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Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Mar 2018Solanum glaucophyllum, a toxic plant known for its calcinogenic effects, causes enzootic calcinosis in ruminant and monogastric animals. We describe an outbreak of...
Solanum glaucophyllum, a toxic plant known for its calcinogenic effects, causes enzootic calcinosis in ruminant and monogastric animals. We describe an outbreak of enzootic calcinosis that occurred in a herd of 110 horses grazing pastureland heavily contaminated with S. glaucophyllum in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Ten horses developed clinical signs, and 6 horses died. Clinical signs included abnormal gait (stiff-legged action, short strides), stiffness, thoracolumbar kyphosis, reluctance to move, wide stance, chronic weight loss, weakness, recumbency, and difficulty standing. Autopsy of 2 horses revealed severe mineralization of the aorta, pulmonary arteries, heart, and lungs, consistent with enzootic calcinosis. Although horses usually have very selective grazing behavior, under food restriction conditions, they can ingest the toxic plants and can develop the disease. Enzootic calcinosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses grazing S. glaucophyllum-invaded pasturelands with compatible clinical signs and lesions.
Topics: Animals; Argentina; Calcinosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Horse Diseases; Horses; Male; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Solanum glaucophyllum
PubMed: 29202673
DOI: 10.1177/1040638717746447 -
BMC Veterinary Research Oct 2013Locoweeds cause significant livestock poisoning and economic loss all over the world. Animals can develop locoism, a chronic neurological disease, after grazing on...
BACKGROUND
Locoweeds cause significant livestock poisoning and economic loss all over the world. Animals can develop locoism, a chronic neurological disease, after grazing on locoweeds. Oxytropis kansuensis is a variety of locoweed that contains swainsonine as its main toxic ingredient. The purpose of this study was to investigate the apoptotic pathway induced in the cerebrum by swainsonine.
RESULTS
Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (experimental groups I, II, III and a control group) and 6 SD rats of each group were feed in 3 cages separately. Rats were penned as groups and fed with feeds containing 15% (SW content 0.03‰), 30% (SW content 0.06‰), or 45% (SW content 0.09‰) O. kansuensis for experimental groups I, II, and III, respectively, or complete feed in the case of the control group. One hundred and nineteen days after poisoning, and all rats showed neurological disorders at different degrees, which were considered to be successful established a chronic poisoning model of O. kansuensis. rats were sacrificed and the expression of Fas, FasL, Bcl-2, Bax as well as cleaved caspase-3, -8 and -9 proteins in brain tissues were detected by Western blot. The results showed that SW treatment up-regulated Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) (P < 0.05), and that there was an increase in Bax and a decrease in Bcl-2 protein (P < 0.01). Moreover, SW treatment significantly increases the activation of caspase-3, 8 and -9, the key effectors in apoptosis pathway (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
Our data suggest that SW induces apoptosis in cells of the brain through death receptor and mitochondria-mediated, caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways in the brain tissue of SD rats.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Brain Chemistry; Caspase 3; Caspase 8; Caspase 9; Cerebrum; Fas Ligand Protein; Female; Male; Oxytropis; Plant Poisoning; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; Swainsonine; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; fas Receptor
PubMed: 24148892
DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-217 -
Journal of Medical Toxicology :... Mar 2018There is little published data about human plant exposures reported to US poison control centers (PCCs).
BACKGROUND
There is little published data about human plant exposures reported to US poison control centers (PCCs).
METHODS
A retrospective chart review of all reported plant exposures to a single regional PCC between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2010 was done to understand better the characteristics of plant exposure cases. Specific generic plant codes were used to identify cases. Recorded variables included patient demographics, plant involved, exposure variables, symptoms, management site, treatments, and outcome. Univariate and multivariate regression was used to identify outcome predictors.
RESULTS
A total of 6492 charts met inclusion criteria. The average age was 16.6 years (2 months-94 years); 52.4% were male. The most common exposure reason was unintentional (98%), and the majority (92.4%) occurred at the patient's home. Ingestions (58.3%) and dermal exposures (34.3%) accounted for most cases. Cactus (27.5%), oleander (12.5%), Lantana (5.7%), and Bougainvillea (3.8%) were most commonly involved. Symptoms developed in 47.1% of patients, and were more likely to occur following Datura (66.7%), and Morning Glory or Milkweed (25% each) exposures. Almost 94% of patients were managed onsite (home) and only 5.2% involved evaluation in a health care facility (HCF). Only 37 (0.6%) patients required hospital admission, and 2.9% of cases resulted in more than minimal effects. Exposures resulting in more than minimal clinical effects were predicted by several variables: abnormal vital signs (OR = 35.62), abnormal labs (OR = 14.87), and management at a HCF (OR = 7.37). Hospital admissions were increased for patients already at a HCF (OR = 54.01), abnormal vital signs (OR = 23.28), and intentional exposures (OR = 14.7).
CONCLUSION
Plant exposures reported to our poison control center were typically unintentional ingestions occurring at home. Most patients were managed onsite and few developed significant symptoms.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arizona; Case Management; Child; Child, Preschool; Demography; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Plant Poisoning; Poison Control Centers; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Vital Signs; Young Adult
PubMed: 29330731
DOI: 10.1007/s13181-017-0643-3 -
Journal of Postgraduate Medicine 2018Self-harm by consuming yellow oleander seeds has become more frequent in South Asian countries, especially Sri Lanka and in southern parts of India. Yellow oleander...
Self-harm by consuming yellow oleander seeds has become more frequent in South Asian countries, especially Sri Lanka and in southern parts of India. Yellow oleander poisoning usually presents with gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neurological manifestations as well as electrolyte abnormalities. Cardiac effects can manifest as nearly any type of dysrhythmia and sudden death with very few premonitory signs. To our knowledge yellow oleander poisoning related acute myocardial infarction has not yet been reported. We report a 37-year-old man with yellow oleander poisoning who had normal sinus rhythm at presentation but within few hours developed acute ST-segment myocardial infarction.
Topics: Adult; Coronary Angiography; Drug-Eluting Stents; Electrocardiography; Humans; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Nerium; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Seeds; Thevetia; Treatment Outcome; Vomiting
PubMed: 28862240
DOI: 10.4103/jpgm.JPGM_141_17 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Mar 2021Lathyrism is an incurable neurological disorder, resulting from excessive consumption of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus), which clinically manifests as paralysis of lower...
Lathyrism is an incurable neurological disorder, resulting from excessive consumption of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus), which clinically manifests as paralysis of lower limbs. Because of the high production of grass peas, a large number of people are expected to be affected by the disease in Northeast Ethiopia. However, there is no comprehensive study that quantified the magnitude of the problem. Therefore, in this study, we determined the prevalence of lathyrism and socioeconomic disparities in Northeast Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was used which used a quantitative method of data collection from January to February 2019. Data were collected from a total of 2,307 inhabitants in the study area using structured questionnaires. Lathyrism cases were identified using a case definition of symmetrical spastic leg weakness, and subacute or insidious onset, with no sensory deficit, and with a history of grass pea consumption before and at the onset of paralysis. The majority (56.8%) of participants were male, and 34.7% were aged 45 years or older. Overall, the prevalence of lathyrism was 5.5%, and it was higher in males (7.9%) than in females (2.5%). Moreover, the prevalence was higher among farmers (7.0%) than merchants (0.3%), very poor economic status (7.2%) than very rich (1.1%), who produced (9.6%) grass pea than not produced (0.9%), and those who used clay pottery (6.2%) than metal (4.8%) for cooking. The prevalence of lathyrism in Northeast Ethiopia is remarkably high. Therefore, we recommend lathyrism to be among the list of reportable health problems and incorporated in the national routine surveillance system.
Topics: Cooking; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia; Female; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Lathyrism; Lathyrus; Lower Extremity; Male; Middle Aged; Paralysis; Prevalence; Public Health; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33684061
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1480 -
Journal of the American Veterinary... Feb 2001Six Nubian goats were exposed to an azalea branch (Rhododendron indica) at the Riverbanks Zoological Park in Columbia, South Carolina. The following day, 3 of the 6...
Six Nubian goats were exposed to an azalea branch (Rhododendron indica) at the Riverbanks Zoological Park in Columbia, South Carolina. The following day, 3 of the 6 goats were referred to the veterinary hospital of the Riverbanks Zoological Park with bloat, profuseregurgitation, and signs of depression, intermittent head pressing, and fine muscle tremors in the hind limbs. The goats were treated with magnesium hydroxide, activated charcoal, and lactated Ringer's solution and recovered within 24 hours. Definitive diagnosis of grayanotoxin exposure was accomplished by use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of urine and fecal samples. Rhododendron spp are members of the Ericaceae (Heath) family and may contain grayanotoxins, which exert toxic effects by binding to sodium channels in cell membranes and increasing the permeability of sodium ions in excitable membranes. Rhododendron poisoning should be considered in animals with clinical evidence of gastrointestinal tract irritation, cardiac arrhythmias, and neurologic signs.
Topics: Animals; Diterpenes; Feces; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Goat Diseases; Goats; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Urine
PubMed: 11229512
DOI: 10.2460/javma.2001.218.573 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Sep 2012Poisoning by Indigofera lespedezioides is reported in horses in the state of Roraima, northern Brazil. The main clinical signs are anorexia, sleepiness, unsteady gait,...
Poisoning by Indigofera lespedezioides is reported in horses in the state of Roraima, northern Brazil. The main clinical signs are anorexia, sleepiness, unsteady gait, severe ataxia, weakness, stumbling, and progressive weight loss. To induce the disease experimentally, a 7-year-old horse was introduced in a small paddock invaded by the plant. The first nervous signs were observed 44 days from the start of grazing. The animal was euthanized on day 59. No significant gross lesions were observed upon necropsies of the experimental horse as well as one spontaneously affected horse. Upon histologic examination neuronal lipofuscinosis was observed in the brain, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Wallerian-type degeneration was observed on some mesencephalic tracts. Neuronal and axonal degeneration and lipofuscinosis were observed on electron microscopy examination. Indospicine was detected in four samples of I. lespedezioides with concentrations ranging from 63 to 1178 μg/g whereas nitro toxins could be detected in only one of the samples at a concentration of 2.5 mg/g. In conclusion, poisoning by I. lespedezioides is very similar to those poisonings by Indigofera linnaei and Indigofera hendecaphylla. Based on the preponderance of indospince and lack of nitro toxins in the samples it is proposed that indospicine is the toxic compound responsible for the poisoning.
Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Ataxia; Brazil; Cerebellum; Female; Horse Diseases; Horses; Indigofera; Lipofuscin; Male; Mesencephalon; Neurons; Norleucine; Plant Poisoning; Severity of Illness Index; Spinal Cord; Time Factors; Toxins, Biological; Wallerian Degeneration
PubMed: 22560887
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.04.341 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2022The faba bean is one of the earliest domesticated crops, with both economic and environmental benefits. Like most legumes, faba beans are high in protein, and can be...
The faba bean is one of the earliest domesticated crops, with both economic and environmental benefits. Like most legumes, faba beans are high in protein, and can be used to contribute to a balanced diet, or as a meat substitute. However, they also produce the anti-nutritional compounds, vicine and convicine (v-c), that when enzymatically degraded into reactive aglycones can potentially lead to hemolytic anemia or favism. Current methods of analysis use LC-UV, but are only suitable at high concentrations, and thus lack the selectivity and sensitivity to accurately quantitate the low-v-c genotypes currently being developed. We have developed and fully validated a rapid high-throughput LC-MS method for the analysis of v-c in faba beans by optimizing the extraction protocol and assessing the method of linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, accuracy, precision and matrix effects. This method uses 10-times less starting material; removes the use of buffers, acids and organic chemicals; and improves precision and accuracy when compared to current methods.
Topics: Favism; Glucosides; Pyrimidinones; Uridine; Vicia faba
PubMed: 36234824
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196288 -
Veterinaria Italiana Dec 2019An outbreak of neurological disorders in a flock of 20 sheep coming from a rural farm in Civitella Roveto, Italy, occurred in winter 2015. All the animals showed...
An outbreak of neurological disorders in a flock of 20 sheep coming from a rural farm in Civitella Roveto, Italy, occurred in winter 2015. All the animals showed tonic-clonic convulsions followed by muscle paralysis associated with dilated pupils, tremor, tachycardia, tachypnea and diarrhea. The presence of bundles of dry broom of Spartium junceum L. in the feed, eaten by the animals supported the hypothesis of plant intoxication. Two animals died after worsening of clinical signs. The anatomopathological findings and the laboratory results ruled out viral or bacterial infections or accidental exposure to other toxics. Phytochemical study showed the presence of large amount of cytisine, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, in all parts of the plant eaten by the animals. Clinical and pathological findings, the complete remission of clinical signs after the exclusion of dry broom from the diet, together with the results of phytochemical analyses results corroborated the hypothesis of S. junceum L. intoxication.
Topics: Alkaloids; Animal Feed; Animals; Azocines; Diagnosis, Differential; Diet; Female; Italy; Male; Plant Poisoning; Quinolizines; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Spartium
PubMed: 31955560
DOI: 10.12834/VetIt.1696.8973.2 -
The American Journal of Case Reports Mar 2015When discussing known poisons and their clinical consequences, few physicians are aware of the deadly poison abrin. The common symptoms of abrin toxicity include nausea,...
BACKGROUND
When discussing known poisons and their clinical consequences, few physicians are aware of the deadly poison abrin. The common symptoms of abrin toxicity include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea with or without bloody stool. However, with an estimated fatal human dose of less than 1 microgram/kg, death due to complications such as liver failure, renal failure, and cerebral edema are possible.
CASE REPORT
An 18-month-old male presented to the emergency department with an abrupt onset of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. The parents had assumed the child was suffering from a severe gastroenteritis until they noticed 3 consecutive diapers containing colorful seeds that were identified by poison control as belonging to the Abrus precatorius plant. The child's gastrointestinal symptoms were consistent with reported cases of abrin poisoning, but the patient also had an isolated and significantly elevated alkaline phosphatase, with testing unable to reveal the responsible pathological process.
CONCLUSIONS
To reduce morbidity and possible mortality, parents and pediatricians alike should be conscious of the danger the Abrus precatorius seed poses to the pediatric population. Children are at a greater risk of ingesting these seeds due to their colorful appearance, and the consequences could be fatal. Through this case report we hope to raise public awareness regarding this toxin. This includes the management of known cases, as well as the possibility of encountering an isolated elevated alkaline phosphatase level as a laboratory finding if ingestion occurs.
Topics: Abrin; Abrus; Diarrhea; Humans; Infant; Male; Plant Poisoning; Seeds; Vomiting
PubMed: 25754813
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.892917