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Forensic Science International Mar 2009Many plants contain toxic alkaloids which may be dangerous to humans. Despite the large number of poisonous plants, cases of fatal plant poisonings are relatively rare.... (Review)
Review
Many plants contain toxic alkaloids which may be dangerous to humans. Despite the large number of poisonous plants, cases of fatal plant poisonings are relatively rare. The frequencies of poisonings and the plants involved are often regionally specific. Plant poisonings can be aggregated into three categories: unintended ingestions, intended ingestions, and poisoning due to abuse of plant material. Unintended ingestions often occur in children or from a mix-up of plants and mushrooms in adults. Intended ingestions are common in homicides and suicides. Increasingly common is the abuse of plants for hallucinogenic reasons. Toxicological analysis of such alkaloids may help in diagnosis of poisoning or abuse cases. This review describes the toxic alkaloids aconitine, atropine, coniine, colchicine, cytisine, dimethyltryptamine, harmine, harmaline, ibogaine, kawain, mescaline, scopolamine, and taxine, which are often involved in fatal and non-fatal poisonings. The paper summarizes the symptoms of the intoxications and reviews the methods of detection of their toxic constituents in biological fluids.
Topics: Alkaloids; Forensic Toxicology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hair; Humans; Medicine, Traditional; Plant Poisoning
PubMed: 19147309
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.12.006 -
The Veterinary Record Mar 1979Ten cows in a suckler herd totalling 60 sickened after grazing parkland which was heavily covered with acorns. Two died. The main clinical signs were dullness, anorexia...
Ten cows in a suckler herd totalling 60 sickened after grazing parkland which was heavily covered with acorns. Two died. The main clinical signs were dullness, anorexia and constipation. The main pathological findings were severe nephrosis and some intestinal ulceration. After removal to an acorn-free pasture, the remaining eight animals made a full recovery.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Intestine, Small; Kidney; Nuts; Plant Poisoning
PubMed: 473519
DOI: 10.1136/vr.104.13.284 -
The Ceylon Medical Journal Jun 1986
Topics: Humans; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Sri Lanka
PubMed: 3568204
DOI: No ID Found -
The New Zealand Medical Journal Dec 2012New Zealand has a number of plants, both native and introduced, contact with which can lead to poisoning. The New Zealand National Poisons Centre (NZNPC) frequently... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
New Zealand has a number of plants, both native and introduced, contact with which can lead to poisoning. The New Zealand National Poisons Centre (NZNPC) frequently receives enquiries regarding exposures to poisonous plants. Poisonous plants can cause harm following inadvertent ingestion, via skin contact, eye exposures or inhalation of sawdust or smoked plant matter.
AIM
The purpose of this article is to determine the 15 most common poisonous plant enquiries to the NZNPC and provide a review of current literature, discussing the symptoms that might arise upon exposure to these poisonous plants and the recommended medical management of such poisonings.
METHODS
Call data from the NZNPC telephone collection databases regarding human plant exposures between 2003 and 2010 were analysed retrospectively. The most common plants causing human poisoning were selected as the basis for this review. An extensive literature review was also performed by systematically searching OVID MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar. Further information was obtained from book chapters, relevant news reports and web material.
RESULTS
For the years 2003-2010 inclusive, a total of 256,969 enquiries were received by the NZNPC. Of these enquiries, 11,049 involved exposures to plants and fungi. The most common poisonous plant enquiries, in decreasing order of frequency, were: black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica), kowhai (Sophora spp.), euphorbia (Euphorbia spp.), peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.), agapanthus (Agapanthus spp.), stinking iris (Iris foetidissima), rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum), taro (Colocasia esculentum), oleander (Nerium oleander), daffodil (Narcissus spp.), hemlock (Conium maculatum), karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and ongaonga/New Zealand tree nettle (Urtica ferox). The combined total of enquiries for these 15 species was 2754 calls (representing approximately 25% of all enquiries regarding plant exposures). The signs and symptoms resulting from poisoning from these plants are discussed. Medical treatment recommendations are made.
CONCLUSION
Poisoning following ingestion or other forms of exposures to plants in New Zealand is relatively common, particularly among children. However, serious adverse reactions are comparatively rare. Accurate plant identification and details on the type of exposure can be important in assessing the likely risks. Effective medical management of these poisonings can be achieved by following the principles outlined in this review.
Topics: Humans; New Zealand; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Poison Control Centers
PubMed: 23321887
DOI: No ID Found -
Tropical Animal Health and Production Jan 2016Livestock poisoning by plants is a frequent occurrence which determines severe losses, such as the fall in the milk and meat production, the cost of expensive...
Livestock poisoning by plants is a frequent occurrence which determines severe losses, such as the fall in the milk and meat production, the cost of expensive treatments, the state of immunosuppression, or even the animal's death. Cattle ingest toxic plants only when there is food shortage, when they cannot select what they eat, or when they ingest food for preference, which is the case of Hovenia dulcis fruits, very rich in sucrose. This plant is widely distributed in the southern and southeastern Brazilian regions. In literature, there are some cases of severe human liver injury associated with a long-term of H. dulcis leaf and fruit tea intake, and only one report regarding spontaneous poisoning of goats caused by this plant ingestion. However, its toxic effects associated with spontaneous ingestion by cattle have never been reported. This paper reports the first case of spontaneous poisoning in cattle by H. dulcis, which occurred in a dairy farm in southwest ParanĂ¡, Brazil. Three cattle individuals showed anorexia, ruminal atony, severe diarrhea and neurological tournament, head pressing, blindness, ataxia, and circling. The necropsy of the animals was done, and the remaining alterations were restricted to the digestive system and brain. The clinical signs presented by the animals are characteristic of polioencephalomalacia (PEM), caused by changes in the thiamine metabolism. Furthermore, clinical signs, gross, and microscopic lesions as well as the large amount of the plant throughout the digestive segment led to a diagnosis.
Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Brazil; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dairying; Female; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic
PubMed: 26415955
DOI: 10.1007/s11250-015-0918-0 -
The Journal of the Louisiana State... 2012The American Association of Poison Control Centers has reported more than 50,000 calls annually relating to plant exposures, usually non-lethal ingestions in young... (Review)
Review
The American Association of Poison Control Centers has reported more than 50,000 calls annually relating to plant exposures, usually non-lethal ingestions in young adults, adolescents, and children. In addition, there has been more than a 100% increase in the mortality rate for unintentional poisonings in the United States (US) between 1999 and 2006, especially in males and in individuals aged 15-29 years. For children, the frequency of plant exposures is directly related to their presence and abundance in households. In contrast, adolescents and young adults may experiment with naturally hallucinogenic plants, often obtained over the Internet, or attempt suicide by ingesting poisonous plants. In light of these recent trends in plant poisonings, the objectives of this investigation will be to propose a rapid syndromic classification scheme of only four types of highly toxic plants (cardiotoxic, neurotoxic, cytotoxic, and gastrointestinal/hepatotoxic) for the initial evaluation of patients poisoned by indigenous and often unidentified toxic plants in Louisiana and the Gulf South. It will also discuss current strategies for early diagnosis, management, and prevention of potentially lethal plant poisonings. Although many plants contain toxins, plants provide more than 70% of new drugs today and continue to provide new therapies for infectious diseases and cancer. More leisure time spent outdoors seeking natural foods and surfing the Internet for natural substances to abuse will create more opportunities for plant poisonings among high-risk groups, such as immigrants foraging for greens and adolescents experimenting with natural hallucinogens.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Gulf of Mexico; Humans; Louisiana; Plant Poisoning; United States
PubMed: 22953459
DOI: No ID Found -
Australian Veterinary Journal Jul 1996A new locomotory disturbance of cattle is described. The condition has occurred sporadically since the mid-1980s. Affected herds had all grazed flood plain pastures in a...
A new locomotory disturbance of cattle is described. The condition has occurred sporadically since the mid-1980s. Affected herds had all grazed flood plain pastures in a restricted area of north-western New South Wales. Calves were either born with clinical signs or developed them by 4 months of age. The disease was characterised by a slowly progressive, irreversible, asymmetrical, paresis of the hind limbs. Affected cattle experienced persistent hyperextension of the hip and stifle joints. Macroscopic and microscopic examination of the nervous and musculoskeletal system failed to demonstrate abnormalities that would account for the clinical signs. The disorder shares many similarities with bovine spastic paresis. It is suggested that the pathogenesis of the disorder is nervous, and probably involves nigro-striatal, medulla oblongata, and spinal dysfunctional inputs. An in-utero plant poisoning was suspected but no specific plant association was determined.
Topics: Animals; Blood Cell Count; Blood Chemical Analysis; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Female; Male; Musculoskeletal System; Nervous System; New South Wales; Paraplegia; Plant Poisoning
PubMed: 8894004
DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1996.tb13733.x -
Australian Veterinary Journal Jun 1986Lantana poisoning in ruminants results from the ingestion of toxic varieties of the plant Lantana camara, which contain the triterpene acids lantadene A and lantadene B.... (Review)
Review
Lantana poisoning in ruminants results from the ingestion of toxic varieties of the plant Lantana camara, which contain the triterpene acids lantadene A and lantadene B. Poisoning results in intrahepatic cholestasis and the consequences of the liver injury include jaundice, photosensitisation and ruminal stasis. The decreased ruminal motility causes toxic material to be retained in the rumen and continuous absorption of toxins from the rumen maintains the disease. Lantana poisoning can best be treated by preventing further absorption of toxins. This can be achieved by giving a large quantity of activated charcoal into the rumen together with a large volume of a multiple electrolyte solution to stimulate ruminal motility and rehydrate the animal. Treatment for photosensitive dermatitis should also be given.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Goats; Oleanolic Acid; Plant Poisoning; Ruminants; Sheep; Triterpenes
PubMed: 3533027
DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1986.tb02965.x -
The Veterinary Clinics of North... May 2008Toxicoses are an uncommon presentation to rabbit practitioners; however, veterinarians who accept rabbits as patients should be familiar with the basic concepts of... (Review)
Review
Toxicoses are an uncommon presentation to rabbit practitioners; however, veterinarians who accept rabbits as patients should be familiar with the basic concepts of toxicosis management and the specific syndromes associated with clinical toxicoses. The objective of this article is to present clinically relevant information for veterinarians presented with rabbits exhibiting characteristic signs of toxicosis. In addition, specific mention is made to the most common clinical toxicoses, including lead, chemicals, rodenticides, aflatoxins, and poisonous plants.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Environmental Pollutants; Metals; Pesticides; Plant Poisoning; Poisoning; Rabbits
PubMed: 18406390
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2007.12.002 -
The Veterinary Record Aug 1999
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Poaceae; Senecio
PubMed: 10466779
DOI: No ID Found