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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #361744
Research Project: Understanding and Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Poisonous Plants on Livestock Production Systems

Location: Poisonous Plant Research

Title: Spontaneous poisoning by Palicourea marcgravii (Rubiaceae) in a sheep herd in southeastern Brazil

Author
item KOETHER, KAROLINE - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item Lee, Stephen
item BELLUCI, RENATA - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item GARCIA, RODRIGO - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item Pfister, James
item CUNHA, PAULO HENRIQUE - Federal University Of Goias
item ROCHA, NOEME - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item BORGES, ALEXANDRE - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)
item OLIVEIRA-FILHO, JOSE - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)

Submitted to: Toxicon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2019
Publication Date: 2/28/2019
Citation: Koether, K., Lee, S.T., Belluci, R.S., Garcia, R., Pfister, J.A., Cunha, P.J., Rocha, N.S., Borges, A.S., Oliveira-Filho, J.P. 2019. Spontaneous poisoning by Palicourea marcgravii (Rubiaceae) in a sheep herd in southeastern Brazil. Toxicon. 161:1-3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.02.015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.02.015

Interpretive Summary: Palicourea marcgravii (Rubiaceae) is considered the most important toxic plant affecting livestock, particularly cattle, in Brazil. Poisoning by Palicourea is relatively rare in small ruminants. This study describes an outbreak of spontaneous poisoning by P. marcgravii in sheep. Forty-nine sheep died while showing clinical signs of sudden death after having access to the plant. During the necropsy, P. marcgravii leaves were observed in the rumens of the animals. Histopathological analysis demonstrated hydropic degeneration of the kidneys. Monofluoracetate concentration obtained in Palicourea samples was 0.53% (5.3 µg/ mg). These findings collectively indicate that the affected animals died from poisoning due to P. marcgravii.

Technical Abstract: Palicourea marcgravii (Rubiaceae) is considered the most important toxic plant affecting livestock, particularly cattle, in Brazil. Poisoning by Palicourea is relatively rare in small ruminants. This study describes an outbreak of spontaneous poisoning by P. marcgravii in sheep. Forty-nine sheep died while showing clinical signs of sudden death after having access to the plant. During the necropsy, P. marcgravii leaves were observed in the rumens of the animals. Histopathological analysis demonstrated hydropic degeneration of the kidneys. Monofluoracetate concentration obtained in Palicourea samples was 0.53% (5.3 µg/ mg). These findings collectively indicate that the affected animals died from poisoning due to P. marcgravii.