Acute lead arsenate poisoning in beef cattle in Uruguay

Schild, Carlos; Giannitti, Federico; Medeiros, Rosane M.T.; Silveira, Caroline da Silva; Caffarena, Rubén D.; Poppenga, Robert H.; Riet-Correa, Franklin

doi:10.1177/1040638719831413

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Other conditions that may produce similar mucosal lesions in the alimentary tract, and that have been described in Argentina and Uruguay, include intoxication by Ricinus communis , 10 lead arsenate, 14 and Baccharis corifidolia . 15 No exposure to any of these toxicants was observed in the animals in our outbreaks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks

García,

Livio,

Matto

et al. 2023

J VET Diagn Invest

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Astylus atromaculatus is a pollen beetle native to South America, commonly found in crop flowers. Experimental intoxication of sheep and guinea pigs by this beetle resulting in fibrinonecrotizing enteritis has been reported. We describe here 6 natural outbreaks of intoxication in cattle associated with consumption of alfalfa (5 of 6) and mixed native (1 of 6) pastures heavily contaminated with A. atromaculatus. The outbreaks occurred during the summer (January–February) of 2023 in Argentina ( n = 4) and Uruguay ( n = 2), in beef cattle under extensive or semi-extensive rearing systems, with overall cumulative incidence and mortality of 22.3% and 17.8%, respectively. The main clinical signs included acute onset of anorexia, lethargy, hyperthermia, hindlimb weakness, reluctance to move, and diarrhea, for up to 15 d. In 2 outbreaks, sudden death was observed. Eight Hereford, Angus, and/or crossbreed heifers, cows, steers, and/or calves were autopsied. Gross and microscopic findings included multifocal necrosis with fibrinous pseudomembranes in the forestomachs and/or small and large intestines. Fragments or whole specimens of A. atromaculatus were identified in the ruminal content of all animals. Testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens was negative as was testing of A. atromaculatus for cantharidin and batrachotoxin. GC-MS and LC-MS/MS performed on the beetles did not identify any known toxic compounds. Based on the exposure to A. atromaculatus–contaminated pasture, gross and microscopic lesions, and negative results of all testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens, a diagnosis of intoxication by A. atromaculatus is proposed. Disease caused by A. atromaculatus consumption has not been reported previously in cattle, to our knowledge.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks

García,

Livio,

Matto

et al. 2023

J VET Diagn Invest

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Toxic diseases that are characterized by similar lesions in the forestomachs include intoxications with the plant Baccharis coridifolia , 25 to which the cattle in our study were not exposed, trichothecenes, 20 and lead arsenate. 24 For this reason, we tested the beetles for the trichothecene T-2 toxin and for heavy metals (including lead and arsenic), which were not detected. In addition, in these diseases there are usually concurrent lesions such as necrosis of lymphoid organs, liver, and renal tubules that were not seen in any of the calves in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The situation is further obscured by the fact that the clinical signs and lesions described in the affected animals are not exclusive of A. atromaculatus-associated disease and can be present in other conditions, including infectious and toxic diseases. 24,25,31 Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess the clinical and pathological effects of single oral administration of different doses of A. atromaculatus in cattle and search for putative toxic compounds in this insect species. This information is of value to clinicians, pathologists, and researchers working in the fields of toxicology, entomology, and animal nutrition.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Experimental oral administration of pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus) to cattle results in an acute lethal gastrointestinal disease

Giannitti,

Machado,

Silva Silveira

et al. 2024

Vet Pathol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the summer of 2023, ingestion of Astylus atromaculatus (pollen beetle) was linked to spontaneous fatal disease in grazing cattle and sheep in Argentina and Uruguay. While the disease was experimentally reproduced in sheep and guinea pigs in the 1970’s, no experimental reproductions have been attempted in cattle, and controversy exists as to whether this insect is indeed noxious to cattle and at which dose. Here, we demonstrate that A. atromaculatus causes acute fatal disease in Hereford calves at single oral dosages of 2.5, 4.5, 10.0, and 15.0 g of insect/kg body weight. Death or severe disease necessitating euthanasia occurred at 38 to 48 hours postinoculation regardless of the dose, suggesting that the single fatal dosage is likely <2.5 g/kg body weight (this dose representing approximately 850 mL of intact beetles in a 100 kg calf). Clinically, the disease was characterized by acute anorexia, prolonged recumbency, reluctance to move, listlessness/apathy, depression, ruminal hypomotility and tympany, hypothermia, bruxism with frothing at the mouth, and mucoid diarrhea progressing to death. Hematologic and biochemical alterations included hemoconcentration, stress/acute inflammatory leukogram, negative energy balance, and ketosis. The pathological hallmark of this experimental disease is acute necrotizing omaso-reticulo-rumenitis, fibrinohemorrhagic enteritis, and exfoliative colitis with intralesional chitinous insect fragments. While A. atromaculatus might contain a gastrointestinal toxin or pathogen, extensive toxicological testing failed to identify a causative toxin. Other pathomechanisms such as direct physical damage caused by insect fragments on the alimentary tract seem plausible, although further studies are needed to elucidate the pathogenesis of A. atromaculatus-associated disease.

show abstract

“…The assessment of Pb is quite significant, since recently Schild et al reported an outbreak of Pb poisoning in cattle in Uruguay due to PbHAsO 4 exposure, finding levels up to 9.4 mg kg −1 in the animal livers [28]. This compound is an environmentally hazardous insecticide, that has been banned from the market in many countries given its persistence and potential risk to public health.…”

Section: Application To Beef Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Cd, Pb and Se in beef samples using aerosol dilution by ICP-MS

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An analytical method for sample preparation and subsequent determination of Cd, Pb and Se in beef using aerosol dilution by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was developed. The use of high matrix introduction technology allowed the introduction of a complex sample into the plasma with higher content of total dissolved solids a residual acidity of 4% and better tolerance to matrix effects. Trueness was verified by the analysis of two reference materials. At the 95% significance level, results were statistically equivalent to the certified or informed values. Analytical precision expressed as relative standard deviation was less than 9% in all cases. After validation, a total of 12 beef samples from Uruguay were analyzed. Obtained levels for Cd and Pb were far below the maximum limits established by international regulations in all samples. Also, results showed that beef from this region is a good source of Se in the range 0.120-0.870 mg kg −1 with an interesting contribution to the daily intake of this essential element.

show abstract

Acute lead arsenate poisoning in beef cattle in Uruguay

Cited by 7 publications

References 14 publications

Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks

Pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus)-associated gastroenteric disease in cattle: report of 6 natural outbreaks

Experimental oral administration of pollen beetle (Astylus atromaculatus) to cattle results in an acute lethal gastrointestinal disease

Determination of Cd, Pb and Se in beef samples using aerosol dilution by ICP-MS

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About