Milk transfer of cyanide and thiocyanate:: Cyanide exposure by lactation in goats

The present work was aimed at evaluating the effects of maternal exposure to potassium cyanide (KCN) during lactation in goats. Twenty-seven lactating female goats were orally dosed with 0 ( control), 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 mg KCN/kg body weight/day from lactation days 0 to 90. After this period, all male kids and one mother from each group were killed for a pathological study. Cyanide treatment promoted the clinical signs of maternal toxicity in the highest KCN group but did not affect body weight. Both cyanide and thiocyanate presented increased levels in both dams and kids from the treated groups. Microscopic lesions, but without alterations on the biochemical panel, were found in the brain, thyroid, liver, and kidneys of both dams and kids from the treated groups. These findings suggest that lactating offspring can be indirectly intoxicated by maternal exposure to cyanide.