Plants containing urinary tract, gastrointestinal, or miscellaneous toxins that affect livestock

Authors: Stegelmeier, Bryan; Davis, Thomas - Zane; CLAYTON, MICHAEL - Utah State University

Submitted to: Veterinary Clinics of North America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2020
Publication Date: 11/1/2020
Citation: Stegelmeier, B.L., Davis, T.Z., Clayton, M.J. 2020. Plants containing urinary tract, gastrointestinal, or miscellaneous toxins that affect livestock. Veterinary Clinics of North America. 36:701-713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2020.08.006.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2020.08.006

Interpretive Summary: Whether exposed by grazing toxic range or pasture plants or by eating contaminated feed there are a number of plant toxins that produce urinary tract disease, gastroenteritis, and other miscellaneous or multi-systemic diseases. As with many toxic plant poisonings, diagnosis can be challenging. The best diagnosis requires incorporation of field studies, clinical signs, gross and microscopic pathology as well as chemical identification of plants, toxins and metabolites in animal samples. The objectives of this review are to briefly introduce selected poisonous plants that commonly poison livestock in North America; describe the clinical and pathologic lesions they produce in livestock; and present current technology available to identify poisoning, treat affected animals, and minimize or avoid poisoning additional animals.

Technical Abstract: Whether exposed by grazing toxic range or pasture plants or by eating contaminated feed there are a number of plant toxins that produce urinary tract disease, gastroenteritis, and other miscellaneous or multi-systemic diseases. As with many toxic plant poisonings, diagnosis can be challenging. The best diagnosis requires incorporation of field studies, clinical signs, gross and microscopic pathology as well as chemical identification of plants, toxins and metabolites in animal samples. The objectives of this review are to briefly introduce selected poisonous plants that commonly poison livestock in North America; describe the clinical and pathologic lesions they produce in livestock; and present current technology available to identify poisoning, treat affected animals, and minimize or avoid poisoning additional animals. diseases, clinical and microscopic lesions and recommendations to avoid poisoning are included.