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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #360253
Title: Evaluation of noninvasive specimens to diagnose livestock exposure to toxic larkspur (Delphinium spp.)

Author
item Stonecipher, Clinton - Clint
item Lee, Stephen
item Green, Benedict - Ben
item Cook, Daniel
item Welch, Kevin
item Pfister, James
item Gardner, Dale

Submitted to: Toxicon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2019
Publication Date: 2/28/2019
Citation: Stonecipher, C.A., Lee, S.T., Green, B.T., Cook, D., Welch, K.D., Pfister, J.A., Gardner, D.R. 2019. Evaluation of noninvasive specimens to diagnose livestock exposure to toxic larkspur (Delphinium spp.). Toxicon. 161:33-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.02.013.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.02.013

Interpretive Summary: Larkspurs are native perennial plants that have a serious toxic potential to cattle on foothill and mountain rangelands in the western United States. Diagnosing plant poisonings in livestock is often challenging. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of three matrices; earwax, oral fluid (primarily saliva), and nasal mucus, as potential noninvasive specimens to determine livestock exposure to larkspurs. Larkspur alkaloids were detected in all three matrices in cattle administered a single dose of larkspur. Differing larkspur alkaloid chemotypes from two different larkspur species could be distinguished in the three matrices. This study demonstrates the potential of earwax, oral fluids, and nasal mucus as noninvasive specimens for chemical analyses to aid in the diagnosis of livestock that may have been exposed to and poisoned by plants.

Technical Abstract: Larkspurs (Delphinium spp.) are native perennial plants that have a serious toxic potential to cattle on foothill and mountain rangelands in the western United States. Livestock death due to larkspur toxicity is attributed to norditerpenoid alkaloids. Diagnosing plant poisonings in livestock is often challenging. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of three matrices; earwax, oral fluid (primarily saliva), and nasal mucus, as potential noninvasive specimens to determine livestock exposure to larkspurs. Norditerpene alkaloids were detected in all three matrices in cattle administered a single dose of larkspur. Differing norditerpene alkaloid chemotypes from two different Delphinium spp. could be distinguished in the three matrices. This study demonstrates the potential of earwax, oral fluids, and nasal mucus as noninvasive specimens for chemical analyses to aid in the diagnosis of livestock that may have been exposed to and poisoned by plants.