Multiple congenital contractures (mcc) and cleft palate induced in goats by ingestion of piperidine alkaloid-containing plants: Reduction in fetal movement as the probable cause

Abstract

Fetal movement, observed by ultrasound imaging, was significantly reduced (P less than or equal to 0.001) in pregnant goats gavaged with Conium seed and Nicotiana glauca and temporarily reduced with fresh Conium plant. Conium seed and Nicotiana glauca induced cleft palate and multiple congenital contractures in 100% of the kids born to pregnant goats gavaged with these plants. Multiple congenital contractures included torticollis, scoliosis, lordosis, arthrogryposis, rib cage anomalies, over extension, and flexure and rigidity of the joints. However, in goats gavaged with fresh Conium plant, fetal movement was inhibited for only about 5 hours after each individual dosage and gradually returned to control levels 12 hours after dosing. Fetal malformations in this group were limited from modest to moderate contractures of the front limbs, which resolved by 8-10 weeks post partum. No cleft palates were induced. Fetal movement was not inhibited in goats fed Lupinus caudatus and no cleft palates or multiple congenital contractures were induced in their offspring. The duration of the reduction in fetal movement appears to be an important factor in the severity and permanence of the deformities, particularly with cleft palate, spinal column defects, and severe joint deviation and fixation.

Artrogripose em caprino: relato de caso

“…A relação entre essa patologia em caprinos e a ingestão de certas plantas não está clara. Em estudo experimental, quando ocorreu ingestão de Nicotiana ou Conium pela mãe, a limitação dos movimentos dos membros dos recém-nascidos foi restabelecida até 10 semanas após o parto e a ingestão de Lupinus não induziu à artrogripose (Panter et al, 1990).…”

“…Em caprinos, foi registrada a ocorrência de artrogripose no Japão (Kurogi et al, 1977) e na ilha de Chipre (Sellers e Hernimann, 1981), associada à presença do vírus Akabane. Nos Estados Unidos, a ocorrência de artrogripose está associada à ingestão de plantas com alcalóides (Panter et al, 1990). No Brasil, Borges et al (1997 relataram sua ocorrência em bovino e ovino sem, no entanto, estabelecerem a etiologia.…”

Journal of Range Management, Volume 55, Number 3 (May 2002)

“…Panter et al (1990) These recommendations have been available for many years and some have been used successfully to reduce losses from lupine . Further discussion of these recommendations follow: 1) Identification of toxic lupine species is a key element in managing livestock to avoid losses.…”

“…The defects are characterized as one or more of the following: arthrogryposis (contracture and malalignment defects of the limbs), scoliosis (spinal column twisting), torticollis (deformed neck), kyphosis (spinal depression) and cleft palate (Panter et al 1990). While the bone and joint development appears to be normal, the defects are believed to be contracture-type defects resulting from abnormal tendon, muscle and ligament tension induced by a lack of fetal movement during susceptible periods of gestation (Panter et al 1990). (Shupe et al 1968a(Shupe et al , 1968bPanter et al 1997).…”

Cattle Consumption of Velvet Lupine (Lupinus leucophyllus) in the Channel Scablands of Eastern Washington

“…Ingestion of lupine by the dam during the 40th to 70th day of gestation can cause a crooked calf syndrome (Shupe et al 1967). The quinolizidine alkaloid anagyrine (Keeler 1976) and some piperidine alkaloids (ammodendrine and N-methyl ammodendrine) cause the crooked calf syndrome by reducing fetal movement during this critical period of gestation (Panter et al 1990), causing the spine and limbs to develop in contracted or malformed positions. Keeler et al (1977) proposed a simple management solution: stagger grazing of lupine-infested pastures so that the susceptible period of gestation does not overlap the flower and pod stage of growth when anagyrine is highest.…”