Spontaneous poisoning by Prosopis juliflora (Leguminosae) in sheep

Abstract

RESUMO.-[Intoxicação espontânea por Prosopis juliflora (Leguminosae) em ovinos.] O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever o primeiro caso de intoxicação espontânea por Prosopis juliflora em ovinos. De um total de 500 ovinos sob risco, quatro ovinos machos adultos foram afetados. Um ovino morreu espontaneamente e os outros foram examinados, eutanasiados e necropsiados. Realizaram-se exames clínicos direcionados particularmente para funções de nervos motores e sensoriais-craniais. Avaliou-se hemograma, perfil bioquímico sérico e urinálise. A evolução da doença foi crônica e para apresentar sinais de intoxicação os ovinos tiveram que ingerir uma dieta contendo 80% das vagens de P. Juliflora durante 21 meses. Os níveis de creatinofosfoquinase estavam significativamente elevados. Os sinais clínicos consistiram em sialorreia, mandíbula pendulosa, protusão da língua e perda de alimento pela boca. As lesões macroscópicas e microscópicas foram similares àquelas reportadas previamente em bovinos e caprinos. Ovinos são mais resistentes à intoxicação por P. Juliflora, tendo em vista que foi necessário 21 meses de consumo das vagens para que os ovinos apresentassem sinais clínicos. Não há tratamento específico para a intoxicação por P. Juliflora em ruminantes. The aim of this paper is to describe the first report of spontaneous poisoning by Prosopis juliflora in sheep. From flock of 500 sheep at risk, four adult male sheep were affected. One died spontaneously and three other were examined, euthanized and necropsied. Neurologic examination focused particularly on motor and sensory-cranial nerve function, complete blood counts, serum biochemistry and urinalysis were done. The evolution of the disease was chronic and to present signs of poisoning, sheep had to ingest a diet containing at least 80% of P. juliflora pods during 21 months. The biochemistry revealed a substantial increase in creatine phosphokinase levels. Clinical signs included drooling of saliva, dropped jaw, tongue protrusion and loss of food from the mouth. Gross and histological lesions were similar to those previously reported in cattle and goats. Sheep are more resistant to poisoning by P. juliflora considering that it took 21 months of pod consumption to show clinical signs. There is no specific treatment for P. juliflora poisoning in ruminants.

Evaluation of the Functional Properties of Prosopis juliflora Protein Concentrate Obtained by Different Methods

“…The values between 8.9% of humidity and 4.87% of ash within the ranges reported by other authors of 8.12% and 4.85% respectively [7,20], lipid and protein results are also similar to those reported by Jaimes et al (2014) [3]. Quantification of antinutritional factors present in flour Table 2 shows the content of phenols in the flour of the seeds of Trupillo is comparable to that obtained in other legumes such as Pisum sativum (0.3%), Cassia floribunda (0,41%), C. obtusifolia (0, 66%) and Phaseolus vulgaris L., 0.26-0.37 %% phenol levels comparable with the study by Chaparro (2009) [21].…”

Toxic plants affecting the nervous system of ruminants and horses in Brazil

“…Sheep were thought to be resistant because, experimentally, they did not show clinical signs after the ingestion of the pods in concentrations of 60% and 90% in the food for one year (Riet-Correa et al 2012). However, more recently, in a flock of 500 she-ep consuming the pods continuously, two showed clinical signs and lesions of the poisoning one year and ten months after the start of ingestion (Almeida et al 2017). In horses the consumption of fresh pods in areas invaded by the plant causes colic induced by the presence of phytobezoars.…”

“…Weight loss, bradycardia, and ruminal atony are also observed. If the animals have been affected for no more than 60 days they fully recover after withdrawn of the pods, but in animals affected for more time, clinical signs are not reversible due to denervation atrophy of the masseter and other muscles (Figueiredo et al 1995, Tabosa et al 2006, Câmara et al 2009, Almeida et al 2017.…”

“…Gross lesions are emaciation, and reduction in size of the masseter and other masticatory muscles, which may appear yellowish due muscular atrophy , Câmara et al 2009, Almeida et al 2017.…”

“…Wallerian-type degeneration characterized by short chains of two to five vacuoles side by side, occasionally containing eosinophilic myelin residues or some macrophages are observed in the intracranial roots of facial, hypoglossal and oculomotor nerves. Wallerian-like degeneration of variable severity is observed also in the maxillary, mandibular, hypoglossal, facial, and lingual nerves (Tabosa et al 2000b, Tabosa et al 2006, Almeida et al 2017). In goats, there is also vacuolation of motor neurons of the motor trigeminal, facial and hypoglossal nuclei and motor neurons of the spinal cord and trigeminal ganglia (Tabosa et al 2000b.…”