Spontaneous poisoning by Talisia esculenta in cattle

Abstract

Talisia esculenta, commonly known as pitombeira, is a tree which fruits are widely consumed by human beings in northeastern Brazil. The aim of this work is to describe the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of two outbreaks of spontaneous poisoning by T. esculenta in cattle in the dry region of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. The cases occurred in the municipalities of São Bento do Una and Belo Jardim. From a total of 25 adult cattle, eight become sick after ingest T. esculenta leaves and fruits. Four cattle died until 72 hours after the first clinical signs; which consisted in ataxia, reluctance to walk, tottering, head tremors muscle spasms in the limbs, rigidity of the pelvic limbs with wide base stance position, ruminal atony and, when stressed, presented falls and remained in abnormal positions. Two cattle were necropsied; the only significant finding was the presence of partially digested leaves, barks and seeds of T. esculenta in ruminal contents. Microscopically no lesions were observed. There is no specific therapy for poisoning by T. esculenta leaves. Prophylaxis consists in preventing cattle from gaining access to pasture areas containing the plant.

Encephalopathy caused byTalisia esculentaintoxication in pregnant ewes and their newborn lambs

“…The clinical picture observed in those cases was similar to our cases, although no gross or histologic lesions were observed. 16,18 In our cases, gross lesions were not found, but microscopic lesions were severe. It is possible that the difference between our results and those reported previously in experimental animals was associated with a higher dose of T. esculenta in our cases.…”

“…8,9 Outbreaks of encephalopathy affecting cattle and sheep consuming leaves and fruits of T. esculenta have been reported in northeastern Brazil. 16,18 The intoxication has been reproduced experimentally in sheep fed this plant. 16,18 However, we found no reports of spontaneous intoxication of pregnant sheep by T. esculenta.…”

“…16,18 The intoxication has been reproduced experimentally in sheep fed this plant. 16,18 However, we found no reports of spontaneous intoxication of pregnant sheep by T. esculenta . We report here an outbreak of acute encephalopathy in pregnant ewes and their newborn lambs associated with the consumption of T. esculenta seeds and bark.…”

“…Spontaneous and experimental poisoning of cattle and sheep 16,18 and a dog 17 by the leaves and seeds of T. esculenta has been reported. The clinical picture observed in those cases was similar to our cases, although no gross or histologic lesions were observed.…”

Ethnopharmacology of Fruit Plants: A Literature Review on the Toxicological, Phytochemical, Cultural Aspects, and a Mechanistic Approach to the Pharmacological Effects of Four Widely Used Species

“…Laboratory and histological exams showed no significant changes, either in spontaneous or experimental poisoning. However, the presence of seeds in the rumen content associated with clinical signs suggests that there is risk of human poisoning by both seeds and leaves [ 70 ]. Similar clinical signs were observed in a dog after ingestion of T. esculenta seeds.…”