Identifying Plant Poisoning in Livestock

Stegelmeier, Bryan L.; Green, Benedict T.; Panter, Kip E.; Welch, Kevin D.; Hall, J.O.

doi:10.2111/1551-501x-31.1.5

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…One challenge of diagnosing livestock plant intoxications is the collection of biological samples from poisoned animals. Traditional specimens for analysis of plant toxins include samples such as serum, liver, or rumen contents (2). However, there are several other biological samples including hair, oral fluid, earwax, and nasal mucus that have, more recently, been evaluated as specimens for biomarker analysis in determining livestock consumption of poisonous plants.…”

Section: Noninvasive Specimens For Plant Toxin/biomarker Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomarkers and their potential for detecting livestock plant poisonings in Western North America

et al. 2023

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The United States National Cancer Institute defines a biomarker as: “A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease.” In Veterinary Medicine, biomarkers associated with plant poisonings of livestock have great utility. Since grazing livestock poisoned by toxic plants are often found dead, biomarkers of plant poisoning allow for a more rapid postmortem diagnosis and response to prevent further deaths. The presence and concentration of toxins in poisonous plants are biomarkers of risk for livestock poisoning that can be measured by the chemical analysis of plant material. More difficult is, the detection of plant toxins or biomarkers in biological samples from intoxicated or deceased animals. The purpose of this article is to review potential biomarkers of plant poisoning in grazing livestock in the Western North America including recently investigated non-invasive sampling techniques. Plants discussed include larkspur, lupine, water hemlock, swainsonine-containing plants, selenium-containing plants, and pyrrolizidine alkaloid containing plants. Other factors such as animal age and sex that affect plant biomarker concentrations in vivo are also discussed.

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Section: Noninvasive Specimens For Plant Toxin/biomarker Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomarkers and their potential for detecting livestock plant poisonings in Western North America

et al. 2023

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“…Traditional specimens that are often collected for diagnostic investigations include samples such as serum, liver, or rumen contents collected during necropsy of dead animals by veterinarians. 2 However, there are a number of other biological samples including hair, oral fluid, earwax, and nasal mucus that have been largely neglected as potential diagnostic specimens in determining livestock consumption of poisonous plants. These noninvasive specimens can easily be collected from nonlethally poisoned animals and thus may prove to be valuable tools in the assessment of livestock exposed to and poisoned by plants.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This estimate may be low, as animal poisoning by plants can often go undiagnosed because there is a lack of appropriate or available specimens for analysis. Traditional specimens that are often collected for diagnostic investigations include samples such as serum, liver, or rumen contents collected during necropsy of dead animals by veterinarians . However, there are a number of other biological samples including hair, oral fluid, earwax, and nasal mucus that have been largely neglected as potential diagnostic specimens in determining livestock consumption of poisonous plants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of Hair, Oral Fluid, Earwax, and Nasal Mucus as Noninvasive Specimens to Determine Livestock Exposure to Teratogenic Lupine Species

Lee

Stonecipher

Santos

et al. 2018

J. Agric. Food Chem.

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The livestock industry in the western United States loses an estimated $500 million annually from livestock production losses due to poisonous plants. Poisoning of livestock by plants often goes undiagnosed because there is a lack of appropriate or available specimens for analysis. The Lupinus species represent an important toxic plant in western North America that can be toxic and/or teratogenic to livestock species due to the quinolizidine alkaloids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of using earwax, hair, oral fluid, and nasal mucus as noninvasive specimens to determine livestock exposure to the teratogenic Lupinus species. Quinolizidine alkaloids were detected in these four matrices in cattle that were administered a single dose of Lupinus leucophyllus. In addition, quinolizidine alkaloids from lupine were detected in the earwax of cattle that grazed on lupine-infested rangelands. This study demonstrates the potential of earwax, hair, oral fluid, and nasal mucus as noninvasive specimens for chemical analyses to aid in the diagnosis of livestock that may have been exposed to and poisoned by plants.

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“…11,12 Determining the causative agent responsible for the death of an animal whether it be a disease, a poisonous plant, or some other entity is critical in developing strategies to prevent future losses. 13 Each year cattle die on foothill and mountain ranges that contain larkspur as well as other poisonous plants. Oftentimes there is little evidence as to the cause of death other than the presence of larkspur plants in the pasture.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a PCR-Based Method for Detection of Delphinium Species in Poisoned Cattle

Cook

Pfister

Constantino

et al. 2015

J. Agric. Food Chem.

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Toxic plants such as Delphinium spp. (i.e., larkspur) are a significant cause of livestock losses worldwide. Correctly determining the causative agent responsible for the death of an animal, whether by disease, poisonous plant, or other means, is critical in developing strategies to prevent future losses. The objective of this study was to develop an alternative diagnostic tool to microscopy and analytical chemistry to determine whether a particular poisonous plant was ingested. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a tool that may allow detection of the genetic material from a specific plant within a complex matrix such as rumen contents. A pair of oligonucleotide primers specific to Delphinium spp. (i.e., larkspur) was developed; using these primers, a PCR product was detected in samples from an in vivo, in vitro, and in vivo/in vitro coupled digestion of Delphinium occidentale. Lastly, larkspur was detected in a matrix of ruminal material where the amount of larkspur was far less than what one would expect to find in the rumen contents of a poisoned animal. The PCR-based technique holds promise to diagnose larkspur and perhaps other toxic plant caused losses.

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Identifying Plant Poisoning in Livestock

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Biomarkers and their potential for detecting livestock plant poisonings in Western North America

Biomarkers and their potential for detecting livestock plant poisonings in Western North America

An Evaluation of Hair, Oral Fluid, Earwax, and Nasal Mucus as Noninvasive Specimens to Determine Livestock Exposure to Teratogenic Lupine Species

Development of a PCR-Based Method for Detection of Delphinium Species in Poisoned Cattle

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