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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #350843
Title: Toxic plants affecting the nervous system of ruminants and horses in Brazil

Author
item RIET-CORREA, FRANKLIN - National Agricultural Research Institute(INIA)
item MEDEIROS, ROSANE - Federal University Of Campina Grande
item Pfister, James
item MENDONÇA, FABIO - Federal University Of Pernambuco

Submitted to: Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/14/2017
Publication Date: 12/1/2017
Citation: Riet-Correa, F., Medeiros, R.M., Pfister, J.A., Mendonça, F.S. 2017. Toxic plants affecting the nervous system of ruminants and horses in Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira. 37(12):1357-1368. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0100-736x2017001200001.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0100-736x2017001200001

Interpretive Summary: This review updates information about neurotoxic plants affecting ruminants and horses in Brazil. Currently in Brazil there are at least 131 toxic plants belonging to 79 genera. Thirty one of these poisonous plants affect the nervous system. Swainsonine-containing plants (Ipomoea spp., Turbina cordata and Sida carpinifolia) cause numerous outbreaks of poisoning, mainly in goats, but cattle and horses are occasionally affected. The poisoning by Ipomoea asarifolia, a tremorgenic plant, is very common in sheep, goats and cattle in the Northeastern region and on the island of Marajo in the Amazon region. Poisoning by the pods of Prosopis juliflora are frequent in cattle in Northeastern Brazil; occasionally this poisoning affects goats and more rarely sheep. Some poisonings by plants, such as Hybanthus calceolaria, Ipomoea marcellia and Talisia esculenta in ruminants and Indigofera lespedezioides in horses were recently described and needs to be accurately investigated about its occurrence and importance. Other plants poisonings causing nervous signs in ruminants and horses are less important, but should be considered for the differential diagnosis of neurologic diseases.

Technical Abstract: This review updates information about neurotoxic plants affecting ruminants and equidae in Brazil. Currently in the country, there are at least 131 toxic plants belonging to 79 genera. Thirty one of these poisonous plants affect the nervous system. Swainsonine-containing plants (Ipomoea spp., Turbina cordata and Sida carpinifolia) cause numerous outbreaks of poisoning, mainly in goats, but cattle and horses are occasionally affected. The poisoning by Ipomoea asarifolia, a tremorgenic plant, is very common in sheep, goats and cattle in the Northeastern region and in the Marajo island. Poisoning by the pods of Prosopis juliflora are frequent in cattle in Northeastern Brazil; occasionally this poisoning affects goats and more rarely sheep. Some poisonings by plants, such as Hybanthus calceolaria, Ipomoea marcellia and Talisia esculenta in ruminants and Indigofera lespedezioides in horses were recently described and needs to be accurately investigated about its occurrence and importance. Other plants poisonings causing nervous signs in ruminants and equidae are less important, but should be considered for the differential diagnosis of neurologic diseases.