Acute Lantana camara poisoning in a Boer goat kid : case report

Abstract

Acute <em>Lantana camara</em> poisoning in a Boer goat kid is described. The animal was part of a flock of boer goats that was introduced from the Kalahari thornveld, where the plant does not occur, to an area where the plant grew abundantly. At necropsy, the animal was severely icteric, dehydrated and constipated, with hepatosis, distention of the gall-bladder and nephrosis, but no skin lesions. Histopathological findings of the liver confirmed moderate hepatosis with single-cell necrosis and bile stasis. The pathology is consistent with that described in acute <em>Lantana</em> poisoning in cattle, sheep and goats. The absence of photosensitisation may be attributed to relatively mild liver damage, or the rapid course of this toxicosis

Distribution of the invasive alien weed,Lantana camara, and its ecological and livelihood impacts in eastern Africa

“…This is contrary to findings in Kenya, where a number of calves, sheep and East African goats, on zero-grazing, were poisoned when inadvertently exposed to lantana (Munyua et al 1990). Similar reports from Zimbabwe (Obwolo et al 1990) and South Africa (Ide and Tutt 1998) have confirmed that lantana is toxic to goats. However, it is postulated that different L. camara varieties have different toxin levels (MD Day, Queensland Biosecurity, pers.…”

“…This is exacerbated by the fact that lantana is highly toxic to livestock if consumed (Figure 7). Ingestion of lantana by livestock can cause liver, kidney and gall bladder damage, dehydration and hepatogenous photosensitivity (Black and Carter 1985;Kellerman and Coetzer 1985;Ide and Tutt 1998). Raw photosensitised areas are susceptible to blowfly maggots and bacterial infections, contributing to ill-health.…”

Verbenaceae J.St.‐Hil.

“…Goats, which are browsers often thought to be more tolerant of noxious weeds, are quite susceptible to lantana. Similar fi ndings are reported for Boer goats in South Africa (Ide and Tutt 1998). Similar fi ndings are reported for Boer goats in South Africa (Ide and Tutt 1998).…”

Poisonous plants of veterinary and human importance in southern Africa

“…Furthermore, there is some evidence that certain animals will develop a taste for Lantana and actually eat it in preference to other plants. Sheep and goats are susceptible but are rarely naturally poisoned, although one incident in relocated goats has been reported (Ide and Tutt, 1998). The toxic principles are pentacyclic triterpene acids.…”