Poisoning by Talisia esculenta (A. St.-Hil.) Radlk in sheep and cattle

Abstract

Abstract. Talisia esculenta is a tree that produces pitomba, a fruit consumed by human beings in several regions of Brazil. The current study reports 3 outbreaks of poisoning by leaves and fruits of T. esculenta affecting sheep and cattle and the experimental reproduction of the disease in sheep. In the first investigated outbreak, sheep ingested the leaves of the plant; another outbreak affected cattle and sheep that ingested leaves and fruits; and in a third outbreak, sheep ingested only the fruits. The animals developed severe nervous signs, but most recovered. Poisoning was reproduced experimentally in 5 sheep by the administration of 30-60 g of leaves/kg body weight and in 2 sheep with doses of 5 and 10 g of seeds/kg body weight, respectively. No significant necropsy or histologic lesions were found.

Spontaneous poisoning by Talisia esculenta in cattle

“…However, Talisia esculenta fruits are palatable and are easily consumed by ruminants; if disponible for consuming under the trees, when falling on the ground during fructifying period can cause poisonings outbreaks in ruminants. Epidemiological and clinical data were similar those previously reports in sheep at Pernambuco (Almeida et al 2018) and in cattle and sheep at Paraíba (Riet-Correa et al 2014). The poisoning had acute evolution and cattle presented neuromotor clinical signs after 12 hours after ingestion of fruits and or leaves.…”

“…The poisoning had acute evolution and cattle presented neuromotor clinical signs after 12 hours after ingestion of fruits and or leaves. However, the bloat with decreased ruminal movements, decreased methylene blue reduction test, and death of rumen protozoa as described in this study, suggest that the digestive system is also affected (Riet-Correa et al 2014).…”

“…In a previous study, the poisoning was reproduced experimentally in five sheep by the administration of 30-60g of leaves/kg body weight and in two sheep with doses of 5 and 10g of seeds/kg (Riet-Correa et al 2014). Toxic doses for cattle remain unknown.…”

“…However, despite consumption and use in folk medicine, there are no records of human poisoning because the seeds and leaves are not ingested in natura; just the pulp is normally consumed. However, outbreaks of poisoning in cattle, sheep and dogs that consumed seeds and/or leaves have recently been described (Riet-Correa et al 2014, Mota et al 2016, Almeida et al 2018. The poisoning was also reproduced experimentally in sheep (Riet-Correa et al 2014).…”

“…However, outbreaks of poisoning in cattle, sheep and dogs that consumed seeds and/or leaves have recently been described (Riet-Correa et al 2014, Mota et al 2016, Almeida et al 2018. The poisoning was also reproduced experimentally in sheep (Riet-Correa et al 2014). The main toxin of T. esculenta seeds and leaves is still unknown, however, seeds and leaves contain talisin, a lectin that has hemagglutinating erythrocyte activity (Freire et al 2003).…”