Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya

Abstract

Various plant species such as Opuntia stricta have developed defensive measures, namely, spines, thorns, and other sharp pointed structures to protect themselves from herbivores and other animals feeding on them. Opuntia stricta has invaded the northern part of Laikipia County, Kenya, and its fruits are protected by small spines called glochids. This study determined the pathology in goats feeding on this plant in Laikipia County. Eighteen goats that had eaten the plant and six others that were raised in a ranch without O. stricta were purchased for the study. All study animals were clinically examined for lesions and euthanized for necropsy examination. Clinically, goats affected by O. stricta had poor body condition, wounds on various body parts, and diarrhea. Variable numbers of O. stricta spines occurred externally on the skin throughout the body and elicited pain, swelling, and ulcerative wounds on affected parts. Internal lesions were observed in subcutaneous tissues (100%), together with stomatitis, cheilitis, gingivitis, glossitis, abomasitis (100%), rumen, reticulum, omasum thinning and loss of papillae (72.2%), esophagitis, and duodenitis (5.6%). Carcasses had gelatinous fat and muscular atrophy. Other gross lesions were generalized viscera atrophy, edema, subcutaneous emphysema, lymphadenopathy, abscesses, ascites, hydrothorax, and hydropericardium. The abomasum wall and its mucosal folds were swollen with edema, haemorrhages, and scattered foci of abscesses. Histopathology confirmed the main lesions in all affected goats were foreign-body granulomas which were located in all organs with gross lesions. Goats from O. stricta-free ranches had no spines or lesions. The pathological effects caused by O. stricta resulted in emaciated goats due to pain, inability to masticate and assimilate food, and stress, resulting in poor carcass and organs quality and possible condemnation and death. This could affect the socioeconomics and livelihoods of communities in the study area, and therefore, the spread of this plant needs to be controlled.

Ocular and oral lesions caused by Tacinga inamoena in sheep and goats in Northeast Brazil

“…The almost exclusive presence of T. inamoena across large areas of the farms where the outbreaks occurred is clearly a cause of concern, as the loss of plant diversity tends to be indicative of the environmental degradation of these areas (Antogiovanni et al 2020). The aforementioned similar oral and gastrointestinal tract lesions in goats identified in Kenya (Ncebere et al 2021) occurred following invasion of grazing areas by O. stricta, a cactaceae in the same family as T. inamoena, and a similar circumstances may also characterize the semi-arid regions of Brazil.…”

“…In Kenya, the cactus Opuntia stricta has been found to cause ocular and severe gastrointestinal tract lesions in goats following contact and ingestion, leading to progressive weight loss. In these animals, gloquid lesions have also been reported in the abomasum (Ncebere et al 2021). Cacti found in the semi-arid Northeast of Brazil have been associated with traumatic injuries in domestic animals, with species such as Cereous jamacaru (mandacaru) and Pilosocereus gounellei (xique-xique) known to cause hoof injuries in animals (Riet-Correa et al 2011); however, neither of these plants has been shown to be associated with either oral or ocular injuries.…”

Organic Fertilization with Biofertilizer Alters the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Young Cladodes of Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.

“…In addition to the potential for adapting to edaphoclimatic conditions, Opuntia spp. have nutraceutical compounds that promote improvements in human nutrition and health, establishing food security, in addition to being a species with applications in the food industry [37,38]. According to [38], this cactus genus has high levels of phosphorus (62.2 mg/100 g), sodium (9.1 mg/100 g), calcium (1.18 to 1.28 mg/100 g), iron (3.0 to 3.8 mg/100 g), potassium (45-47 mg/100 g), and flavonoids (196.7 mg/100 g).…”