Experimental poisoning by Niedenzuella stannea (Malpighiaceae) in sheep

ABSTRACT:

Niedenzuella stannea a sodium monofluoroacetate-containing plant cause sudden death in cattle in southern Mato Grosso State. This investigation describes the toxicity and clinical and pathological findings of experimental poisoning by N. stannea in sheep. Fruits, mature leaves and young leaves of the plant collected in properties near the margins of the Araguaia river basins with history of sudden death in cattle were used in the experiment. No clinical signs were observed in sheep ingesting doses between 10 and 40g/kg of mature leaves and 10g/kg of fruits. The animals had shown clinical signs when received young leaves of the plant orally in a single dose of 5, 10, 20g/kg, and death occurred in sheep receiving 30g/kg. The plant at the dose of 30g/kg of fresh leaves maintained its toxicity after being dried. The main clinical signs observed were anorexia, lethargy, dyspnea, tachycardia, and arrhythmia with a clinical course ranging 16-20 hours after the onset of clinical signs. In an hyperacute terminal phase the animals showed reluctance to move, frequent urination, engorged jugular, evident venous pulse, muscle tremor, sternal recumbence, lateral decubitus, and death. At necropsy engorgement of the atrium and large veins of the heart, and pulmonary edema were observed. Microscopically, the kidney had hydropic-vacuolar degeneration in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells of the distal convoluted tubules. It is concluded that young leaves of N. stannea can cause intoxication in sheep and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute diseases or sudden death in sheep in regions where the plant exist.

INDEX TERMS:
Poisonous plants; Niedenzuella stannea; plant poisoning; sudden death; sodium monofluoroacetate; sheep