dicumarol and Plant-Poisoning

Dicumarol poisoning was reproduced by feeding naturally spoiled, sweet clover hay, which contained a minimum of 90 ppm dicumarol. Vitamin K1 administered IM was effective in treating the disease at dosages of 1.1, 2.2, and 3.3 mg/kg of body weight. Vitamin K3 treatment by various routes and dosages was ineffective.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dicumarol; Hypoprothrombinemias; Plant Poisoning; Prothrombin Time; Vitamin K; Vitamin K 1

Neonatal calves from a seasonal dairy herd in North Western Tasmania were presented for veterinary care due to mortalities and bleeding from multiple orifices. Necropsy examination revealed free blood throughout the parenchymatous organs, body cavities and connective tissues. There was no history of anticoagulant exposure, however, high quantities of dicoumarol were found in samples from hay fed to recently calved cows. No Australian cases of dicoumarol toxicity in neonatal calves have been previously documented, and dicoumarol toxicity in adult cattle would appear to be less common than in colder farming regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dairying; Diagnosis, Differential; Dicumarol; Female; Plant Poisoning; Poaceae; Tasmania

A 4-year-old Holstein cow from a farm where 2 cows had recently died suddenly was referred for evaluation of acute severe colic. Right flank laparotomy revealed a large mesenteric hematoma. Within 14 layer chromatographic analyses of the moldy hay and blood from the necropsied cow and the hospitalized cow were positive for dicumarol. A diagnosis of sweet vernal poisoning was confirmed on the basis of clinical and toxicologic findings. The cow was treated with supportive therapy, blood transfusions, and vitamin K1 and recovered without complications. Because sweet vernal grass is becoming common in certain areas and the use of round bales is commonplace, practitioners should be aware of the potential for this toxicosis.

Topics: Abdomen; Animals; Anticoagulants; Blood Gas Analysis; Blood Transfusion; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Colic; Diagnosis, Differential; Dicumarol; Female; Fluid Therapy; Hematoma; Hemophilia B; Hemorrhagic Disorders; Partial Thromboplastin Time; Plant Poisoning; Poaceae; Pregnancy; Prothrombin Time; Ultrasonography; Vitamin K

Eight of 600 Holstein heifers and cows died after ingestion of sweet clover silage (Melilotus sp) that contained excessive concentrations of dicumarol caused by mold infestation. The cattle developed subcutaneous hemorrhages and bled from the vagina, became weak, were unable to move, and died. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of sweet clover poisoning in cattle from California and is discussed in light of previous findings in the Midwest and Canada. Sweet clover poisoning is caused by dicumarol, a fungal metabolite produced from substrates in sweet clover, and is a common livestock problem in the Northern Plains and Canada. Sweet clover poisoning should be considered in livestock animals with clinical evidence of hemostatic dysfunction, prolonged coagulation times, subcutaneous hemorrhages, and hemorrhagic abortions. Definite diagnosis of moldy sweet clover poisoning can be accomplished by analysis of serum and feed samples for dicumarol concentrations.

Topics: Animals; Anticoagulants; California; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dicumarol; Fabaceae; Female; Hemorrhage; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Medicinal; Silage

Sweet clover poisoning in cattle is caused by an anticoagulant (dicumarol) that is formed in moldy sweet clover hay. Previous experiments with vitamin K3 and vitamin K1 in therapy trials indicated that vitamin K1 was effective in reducing prothrombin times but vitamin K3 was not. As a possible alternative in the use of toxic sweet clover hays, vitamin K3 was evaluated to see if it would prevent hemorrhagic crises when fed to cattle consuming toxic sweet clover hay. Vitamin K3 levels of 0, 0.45, 4.5, 11, and 45 mg/kg body weight/day were fed to 173-235-kg steers consuming toxic (40-50 ppm dicumarol) sweet clover. The 45-mg K3/kg/day supplement was not palatable and had to be discontinued. The 0.45, 4.5, and 11-mg K3/kg/day supplements did not significantly reduce the prothrombin times as compared to the 0-mg K3/kg/day group.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dicumarol; Food Additives; Hematocrit; Hemorrhage; Plant Poisoning; Prothrombin Time; Vitamin K

An outbreak of a haemorrhagic diathesis in cattle fed home produced hay is described. A similar syndrome was reproduced experimentally in calves by feeding them the hay. The experimental disease was characterised by increased prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times while the leucocyte and erythrocyte counts remained normal until the terminal haemorrhage. The calves ate well and grew well until the rapid onset of progressive weakness, stiff gait, mucosal pallor, tachycardia, tachypnoea and haematomata ending in sudden death. The absence of blood coagulation was seen at necropsy while petechial, ecchymotic and free haemorrhages were found in most organs. Particularly striking were massive ecchymotic haemorrhages on the peritoneal surface of the rumen, a bloody, gelatinous mass enveloping each kidney and extensive bruising, haemorrhage and haematomata in the subcutis of the limbs. In a second feeding trial the effects of various preparations of vitamin K1 and vitamin K3 were investigated. Oral administration of large quantities of vitamin K1 reduced the elevated prothrombin time; vitamin K3 acted less consistently. Analysis of the hay for trichothecene mycotoxins was negative but floral analysis revealed that sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) comprised about 80 per cent of the hay. Dicoumarol was detected in the hay and in the serum and ruminal contents of the experimental calves. The diagnosis, treatment, control and importance of this syndrome in the United Kingdom are discussed.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dicumarol; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Hemorrhagic Disorders; Plant Poisoning; Prothrombin Time; Syndrome; United Kingdom; Vitamin K

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dicumarol; History, 20th Century; Plant Poisoning

Some selected clinical and laboratory aspects of moldy sweetclover poisoning in cattle are reviewed. The prothrombin time is preferred when the disease is suspected. The bleeding time and whole blood clotting time test are also used. Dicoumarol is not always detectable in the suspected feed which may be due to sampling technique or inaccuracy in the laboratory assay. The most effective treatment is a whole blood transfusion. Vitamin K(1) (naturally occurring vitamin K) is an effective antidote but too expensive. Vitamin K(3) (synthetic vitamin K) in both the injectable and oral forms are not as effective as K(1) but are used extensively for treatment and prevention. Feeding the suspected feed for two weeks followed by a one week withdrawal successively or by dilution with other feeds will help to reduce the incidence of disease if other feeds are not available. Suspected feed should not be fed to cattle for at least three weeks before surgery or parturition.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dicumarol; Fabaceae; Fungi; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Medicinal

A six year old Percheron mare was presented with a history of spontaneous unilateral epistaxis of 24 hours duration. The blood one stage prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times were markedly prolonged. A diagnosis of moldy sweetclover poisoning was made on the basis of the history and clinical and laboratory findings. A single whole blood transfusion and four daily intravenous injections of vitamin K(3) proved to be a successful treatment.

Topics: Animals; Dicumarol; Epistaxis; Female; Horse Diseases; Horses; Plant Poisoning; Vitamin K

Topics: Animals; Blood Coagulation; Blood Coagulation Disorders; Blood Coagulation Factors; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Denmark; Dicumarol; Dogs; Factor IX; Factor V; Factor VII; History, 20th Century; Humans; Plant Poisoning; Prothrombin; Rats; United States; Vitamin K