Cestrum axillare (Solanaceae) poisoning in ruminants

Authors: UBIALI, DANIEL - Federal Rural University Of Rio De Janeiro; Lee, Stephen; Gardner, Dale; Cook, Daniel; PEREIRA, GABRIELA - Federal Rural University Of Rio De Janeiro; RIET-CORREA, FRANKLIN - Federal University Of Bahia (UFBA)

Submitted to: Toxicon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2022
Publication Date: 9/15/2022
Citation: Ubiali, D.G., Lee, S.T., Gardner, D.R., Cook, D., Pereira, G.O., Riet-Correa, F. 2022. Cestrum axillare (Solanaceae) poisoning in ruminants. Toxicon. 218:76-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.09.005.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.09.005

Interpretive Summary: Cestrum axillare poisoning causes significant economic losses in farms of ruminant production due to a fatal acute hepatic disease. The consumption of C. axillare occurs in farms or pastures with a scarcity of feed or with dry forage. Epidemiological, clinical, and pathological data of poisoning outbreaks by C. axillare from 1953 to 2021 in grazing ruminants in southeastern Brazil are reported. A total of 68 bovines, two buffaloes, and two goats had clinical signs and death due to C. axillare consumption, and 79% of the cases occurred during the drought period. Clinical signs were apathy, anorexia, ruminal arrest, arched back, and constipation with hard stools, sometimes with blood or mucus. Cases with neurological signs due to hepatic encephalopathy showed excitement, aggressiveness, drooling, staggering, and muscle tremors. The hepatotoxins, carboxyparquin and parquin, were detected in C. axillare leaf samples collected from paddocks grazed by cattle in three southeastern Brazilian municipalities where outbreaks of C. axillare poisoning occurred. The pathological findings included hepatocellular necrosis in the liver and microcavitations in the brain's white matter (status spongiosus). Cestrum axillare poisoning must be distinguished from other diseases causing centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis and other conditions that affect the central nervous system of cattle. We highlight the importance of carrying out alimentary planning for ruminants during the dry season, including food supplementation to avoid the consumption of C. axillare and other toxic plants. The most efficient prophylaxis is the remove all plants from the pastures.

Technical Abstract: Cestrum axillare poisoning causes significant economic losses in farms of ruminant production due to a fatal acute hepatic disease. The consumption of C. axillare occurs in farms or pastures with a scarcity of feed or with dry forage. Epidemiological, clinical, and pathological data of poisoning outbreaks by C. axillare from 1953 to 2021 in grazing ruminants in southeastern Brazil are reported. A total of 68 bovines, two buffaloes, and two goats had clinical signs and death due to C. axillare consumption, and 79% of the cases occurred during the drought period. Clinical signs were apathy, anorexia, ruminal arrest, arched back, and constipation with hard stools, sometimes with blood or mucus. Cases with neurological signs due to hepatic encephalopathy showed excitement, aggressiveness, drooling, staggering, and muscle tremors. The hepatotoxins, carboxyparquin and parquin, were detected in C. axillare leaf samples collected from paddocks grazed by cattle in three southeastern Brazilian municipalities where outbreaks of C. axillare poisoning occurred. The pathological findings included hepatocellular necrosis in the liver and microcavitations in the brain's white matter (status spongiosus). Cestrum axillare poisoning must be distinguished from other diseases causing centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis and other conditions that affect the central nervous system of cattle. We highlight the importance of carrying out alimentary planning for ruminants during the dry season, including food supplementation to avoid the consumption of C. axillare and other toxic plants. The most efficient prophylaxis is the remove all plants from the pastures.