Toxicity of the swainsonine-containing plant Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa for goats and sheep

Authors: OLIVEIRA, CARLOS - Instituto Federal De Educação Ciência E Tecnologia; RIET-CORREA, GABRIELLA - Federal University Of Para; LIMA, EVERTON - Federal University Of Campina Grande; MEDEIROS, ROSANE - Federal University Of Campina Grande; MIRABALLES, CECILIA - Federal University Of Bahia Reconcavo; Pfister, James; Gardner, Dale; Cook, Daniel; RIET-CORREA, FRANKLIN - Federal University Of Campina Grande

Submitted to: Toxicon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2021
Publication Date: 4/19/2021
Citation: Oliveira, C.A., Riet-Correa, G., Lima, E., Medeiros, R., Miraballes, C., Pfister, J.A., Gardner, D.R., Cook, D., Riet-Correa, F. 2021. Toxicity of the swainsonine-containing plant Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa for goats and sheep. Toxicon. 197:40-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.04.013.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.04.013

Interpretive Summary: In order to determine the toxicity of swainsonine present in Ipomoea carnea for goats and 24 sheep, 12 goats and 12 sheep were divided into 3 groups of 4 goats (G1, G2 and G3) and 3 groups of 4 sheep (S4, S5 and S6) each. Groups G1 and S4 were used as controls; G2 and S5 received 1 mg/kg body weight of swainsonine from plant material and G3 and S6 received 3mg/kg. Groups G2 and G3 presented the first clinical signs, on average, after the 54th and 39th days of ingestion of the plant, respectively. Groups S5 and S6 presented the first clinical signs, on average, on the 64th and 42nd days of the experiment, respectively. In sheep, in addition to having a longer period of ingestion until the onset of clinical signs, these signs were less severe, being evident only after the animals were forced to move. These results demonstrated that goats are more susceptible to swainsonine poisoning than sheep. Complete regression of clinical signs was observed in 5 goats and 6 sheep. However, three goats and one sheep remained with clinical signs until 120 days of the experiment, suggesting that to control the poisoning the animals should be removed from the pastures immediately after the first clinical signs. There were no significant differences in weight between the different groups, suggesting that for goats ingesting the plant, toxic Ipomoea species can be used as forage for intermittent periods of 15-30 days.

Technical Abstract: In order to determine the toxicity of swainsonine present in Ipomoea carnea for goats and 24 sheep, 12 goats and 12 sheep were divided into 3 groups of 4 goats (G1, G2 and G3) and 3 groups of 4 sheep (S4, S5 and S6) each. Groups G1 and S4 were used as controls; G2 and S5 received 1 mg/kg body weight of swainsonine from plant material and G3 and S6 received 3mg/kg. Groups G2 and G3 presented the first clinical signs, on average, after the 54th and 39th days of ingestion of the plant, respectively. Groups S5 and S6 presented the first clinical signs, on average, on the 64th and 42nd days of the experiment, respectively. In sheep, in addition to having a longer period of ingestion until the onset of clinical signs, these signs were less severe, being evident only after the animals were forced to move. These results demonstrated that goats are more susceptible to swainsonine poisoning than sheep. Complete regression of clinical signs was observed in 5 goats and 6 sheep. However, three goats and one sheep remained with clinical signs until 120 days of the experiment, suggesting that to control the poisoning the animals should be removed from the pastures immediately after the first clinical signs. There were no significant differences in weight between the different groups, suggesting that for goats ingesting the plant, toxic Ipomoea species can be used as forage for intermittent periods of 15-30 days.