Cerebellar Degeneration in Cattle Grazing Solanum Bonariense (“Naranjillo”) in Western Uruguay

Abstract

Abstract. Cattle in western Uruguay that were eating Solanum bonariense developed periodic episodes of ataxia, hypermetria, hyperesthesia, head and thoracic limb extension, opisthotonus, nystagmus, and falling to the side or backward. Similar clinical signs were experimentally reproduced in cattle by administration of S. bonariense via rumen cannula at a dose of 1,024 g/kg body mass. No significant gross lesions were observed in field cases or experimentally induced cases. Spontaneous and induced histologic lesions were similar and included vacuolation, degeneration, and loss of Purkinje cells. Axonal spheroids, microcavitations, and other changes of wallerian-type degeneration in cerebellar white matter were also observed. Ultrastructural changes included increased number of electron-dense residual storage bodies in membrane-bound vesicles in affected Purkinje cells, and similar vesicles and mitochondria in axonal spheroids. No histologic lesions were detected in the other examined tissues. The Purkinje-cell swelling and vacuolation with subsequent cerebellar degeneration are suggestive of Purkinje-cell specific toxin that produces abnormal lysosome function and cell specific axonal transport. This is the first report of S. bonariense toxicity.

Conditioning and aversion to toxic Solanum bonariense ("naranjillo") leaves in calves

“…The toxin(s) in the plant is not known, but appears to cause a glycolipid-type storage disease in Purkinje cells (VERDES et al, 2015). This debilitating neurological condition has a low mortality rate but high morbidity in affected animals, as the lesions are permanent (VERDES et al, 2006).…”

“…When consumed by cattle for extended periods of time, ingestion results in cerebellar cortical degeneration (RIET-CORREA et al, 1983;VERDES et al, 2006). The toxin(s) in the plant is not known, but appears to cause a glycolipid-type storage disease in Purkinje cells (VERDES et al, 2015).…”

“…is reduced due to drought or overgrazing (VERDES et al, 2006). When consumed by cattle for extended periods of time, ingestion results in cerebellar cortical degeneration (RIET-CORREA et al, 1983;VERDES et al, 2006).…”

“…LiCl (Sigma ® L4408, St. Louis, USA) was administered in an oral gavage with a final dose of 200mg kg -1 BW, according to BURRITT et al (1990). The LiCl doses at this concentration (BURRITT & PROVENZA, 1990), and 100g of leaves of S. bonariense (VERDES et al, 2006) did not adversely affect the health of treated animals.…”

“…Solanum bonariense was collected at the Veterinary School (UdelaR) at Montevideo, Uruguay (34°54'S, 56°08'W), according to VERDES et al 2006. Recently harvested fresh leaves from several different plants were offered to animals in all the trials.…”