VLD 421: Veterinary Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnosis-II (0+1)

POISONOUS PLANTS

Appreciation and Differentiation of Symptoms caused by Poisonous plants

1	Cyanogenetic Plants	Cyanogenetic plant always produce acute or peracute toxicity. Animal may be found dead or signs may occur within 15-20 min to few hours. Main signs are restlessness laboured and quick breathing, stumbling gait, and dyspnoea. Salivation, excessive lacrimation may occur. Gum, sclera, and mucous membranes are bright red but become cyanotic terminally. Muscle fasiculations are common and progress to generalized spasms and clonic convulsions. Death occurs during asphyxial convulsions.The whole syndrome usually does not exceed 30-45 minutes. Most animals that survive for 2 hour after onset of clinical signs, usually recover.
2	Plants Producing Lathyrism	Osteolathyrism is a syndrome affecting mainly cattle that produces lameness, pain in the feet and disinclination to rise.
3	Plants Producing Thiamine Deficiency	Non-ruminants : Signs of braken-induced thiamine deficiency in horses ( braken staggers) include anoresia, incordination and staggering gait. Animals stand with feet well spread and back arched., clonic spasms and death.In pigs ,signs of thiamine deficiency are less distinct and resemble heart failure. Affected animals show anorexia and weight loss. Death can occur suddenly following terminal recumbency and dyspnoea. Ruminants Enteric form: It is more common in adults. Affected animals are weak, pyrexia (106-1100 F) and have pale mucous membrane with petechiae and clots of blood in the faeces. There is often bleeding from body orifices i.e. urogenital tract, nostrils, and intestinal tract. The blood frequently fails to clot. The disease is always fatal. Laryngitic form: It is common in calves. No gross or internal bleeding is seen. Animals are dull with excessive mucous discharge from mouth and nostrils. Odema of throat region leads to difficulty in  breathing. Chronic enzootic haematuria , death in cattle Bright blindness in sheep may occur due to progressive retinal atrophy.
4	Plant Producing Oxalate poisoning	Acute poisoning : Dullness, lowering of the head, loss of appetite, stasis of rumen motility,bloat, salivation, progressive weakness, laboured respiration, dilatation of pupils, twitching of muscles, tetany, convulsions and death mainly due to shock. Subacute poisoning: there is stiff gait, frequent attempts to urinate and recumbency. Urine may be red-brown in colour. Chronic poisoning results from renal damage causing uremia leading to death.
5	Lantana camara	Toxic signs are similar to effects of overdosage by atropine. Signs include dryness of mouth and throat, dysphagia and difficulty in swallowing. These are followed by temperature, photophobia, dilated pupils with loss of accommodation for near vision, urine retention and inability to pass urine. Death may occur from respiratory failure.
6	Abrus (Rosary pea) Poisoning	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and occasionally ulcerative lesions in the mouth and oesophagus. This is followed by trembling, tachycardia, paralysis and death.
7	Datura	Symptoms appear within half an hour after swallowing the poison.It produces dryness mouth and throat,dysphagia,difficulty in swallowing. staggering gait, inco-ordination of muscles, photophobia, dilated pupils,inability to pass urine. Death may occur from respiratory failure.
8	Oleander	Burning pain in throat and mouth,difficulty in swallowing,dilated pupil,tetanic spasms drowsiness,locked jaws,coma and death . Death results from peripheral circulatory failure.