Toxic Plants Flashcards
(111 cards)
Larkspur (Delphinium spp) spp susceptibility
Cattle most susceptible
Sheep and horses also affected
Larkspur (Delphinium spp) Toxic pathogenesis
Curare-like blockade of neuromuscular junctions— reversibly binding to nictonic acetylcholine receptors
Larkspur consumption can also enhance the toxicity of another range plant
Death camas (Zigadenus spp)
Larkspur (delphinium spp) clinical signs
Sudden death—3 hours post consumption
—> excitability, mm tremors, stiffness, staggerings & basewide stance or kneeling position (cattle), bloat regurge (ruminants) constipation, mmild GI irritation, venous congestion & aspiration pneumonia
Larkspur toxicosis diagnosis
Identify pieces of larkspur in the upper GI tract
Larkspur toxicosis treatment
-relieve bloat
-IV physostigmine
—> neostigmine not as effective
Larkspur ingestion/toxicosis prevention
- sheep most tolerant and can reduce plant density
- lithium chloride administration
- insect control with larkspur myrid (hoplamachus affiguratus)
Cyanogenic plants clinical signs
SUDDEN DEATH
Rarely: resp distress, rapid breathing, bloat, salivation, mm twitching, staggering, mydriasis, cardiac arrythmias, convulsions
Cyanogenic plants pathogenesis
Cyanide blocks molecular oxygen transfer in cytochrome oxidase systems in mitochondria causing tissue anoxia
Ruminants are more susceptible to cyanogenic plants because
Rumen microorganisms readily release cyanide from the cyanogenic glycosides
Cyanogenic plants post mortem findings
- cherry red venous blood
- bitter almond odor— rumen contents
- hemorrhages in multiple organs
Cyanide detection post mortem
Heart, brain, skeletal mm or rumen contents
Factors that increase the cyanogenic potential for toxicity
Wilting
Frost
Drought
Other damgage to plant
Cyanogenic plant tox treatment
- sodium thiosulfate/sodium nitrate mixture (not approved in food animals)
- vinegar orally
Examples of CROPS with the potential to accumulate nitrates
Barley (Hordeum spp) Beets (Beta vulagris) Corn (Zea mays) Flax (Linum spp.) Kale (brassica oleracea) Oats (Avena spp) Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) Rape (Brassica napus) Rye (Secale cereale) Soybeans (Glycine max) Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Turnips Triticum aestivum)
Examples of FORAGES with potential to accumulate nitrates
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Barnyard grass (Echinochloa spp) Buttong rass (Dactyloctenium radulans) Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) Sudan grass (Sorghum vulgare) Sweet clover (Melilotus spp.) Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum)
Examples of WEEDS that can accumulate Nitrates
Canada thistle (Circsium arvense) Cheese weed, mallow (Malva spp) Dock (rumex spp.) Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) Fireweed (Kochia spp.) Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) Kochia (summer cypress) *Kochia scoparia) Lambsquarters (Chenopodium spp) Nightshades (solanum spp) Pigweed (Amaranthus spp) Ragweed (ambrosia spp.) Russian thistle (salsola kali) Smart weed (Polygonum spp.)
Triggers for NITRATE accumulation in plants
— photosynthesis impaired by shade or prolonged cloudiness or excessive nitrogen applied to plants (fertilizers) Others: -drought -frost -hail -herbicide application
Characteristic clinical signs of NITRATE toxicity
Chocolate brown mucous membranes & blood
What is the cause of chocolate brown mucous membranes in nitrate toxicosis?
Ruminants— ingested nitrates converted to nitrites & ammonium in forestomaches
—>absorbed nitrites trigger oxidation of ferrous irone in hemoglobin— produces METHEMOGLOBIN
Methemoglobinemia in nitrate toxicity results in pathogenesis that leads to what clinical signs
Vasodilation & hypotension
—> hypoxia, dyspnea, exercise intolerance, death, fetal stress, subsequent abortion, stillbirths &/or weak neonates
Mares with nitrate toxicity
Produce neonates with congenital hypothyroidism
OR abortion
OR dysmature foal after prolonged gestation
(Mandibular prognathism, flexural deformities of forelimbs, secondary rupture of common digital extensor tendon just above the carpus, poorly ossified cuboidal bones, poor immune function)
Treatment of nitrate toxicity
Methylene blue (prohibited in food animals) Mineral oil/vinegar— NGT
Locoweed and milkvetch can cause 4 different toxic syndromes
- Sudden death (from methemoglobinemia)
- Respiratory syndrome w/ emphysema like signs (most commonly sheep)
- Neurologic signs
- Selenium toxicosis