Cardiotoxic plants affecting ruminants in Brazil

Authors: NASCIMENTO, N - Federal Rural University Of Pernambuco; AIRES, L - Federal Rural University Of Pernambuco; Pfister, James; MEDEIROS, ROSANE - Federal University Of Campina Grande; REIT-CORREA, FRANKLIN - Federal University Of Campina Grande; MENDONCA, FABIO - Federal Rural University Of Pernambuco

Submitted to: Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/28/2018
Publication Date: 9/6/2018
Citation: Nascimento, N.C., Aires, L.D., Pfister, J.A., Medeiros, R.M., Reit-Correa, F., Mendonca, F.S. 2018. Cardiotoxic plants affecting ruminants in Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira. 38(7):1239-1249.

Interpretive Summary: This review updates information about cardiotoxic plants affecting ruminants in Brazil. Currently it is known that there are at least 131 toxic plants belonging to 79 genera within Brazil. Twenty-five species affect heart function. Plants that contain sodium monofluoroacetate (Palicourea spp., Psychotria hoffmannseggiana, Amorimia spp., Niedenzuella spp., Tanaecium bilabiatum and Fridericia elegans) cause numerous outbreaks of poisoning, mainly in cattle, but buffalo, sheep and goats are occasionally affected. Poisoning by Palicourea marcgravii remains the most important due to the wide distribution of this plant in Brazil. New species of the genus Palicourea containing sodium monofluoracetate, such as Palicourea amapaensis, Palicourea longiflora, Palicourea barraensis, Palicourea macarthurorum, Palicourea nigricans, Palicourea vacillans and Palicourea aff. juruana were described in the Amazon region. In the northeast region, the most important toxic plant for cattle is Amorimia septentrionalis. In the midwest, outbreaks of Niedenzuella stannea poisoning have been reported in cattle in the Araguaia region and the disease needs to be better investigated for its occurrence and importance. Tetrapterys multiglandulosa and Tetrapterys acutifolia, two plants causing cardiac fibrosis also contain sodium monofluoroacetate and were reclassified to the genus Niedenzuella. These two plants and Ateleia glazioveana, another plant that causes cardiac fibrosis, continue to be important in the southeastern and south of Brazil. There are other less important plants that contain cardiotoxic glycosides, such as Nerium oleander and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, in which poisonings are generally accidental. Recently, several experimental methodologies were successfully employed to avoid poisonings by sodium monofluoroacetate-containing plants. These methodologies include the induction of food aversion using lithium chloride, the administration of repeatedly non-toxic doses, the use of acetamide to prevent poisonings, and the intraruminal inoculation of sodium monofluoroacetate-degrading bacteria.

Technical Abstract: This review updates information about cardiotoxic plants affecting ruminants in Brazil. Currently it is known that there are at least 131 toxic plants belonging to 79 genera within Brazil. Twenty five species affect heart function. Plants that contain sodium monofluoroacetate (Palicourea spp., Psychotria hoffmannseggiana, Amorimia spp., Niedenzuella spp., Tanaecium bilabiatum and Fridericia elegans) cause numerous outbreaks of poisoning, mainly in cattle, but buffalo, sheep and goats are occasionally affected. Poisoning by Palicourea marcgravii remains the most important due to the wide distribution of this plant in Brazil. New species of the genus Palicourea containing sodium monofluoracetate, such as Palicourea amapaensis, Palicourea longiflora, Palicourea barraensis, Palicourea macarthurorum, Palicourea nigricans, Palicourea vacillans and Palicourea aff. juruana were described in the Amazon region. In the northeast region, the most important toxic plant for cattle is Amorimia septentrionalis. In the midwest, outbreaks of Niedenzuella stannea poisoning have been reported in cattle in the Araguaia region and the disease needs to be better investigated for its occurrence and importance. Tetrapterys multiglandulosa and Tetrapterys acutifolia, two plants causing cardiac fibrosis, also contain sodium monofluoroacetate and were reclassified to the genus Niedenzuella. These two plants and Ateleia glazioveana, another plant that causes cardiac fibrosis, continues to be important in the southeastern and south of Brazil. There are other less important plants that contain cardiotoxic glycosides, such as Nerium oleander and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, in which poisonings are generally accidental. Recently, several experimental methodologies were successfully employed to avoid poisonings by sodium monofluoroacetate-containing plants. These methodologies include the induction of food aversion using lithium chloride, the administration of repeatedly non-toxic doses, the use of acetamide to prevent poisonings, and the intraruminal inoculation of sodium monofluoroacetate-degrading bacteria.