroacetate poisoning.

A volatolomic approach using cerumen as biofluid to diagnose bovine intoxication by Stryphnodendron rotundifolium

“…In addition, cerumen can be used for tracking human exposure to tobacco (Shokry, de Oliveira, Avelino, de Deus, Pereira, et al, 2017), as an alternative biomatrix to forensic applications for drug abuse monitoring (Shokry, Marques, Ragazzo, Pereira, & Filho, 2017), and for cancer diagnosis (Barbosa et al, 2019). In animals, the volatile cerumen compounds have been used to detect the toxic principle in cattle intoxication by Palicourea marcgravii (Shokry, dos Santos, et al, 2017) and to assess disorders in sheep in peri‐parturition stage (Shokry, Pereira, et al, 2017).…”

Methylene blue and monosodium glutamate improve neurologic signs after fluoroacetate poisoning

“…In the past 10 years, the identification of 1080 intoxication in livestock doi: 10.1111/nyas.14347 and domesticated animals has continued to be a focus. [15][16][17][18] These studies have been complemented by novel strategies to identify 1080 contamination in food and water sources. 19,20 However, despite ongoing research, there is still no reliable treatment for intoxication.…”

“…The lack of specific signs and symptoms combined with the delayed onset complicates efforts to diagnose poisoning. In the past 10 years, the identification of 1080 intoxication in livestock and domesticated animals has continued to be a focus 15–18 . These studies have been complemented by novel strategies to identify 1080 contamination in food and water sources 19,20 .…”

Cerumenogram: a new frontier in cancer diagnosis in humans

“…Recently, our research group successfully used cerumen VOMs to diagnose diabetes mellitus (DM) and differentiate between DM type I and II 29 . We have also investigated the viability of cerumen to diagnose intoxications and metabolic alterations in animals 25,30 , as well as for forensic applications as a monitoring biomatrix for drug abuse analysis 31 .…”