A krimpsiekte-like syndrome in small stock poisoned by Ornithogalum toxicarium Archer & Archer

Krimpsiekte (the syndrome associated with chronic cardiac glycoside poisoning) was purportedly induced by Ornithlogalum toxicarium in the Karas mountains area of Keetmanshoop, Namibia. This chinkerinchee species was previously linked to a condition known as 'kwylbek' krimpsiekte in small stock in the Beaufort West district of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. In a dosing trial, respiratory distress, tachycardia and sternal recumbency were observed in 2 sheep drenched with fresh plant material. A fluorescence polarisation immunoassay (FPIA) detected the presence of a substance that cross-reacted with digoxin antibodies in some of the plant material collected at Keetmanshoop and Beaufort West. This is the first time that apparent cardiac glycoside poisoning was induced by a southern African chinkerinchee species. The presence of the cardiac glycoside-like substance in O. toxicarium requires further chemical verification.     

Immunological detection of cardiac glycosides in plants

Summary Australian native and introduced plants were examined, using digoxin immunoassays, to detect the presence of cross-reacting cardiac glycosides. These compounds were found in 27 species from 20 genera. The assay technique can also be used on serum samples to confirm cardiac glycoside ingestion.     

Dealing with plant poisoning of livestock: the challenge in Queensland

The current and possible future situation of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of plant poisoning of livestock in Queensland is reviewed. Topics discussed are livestock producers' perceptions, field investigation, plant identification, veterinary laboratory techniques and prevention through knowledge of poisonous species and the circumstances of poisoning. Also considered are management strategies for prevention including the manipulation of rumen flora and epidemiological approaches, therapies including immunisation, plant control and sources of information on poisonous plants and poisoning.     

The toxicity to cattle and bufadienolide content of six Bryophyllum species

SUMMARY: Cardiac glycoside poisoning was produced in calves given (in descending order of toxicity) flower heads of the hybrid Bryophyllum (Kalanchoe) daigremontianum x B. tubiflorum, of B. pinnatum, of B. tubiflorum (from previous work), whole plant of B. fedtschenkoi, flower heads of B. daigremontianum and whole plant of B. proliferum. For each plant (except B. tubiflorum), 2 calves were each given a single dose of 20 g wet weight per kg bodyweight. By using high performance liquid chromatography, the bufadienolides (cardiac glycosides) bryotoxin A, B and C were detected and assayed in the flower heads and leaf plus stem of B. tubiflorum and in the roots of B. tubiflorum, the hybrid and B. pinnatum. Only bryotoxins B and C were detected and assayed in the flower heads and leaf plus stem of the hybrid, B. daigremontianum and B. pinnatum. No bryotoxins were detected in B. fedtschenkoi. Bryotoxin A and a mixture of bryotoxins B and C from B. tubiflorum flowers were used as standards in the chromatographic assay. Comparing the results of the calf toxicity experiment with the amounts of bufadienolide measured in the plants suggests that bryotoxins A, B and C probably account for the observed disease, but that B. pinnatum and B. fedtschenkoi contain at least one other cardiac glycoside.     

Individual glycoside therapy using serum concentration determination in canine heart failure

32 dogs with congestive heart failure without sufficient reaction to a standardized therapy with glycosides are treated with an individual glycoside dose. The therapy is controlled by the serum concentration of the cardiac glycoside. The influence of additional diseases and medications is demonstrated. Finally a rule for the evaluation of the therapeutic glycoside dose is given.     

蒙古虫实化学成分预试验

采用植物化学成分系统预试和专项预试相结合的方法,对采自内蒙古阿拉善盟左旗草场的蒙古虫实地上部分全草进行了化学成分预试验.结果表明,蒙古虫实中含有生物碱、糖、甙类、氨基酸及多肽、皂甙、鞣质、有机酸、黄酮、挥发油、蒽醌;可能含有甾体和三萜类物质、强心甙、香豆素或萜类内脂、酚类物质;不含氰甙和脂肪族硝基化合物.     

甘肃天然草原主要毒草分布、危害及其防治对策

甘肃天然草原有毒植物有18科39属178种。对家畜危害性大、分布较广的毒草主要有:豆科棘豆属的甘肃棘豆Oxytropis ransuensis、黄花棘豆O．ochrocephala、小花棘豆O.glabra、糠形棘豆O.falcate、蓝花棘豆O．coerulea,豆科黄芪属的变异黄芪Astragalus variabilis,瑞香科狼毒属的狼毒Sellera chmaejas- me,禾本科芨芨草属的醉马草Achnatherum inebrians、由于自然和人为因素的影响,甘肃省天然草原退化严重,生态环境逐渐变劣,有毒植物大量繁衍增生,家畜采食后,中毒的现象时有发生,造成较大的损失。为此,对毒草的地理分布、生境条件、家畜中毒症状做了简要阐述,提出了防治对策,以减少家畜中毒死亡。     

中国天然草地有毒植物及其放牧家畜中毒病研究进展

中国是世界草地资源大国,天然草地作为我国面积最大的陆地生态系统和重要的绿色生态屏障,具有多种生态功能,同时也是发展草地畜牧业的重要基地和牧民最基本的生产生活资料.但长期以来,人们只重视天然草地的生产功能,而忽视了对天然草地生态系统的保护,使得我国天然草地长期处于过度利用状态,造成草地退化,进一步引发有毒植物等生物灾害多...     

家畜毛瓣棘豆中毒研究

毛瓣棘豆Oxytropis serioopetala是“疯草”中棘豆属重要的有毒植物之一,主要分布于西藏南部的河滩沙砾地。当地家畜采食后大量中毒,严重的发生死亡,给西藏畜牧业带来很大损失。从毛瓣棘豆的生态分布、危害、毒性成分、中毒诊断和治疗、防除利用、研究展望等方面进行了综述。     

小花棘豆毒性的危害与利用

小花棘豆Oxytropis glabra是内蒙古主要的疯草植物之一,所含有毒成分苦马豆素可抑制动物细胞内的甘露糖苷酶,引起牲畜慢性中毒。概述小花棘豆的生物学特性和牲畜小花棘豆中毒的机理及其危害,分析与牲畜中毒相关的生态和环境因素,指出中毒发病与采食量、饲养管理和草原生态状况有关;评论了通过化学脱毒、抗毒疫苗和药物研制、生态治理等措施对小花棘豆进行利用,对于苦马豆素的抗肿瘤应用也进行了回顾。     

青饲料的卫生与安全饲喂技术研究

青饲料是家畜的重要饲用资源,其适口性好,富含营养素。合理利用青饲料,可以提高家畜养殖生产效益,降低养殖成本。但是,青饲料作物中的一些成分或者在某些条件下的分解、转化产物都会对动物产生毒害作用,从而引起饲料的卫生与安全问题。青饲料中的有毒有害物质包括硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐、生氰糖苷、光敏物质、草酸盐、马铃薯素以及一些牧草中的毒素。对青饲料中所含的有毒有害物质种类及特征进行介绍,对由这些物质引起的动物中毒病的发病机理和救治方法进行综述,在该基础上探讨了青饲料安全饲喂技术,以期为提高青饲料在家畜养殖中的科学饲喂水平提供参考。     

Animal poisoning in Europe. Part 1: Farm livestock and poultry

The lack of a reference Veterinary Poison Control Centre for the European Union (EU) means that clinicians find it difficult to obtain information on poisoning episodes. This three-part review collates published and unpublished data obtained from Belgium, France, Greece, Italy and Spain over the last decade in order to provide a broader toxicoepidemiological perspective. The first article critically evaluates the national situation in the five European countries and concludes that information for livestock and poultry is limited and fragmentary compared to other animal groups. The analysis has revealed that clinical cases of poisoning are only occasionally studied in depth and that cattle are the species most frequently reported. Several plants and mycotoxins, a few pesticides and metals, together with contaminants of industrial origin, such as dioxins, are responsible for most of the recorded cases.     

疯草及毒性成分研究进展

疯草是指含苦马豆素的豆科黄芪属和棘豆属有毒植物,能引发家畜疯草病。疯草的分布比较广泛,属于世界性有毒植物,近年来疯草蔓延迅速,在一些地区已经造成草地毒草化,频繁出现放牧家畜中毒死亡现象,严重威胁草地畜牧业发展。研究表明,疯草的毒性与其含有的苦马豆素有关,但苦马豆素却不是疯草自身代谢产物,而是疯草携带内生真菌的代谢产物,此外苦马豆素还是一种良好抗肿瘤药物。笔者结合国内外相关研究对疯草的分布、危害、防治及毒性成分研究进展进行综述,并对疯草分类、研究地域及利用前景进行了讨论。     

Diagnosis of Taxus (yew) poisoning in a horse.

A 2-year-old bay Thoroughbred colt was found dead overnight in its stall without a known history of any illness, existing disease, or toxicant exposure. No information on the clinical signs before this animal's death was reported. A full necropsy was performed the next morning and revealed a mild to moderate degree of endocardial hemorrhages in both ventricles. Microscopic examination of the heart showed an acute mild multifocal necrosis of papillary muscles and ventricles. The stomach content contained approximately 2% Taxus alkaloids as determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In the past, diagnosis of Taxus poisoning has been mainly based on history of exposure and the presence of plant parts in the gastrointestinal tract. Pathological lesions associated with Taxus poisoning have not been published for horses. Therefore, this is the first report of cardiac lesions in a horse after lethal exposure to Taxus. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that Taxus exposure needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of horses that die suddenly or have cardiac lesions suggestive of Taxus exposure, even if intact plant parts are not identified in the stomach by the naked eye.     

Pastoralists’ perceptions of feed scarcity and livestock poisoning in southern rangelands, Ethiopia

A survey was conducted between April and July 2007 to generate information on dry season feeding management and livestock poisoning in the southern rangelands of Ethiopia. A total of 119 pastoralists were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Moreover, additional information was obtained through informal discussions. The study revealed that pastoralists have rich knowledge of natural resource management and utilization and employ various strategies such as migration, collection of grasses and pods, and cutting branches to overcome feed scarcity during dry/drought periods. Migration of livestock and people to areas with better grazing is the widely used strategy. However, the implementation of this strategy is diminishing as a result of changes such as bush encroachment, expansion of settlements, and crop cultivation in dry-season grazing lands. The respondents also indicated the presence of poisonous plants in the rangeland, and about 20 such plants were identified by the respondents. Various species and classes of livestock are reported to be affected by toxic plants particularly in the dry and early rainy seasons when feed is in short supply. A more extensive survey is required to document all poisonous plants in the rangelands and to identify the major toxic principles in the different species. Future development interventions should consider the prevailing constraints and potentials of the rangelands with active participation of the pastoralists.     

Hearts and flowers: Bryophyllum poisoning of cattle

Findings from natural cases and experiments with cattle emphasise that flowering plants are the most important form of Bryophyllum (Kalanchoe) spp in poisonings in Australia. The main life-threatening lesion is myocardial. The effects on the alimentary tract are less important than was believed previously. B. tubiflorum, B. daigremontianum x B. tubiflorum, B. pinnatum and B. proliferum caused 41 recorded poisoning incidents affecting 379 cattle in Queensland between 1960 and 1984. Poisoning occurred between May and October--the flowering season of these plants. Experimental B. tubiflorum poisoning and natural poisonings produced anorexia, depression, ruminal atony, diarrhoea, heart rate and rhythm abnormalities, dyspnoea and death. Increased plasma concentrations of urea, creatinine and glucose and decreased chloride were measured experimentally. Both natural and experimental cases had myocardial degeneration and necrosis with haemorrhages of the heart and alimentary tract. Cattle with severe dyspnoea had atelectasis and emphysema of the lungs. Some cattle had mild nephrosis. The median lethal doses of B. tubiflorum flowers, roots and leaf plus stem were 0.7, 2.3 and 5.0 g dry matter/kg liveweight respectively (7, 7 and 40 g wet weight/kg). Bufadienolides have been isolated recently from B. tubiflorum flowers and the syndrome is consistent with cardiac glycoside poisoning.     

Economic impact of poisonous plants on the rangeland livestock industry

Poisonous plants on rangelands cost producers and consumers upwards of $250 million annually in the U.S. These costs are attributable not only to livestock deaths and diminshed productivity related to plant poisoning, but also to the management costs associated with usage of forage in areas infested with poisonous plants. At present, even relatively small losses from plant poisoning can cause financial and economic impacts that threaten range enterprises, particularly those using public lands.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids and seneciosis in farm animals. part 1: occurrence, chemistry and toxicology

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids belong to a class of phytotoxins which are present in more than 6000 plant species. The disease seneciosis in farm animals represents the severe poisoning by pyrrolizidine alkaloids from plants of the genus Senecio. This form of poisoning has been known since the end of the 19th century in Germany, the USA, Canada and New Zealand, and is mainly caused by Senecio jacobaea and related Senecio spp. in farm animals, including poultry. Animal poisoning by pyrrolizidine alkaloids is of worldwide importance. In Germany poisoning of horses and cattle by Senecio jacobaea, which was earlier named Schweinsberg disease, is of renewed relevance for veterinary medicine. The disease occurs almost entirely as a consequence of chronic poisoning and in general ends fatally. The ultimate cause is the formation of toxic metabolites of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the liver, and their covalent binding to nucleic acids and proteins leading to liver cirrhosis. Because many pyrrolizidine alkaloids possess mutagenic, and a few also carcinogenic properties, European and international authorities are concerned about possible residue levels in food of animal origin. The review addresses in its first part several aspects, being the occurrence, the chemistry, and the toxicology of pyrrolizidine alkaloids as well as animal intoxications by poisonous plants. In the second part (46) clinical characteristics of animal seneciosis, the therapeutic interventions, the significant species differences and a critical assessment of so-called nontoxic amounts of Senecio plants in animal fodder with reference to cumulative lethal toxin doses are presented.     

Lily toxicity in the cat

Lilies are commonly kept flowering ornamental plants that are used in holiday celebrations, weddings, and funerals, and in various floral arrangements. Lilies of genera Lilium and Hemerocallis (day lilies) have been shown to cause nephrotoxicity in cats. Confusion arises because so many different plants are called lilies. Members of the genus Convallaria (lily of the valley), while sparing on the kidneys, elicit toxic effects because they possess potent cardiac glycosides similar to digitalis. Even more confusing as to which lilies are toxic is the fact that many hybrids exist. The majority of the public do not know that lilies can be dangerous to cats and, in fact, cannot correctly identify the plants in their own homes. Cats have been shown to be extremely sensitive to the toxic effects of lilies. As little as 2 leaves or part of a single flower have resulted in deaths. It should be pointed out that the whole plant-petals, stamen, leaves, and pollen are toxic. The exact toxic dose and the precise toxins responsible for renal damage are currently unknown. The quick onset of clinical signs suggests a rapid absorption rate of the toxin. The renal tubular epithelium appears to be the target of the toxin. Studies indicate that it is the water-soluble fraction of the lily that is nephrotoxic. In cats, clinical signs of lily intoxication include salivation, vomiting, anorexia, and depression. Polyuric renal failure leads to dehydration and anuric renal failure and death results. No analytic verification of lily ingestion is currently available. Successful treatment includes initiation of fluid diuresis before the onset of anuric renal failure. Once anuria develops, peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis is the only potential treatment. Differential diagnoses of lily poisoning include any potential cause of acute renal failure in a cat. Prognosis is excellent if fluid diuresis is started before anuric renal failure has developed. The public must be made aware of potentially toxic ornamental house plants.     

甘肃天然草地毒草危害、防控与综合利用

甘肃拥有天然草地1564.83万hm~2,位列全国第6位。长期以来,由于受干旱、鼠虫害和超载放牧等因素影响,天然草地退化严重,并伴随大量毒草滋生和蔓延,导致大批牲畜中毒,给畜牧业带来严重经济损失。甘肃天然草地常见毒草有78科187属312种,主要毒草有:瑞香狼毒(Stellera chamaejasme)、甘肃棘豆(Oxytropis kansuensis)、黄花棘豆(O.ochrocephala)、小花棘豆(O.glabra)、变异黄芪(Astragalus variabilis)、醉马芨芨草(Achnatherum inebrians)、橐吾(Ligularia sibirica)、苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides)、马先蒿(Pedicularis resupinata)及栎属(Quercus L.)植物等。本文结合课题组对甘肃天然草地毒草资料整理及实际调查分析,分别就近年来甘肃天然草地毒草对区域草地生态及畜牧业生产造成的毒草灾害、地理分布、毒草种类、防控对策及合理利用进行综述。