Plant Toxicity and its Treatment in Ruminants

Abrus precatorius (Rati/Gunj/Rosary beans)

Toxic Principle: Abrin→ Inactivates Protein synthesis.

Clinical signs: GI dysfunction, salivation, colic, bloody diarrhea, muscular twitching. Nervous signs in later stages followed by death within 1-10 days.

PM: Splotchy Hemorrhage & Ulceration

Treatment: Antidote – Anti abrin serum; emesis followed by activated charcoal; saline purgatives (MgSO4); Tannic Acid

Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken Fern)

Present in hilly areas, sheep and cattle (goats are top browsers) are affected.

Toxic Principles:

1. Ptaquiloside→ Tumor formation→ Haematuria→ Anemia and Bone marrow suppression
2. Thiaminase →Thiamine deficiency→ Polyencephalomalacia (nervous signs)
3. Hematuria factor→ Hemorrhages and hematuria
4. Quercetin→ Co-carcinogen with papilloma virus→ malignant tumors in mouth, esophagus and rumen

Clinical signs: High fever, bleeding from orifices, secondary bacterial infections, fatal disease, death at 7-8 weeks.

PM: Multiple hemorrhages throughout the carcass

Treatment: DL- Batyl alcohol – 1g /10ml of olive oil S.C x 5 days; Thiamine 100 ml I/M daily, avoid grazing

Calotropis gigantea (Aak)

Toxic Principle: Calotoxin & Calotropin

Clinical signs: Kerato-conjuctivitis, stomatitis, diarrhea, dilated pupils, tetanic convulsions, collapse and death

Treatment: Stomach wash; Symptomatic treatment

Ricinus communis (Dolla/Castor beans)

Toxic Principle (Seeds):  Ricin→ Haemoglobinuria

Clinical signs: Nausea, Colic, Bloody diarrhea, Muscle twitching, Rumen stasis.

PM: Hemolytic anemia and generalized petechial hemorrhages

Treatment: Activated Charcoal; Na₂CO₃; Demulcents; Fluid therapy; Anti ricin serum

Datura stramonium (Belladonna poisoning)

Toxic principle: Tropane alkaloids like Dhaturine (mixture of atropine and scopolamine) → inhibit muscarinic receptors (Ach related) in body→ inhibit parasympathetic response.

Clinical signs: Rapid breathing, dilated pupils, staggering gait, delayed gastric emptying, photophobia.

Goats – Tachypaenia,

Sheep – Ataxia,

Cattle – bloat and ruminal atony

PM: Hemorrhages in brain, stomach and upper intestine, congestion in GIT

Treatment: No antidote; Physostigmine 0.02mg/kg BW slow I/V over 5min (cattle)

Sorghum (Charri, Barugrass)- Cyanide poisoning

Toxic principle: Dhurrin

Clinical signs: Dyspnoea, Bloat, tremors, regurgitation of ruminal content

PM: Unclotted blood, cyanotic mucous membranes, bitter almond smell from rumen, death due to asphyxia

Treatment: Na nitrite- 20 mg/Kg BW as 1% solution slow I/V followed by Na Thiosulphate- 500mg/Kg BW as 25% solution slow I/V

Ipomoea carnea (Jalap)

Mostly found during May-July

Toxic principle: Resin (jalapin)

Clinical signs: Pale mucous membrane, ataxia, drastic purgation, wide base stance, Neurological impairments.

PM: Not specific

Treatment: Dextrose (20%) I/V; Liver tonics; Stall feeding

Lantana camara (Panch phooli)

Toxic principle: Lantadene A, B

Clinical signs:

Peracute – Bloat→ Death

Sub acute – Photosensitization on hairless parts & jaundice, Constipation

PM: Superficial necrosis on unpigmented skin, carcass emaciated and dehydrated, enlarged cirrhotic liver

Treatment: Activated Charcoal- 1gm/kg BW; DNS; Dextrose-10%; Liver tonics; Anti Histamines; Abs like DCR, Ampicillin (preferred in Liver problems)

Brassica/Kale

Toxic principle: Glucosinolates→ interfere with iodine incorporation, causes Cu def. → Haemoglobinuria (Mostly in winter season)

Clinical signs:

Acute: severe gastroenteritis, scouring, rumen stasis, jaundice, anemia

Chronic: goiter, poor growth, hairlessness

Treatment: Cu preparations – Curan 9 – 2ml S/C at brisket region in Large Animal; Symptomatic treatment.

Trifoliuim alexandrinum (Sh‘tala) & Alfa alfa (Lucerne)

Clinical signs: Bloat & grain engorgement, rumen overload, atony and acidosis, nervous signs due to thiamine deficiency & laminitis

Treatment: Stop carbohydrate intake; Oral antibiotics like Tetracycline or Penicillin; Vitamin-Thiamine; Avil; Cud Transplants/Rumenotorics

Urea Poisoning

Clinical signs: Bloat, frothy salivation, tremors, pulmonary edema, gasping, staggering gait, severe colic death after violent struggling

PM: Ammoniacal odour from animal/rumen, petechial hemorrhages

Treatment: Cold Water 3-10 gallons; 5% Vinegar 0.5-2L P.O. (Sheep & Goat) and 2-8L in cattle; Treatment of bloat.

Maize & Oats – Nitrate Toxicity

Clinical signs: GIT irritation, diarrhea, subnormal body temperature, open mouth breathing

PM: Chocolate colored blood, brown stained mucous membranes

Treatment: 1% Methylene Blue 4-8mg/Kg BW slow I/V; Ascorbic acid 5-20mg/kg BW I/V

Leucaenia leucocephala – Subabul

Toxic principle: Mimosine→ Goitre

Clinical signs: Thyroid Thrill, goitre, alopecia, incoordination

Treatment: Potassium Iodide (28 mg in 1Ltr) → 10 ml/ Small Animal

Cotton seed / Gossypol poisoning

Toxic principle: Gossypol

Clinical signs: Loss of appetite, weakness, rapid breathing

Treatment: No specific treatment; remove cotton seed products from diet

Acokanthera oblongifolia (poison arrow plant)

Clinical signs: Rapid shallow breathing, diarrhea, muscular spasms, teeth grinding, slimy nasal discharge, sudden death in cattle.

PM: Gastroenteritis, pale pink lungs distended with air, hemorrhages within heart

Treatment: No specific treatment; Symptomatic treatment

 

Authored By

Dr. Harpreet Kour1 & Dr. Abhinav Thappa2

1. PhD Scholar, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology & Toxicology, GADVASU, Ludhiana, Punjab.

2. Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Block Samba, Department of Sheep Husbandry, Government of Jammu & Kashmir

 

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