Short communicationEarwax: A clue to discover fluoroacetate intoxication in cattle

- The method employs HS/GC-MS analysis of earwax for detecting exposure to fluoroacetate poisoning in cattle.
- It involves noninvasive, rapid, and easy sample collection and no extraction, pretreatment or derivatization procedures.
- It offers an easy solution for the difficulty in diagnosis of fluoroacetate poisoning mistaken for many other differentials.
- It can be applied in diagnosis of sudden death due to fluoroacetate poisoning and in survivors to detect past exposure.
- It can help to minimize health risks to cattle with sublethal fluoroacetate exposure and secondary intoxication to feeders.

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.

362