Suspected cycad (Cycas revoluta) intoxication in dogs

Abstract

Three dogs which ingested part of the stem of a Japanese cycad (Cycas revoluta) vomited repeatedly within hours after ingestion, showed marked depression, severely congested mucous membranes, increased thirst and profuse salivation. Subsequent haematological and blood chemical investigation revealed elevated serum concentrations of alanine transaminase, an initial mild lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia and a leucocytosis. The dogs recovered uneventfully.

Survival and Prognostic Indicators for Cycad Intoxication in Dogs

“…Presentation was similar to previous reports, although neurologic signs were not as common. 6,8,16 Activated charcoal administration had a protective effect in our study group. It is plausible that administering activated charcoal, an adsorbing agent, is beneficial to dogs that have ingested cycads or other toxins.…”

“…This is a neurotoxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and hepatotoxic compound. 4,[6][7][8][9] Carcinogenicity has been well demon-strated in rats 10 and nonhuman primates. 11 No link has been found between colon cancer and cycasin consumption in humans; however, cycasin's unique metabolism has made it useful as a model in rats.…”

“…All 3 dogs recovered uneventfully. 8 Finally, a retrospective study evaluated 60 cases reported to the National Animal Poison Control Center from January 1987 to November 1997. In this group, 95% developed gastrointestinal tract problems and 53.3% exhibited neurologic signs.…”

Intoxicação por palmeira-sagu (Cycas revoluta) em bovinos no Agreste de Pernambuco

“…As plantas do gênero Cycas, família Cyicadaceae, são plantas rústicas, que crescem em regiões quentes, e podem ser encontradas em áreas tropicais e subtropicais. São conhecidas popularmente como: cica, sagu, palmeira-sagu ou sagu-de-jardim; são utilizadas como plantas ornamentais ou residenciais, e têm distribuição cosmopolita (Hooper, 1978;Tustin, 1983;Botha et al, 1991;Kämpf et al, 2001;Lorenzi & Souza, 1999;Albretsen, 2004). É um arbusto semelhante a uma palmeira, dióico, semi-lenhoso, que pode atingir de 1 a 2 m de altura; seu caule é curto, robusto, com uma coroa de folhas longas e folíolos lineares.…”

“…A toxina não identificada é um composto de alto peso molecular, que pode causar paralisia dos membros posteriores em bovinos em virtude da degeneração axonal no sistema nervoso central. Segundo Botha et al (1991), a planta é palatável, e todas as suas partes são tóxicas, sendo que as sementes apresentam maiores concentrações de cicasina.…”