Quiz

Question 1

What body system does Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) affect?

Answer 1

Liver

Question 2

What is the toxic part of cycad plants?

Answer 2

All parts are toxic, but the seeds especially

Question 3

What is the toxic principle in cycads?

Answer 3

Cycasin (a glycoside)

Question 4

What body system does Coontie (Arrowroot, Zamia spp.) affect?

Answer 4

Liver

Question 5

What are the primary clinical signs associated with cycad toxicity?

Answer 5

1. G.I. signs
2. Hepatotoxicity: jaundice, coagulation problems, dark urine
3. Neurotoxicity: ataxia, posterior paralysis and knuckling in sheep

Question 6

What is Zamia staggers?

Answer 6

Neurotoxicity associated with cycad poisoning

Question 7

What is the toxic principle responsible for the neurologic signs in cycad toxicity?

Answer 7

BMAA

Question 8

What is the treatment for cycad toxicity?

Answer 8

Medications (anti-seizure, vitamin K, intestinal protectants like NAC)

Supportive therapy (fluids and electrolytes)

Question 9

What are the main genera of plants that have pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) as their toxic principle (that we talk about in the class)?

Answer 9

Senacio (groundsel, ragwort) and Crotalaria (rattlebox)

Question 10

What is the specific toxic principle in rattlebox?

Answer 10

Alkaloid monocrotalene

Question 11

What are the hallmarks of PA toxicosis (4)?

Answer 11

1. Hepatocytomegaly
2. Hepatic necrosis
3. Bile duct hyperplasia
4. Fibrotic or cirrhotic changes

Question 12

What are the clinical signs of PA toxicity?

Answer 12

Liver signs (weight loss, poor appetite, jaundice)

Secondary hepatogenous photosensitization

Neurologic signs (“sleepy staggers”)

Question 13

What is the treatment for PA toxicity and is it often effective?

Answer 13

Supportive therapy, but it’s not usually helpful once the animals are showing clinical signs of toxicity

Question 14

When is lantana most toxic?

Answer 14

After flowering due to immature fruits

Question 15

What is the toxic principle in lantana?

Answer 15

Lantadene (a triterpenoid)

Question 16

What are the clinical signs of lantana toxicity?

Answer 16

G.I. distress, constipation, secondary photosensitization

On necropsy, the liver will be swollen and green due to bile accumulation

Question 17

What are the two mechanisms for bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) toxicity?

Answer 17

1. thiaminase (monogastrics, esp. horses)

2. myelosuppression (ruminants)

Question 18

What are clinical signs of thiaminase toxicity?

Answer 18

Scruffy appearance, tremors, convulsions, death

Question 19

What is the treatment for thiaminase toxicity?

Answer 19

Thiamine!

This doesn’t work for cows/sheep because of their rumen

Question 20

How does myelosuppression present in bracken fern toxicity in ruminants?

Answer 20

Acute hemorrhagic syndrome due to bone marrow suppression (hemolytic anemia, hematuria, lots of unpleasant-ness)

Question 21

What can happen with very long term bracken fern exposure in ruminants (1-6 years)?

Answer 21

Carcinoma of the bladder and G.I. tract

Question 22

What is the toxic principle in Allium spp. (onions, garlic)?

Answer 22

N-propyl disulfide

Question 23

What is the treatment for Allium toxicity?

Answer 23

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or ascorbic acid

Question 24

What body system do Allium spp. affect?

Answer 24

Hematopoetic system

Question 25

What is the toxic principle in red maple (Acer rubrum)?

Answer 25

Unknown, but likely Gallic acid

Question 26

What species does red maple affect?

Answer 26

Horses

Question 27

What can you see on a blood smear to diagnose red maple toxicity?

Answer 27

Heinz bodies

Question 28

What disease does white sweet clover (Melitotus alba) cause?

Answer 28

Sweet clover bleeding disease

Question 29

How does white sweet clover cause toxicity?

Answer 29

Dicoumerol inhibits Vitamin K synthesis (just like in some rat poisons)