oxalates and Plant-Poisoning

Whether exposed by grazing toxic range or pasture plants or by eating contaminated feed, there are plant toxins that produce urinary tract disease, gastroenteritis, and other miscellaneous or multisystemic diseases. Diagnosis can be challenging and requires incorporation of field studies, clinical signs, gross and microscopic pathology, and chemical identification of plants, toxins, and metabolites in animal samples. The objectives of this review are to introduce poisonous plants that commonly poison livestock in North America; describe clinical and pathologic lesions they produce in livestock; and present current technology available to identify poisoning, treat affected animals, and minimize or avoid poisoning additional animals.

Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Livestock; North America; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Urologic Diseases

Topics: Animals; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Hyperoxaluria; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Plant Structures; Rheum

Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Cattle; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Sheep; United States

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic

Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Animal Population Groups; Animals; Animals, Wild; Biological Evolution; Digestion; Estrogens; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; Feeding Behavior; Fluoroacetates; Inactivation, Metabolic; Isoflavones; Oxalates; Phytoestrogens; Plant Development; Plant Poisoning; Plant Preparations; Plants, Toxic; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

Topics: Alkalosis; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Calcium; Cattle; Digestive System; Horse Diseases; Horses; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hypocalcemia; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Poisoning; Rumen; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Swine; Swine Diseases; Uremia; Water

Data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) and the Cincinnati-based Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC) were analyzed to determine the incidence and trends of human plant poisonings since the year 2000. Approximately 3.4% of the approximately 4.3 million annual calls to the AAPCC centers involved plants, with a higher fraction (4.5%) for pediatric exposures. Nearly 70% of plant exposures occurred in children under six. Only 8% of cases required treatment in a health-care facility, and only 0.1% (in 2008) were considered severe outcomes. The most prominent groups of plants involved in exposures are those containing oxalates, and the most common symptom is gastroenteritis. The top 12 identified plants (in descending order) nationally were Spathiphyllum species (peace lilly), Philodendron species (philodendron), Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinssettia), Ilex species (holly), Phytolacca americana (pokeweed), Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy), Capsicum (pepper), Ficus (rubber tree, weeping fig), Crassula argentea (jade plant), Diffenbachia (dumb cane), Epipremnum areum (pothos) and Schlumbergera bridesii (Christmas cactus). Broad overlaps between the DPIC and the AAPCC incidence data were noted, with essentially the same plant species in each dataset. The nature of the various toxins, the symptomatology and potential treatments are discussed for the highest ranking plant species.

Topics: Databases, Factual; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Incidence; Ohio; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Plants; Poison Control Centers; United States

Seven common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) from a laboratory colony of 17 died over a period of eight months. Death of six of these monkeys was attributed to kidney failure from an oxalate-induced nephropathy. The epidemiology of this outbreak suggested an exogenous source and there was strong evidence that the source was bark and leaves from an Eucalyptus viminalis tree. Branches of this tree were introduced one month before the first death. The branches were removed one month after deaths commenced, but deaths continued for another five months. Urinalysis of all surviving marmosets at 80 and 122 days after initial contact with the E viminalis branches suggested that these monkeys had renal impairment. In the cases described here, the eating behaviour of common marmosets apparently exposed the animals to toxic levels of oxalate in the bark and leaves of an E viminalis tree.

Topics: Animal Husbandry; Animals; Animals, Laboratory; Callithrix; Eucalyptus; Fatal Outcome; Female; Kidney Calculi; Kidney Diseases; Male; Monkey Diseases; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning

A 1-year-old guinea pig presented with anorexia, lethargy, and weight loss, 1 week after ingesting a peace lily leaf. Laboratory findings were suggestive of renal failure and included elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine with concurrent isosthenuria. The guinea pig was euthanized 1 month later due to worsening clinical signs.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Animals; Araceae; Blood Urea Nitrogen; Fatal Outcome; Guinea Pigs; Male; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Rodent Diseases

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Lethal Dose 50; Male; Mice; Nitrates; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Sterols; Tannins

Ten of 100 mature ewes were afflicted with acute oxalate toxicosis within 40 hours after being temporarily penned in a lot that contained considerable growing Rumex crispus (curly dock). Clinical signs of toxicosis included excess salivation, tremors, ataxia, and recumbency. Affected ewes were markedly hypocalcemic and azotemic. Oxalate crystals were not observed in urine. Gross postmortem lesions were minimal and nondiagnostic in 2 ewes that died peracutely, but perirenal edema and renal tubular degeneration were clearly observable in ewes euthanatized on the third day of toxicosis. Diagnosis of oxalate toxicosis was confirmed by histopathologic findings. Samples of Rumex spp contained 6.6 to 11.1% oxalic acid on a dry-weight basis, a concentration comparable with that in other oxalate-containing plants that have caused acute oxalate toxicosis.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Animals; Female; Hypocalcemia; Kidney; Kidney Tubular Necrosis, Acute; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Uremia

Topics: Animals; Australia; Oxalates; Oxalic Acid; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Sheep; Sheep Diseases

Topics: Animals; Female; Kidney; Male; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Poaceae; Sheep; Sheep Diseases

Topics: Animals; Australia; Female; Male; Marsupialia; Nephrosis; Oxalates; Oxalic Acid; Plant Poisoning

Topics: Animals; Bradykinin; Crystallization; Cyproheptadine; Edema; Female; In Vitro Techniques; Indomethacin; Mice; Oxalates; Peptide Hydrolases; Plant Poisoning; Plants, Toxic; Rats

Fifteen range cows died of oxalate poisoning caused by ingestion of Rumex venosus. Ecchymotic and petechial hemorrhages were prominent on the abdominal serosal surfaces. Approximately 2 L of thin, yellowish fluid was in the abdominal cavity, and mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged and edematous. Other findings included catarrhal abomasitis; enteritis; pale, edematous kidneys; congested lungs; fatty infiltration of the liver; and nephrosis. In the kidneys, birefringent crystals resembling oxalate crystals were demonstrable only when frozen sections were examined.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Female; Liver; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning

Topics: Acetaminophen; Acids; Antidotes; Aspirin; Barbiturates; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; Child; Child, Preschool; Digitalis Glycosides; Emetics; Gastric Lavage; Household Products; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Infant; Insecticides; Lye; Metals; Morphine; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Poisoning; Renal Dialysis; Rodenticides; Tranquilizing Agents

Certain clinical changes associated with acute oxalate (halogeton) poisoning were determined in sheep given (by stomach tube into the rumen) a lethal dose of Halogeton glomeratus. Plasma concentrations of calcium and calcium ion activity decreased over several hours to such low levels that tetany or coma occurred and death followed. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of calcium did not reflect the degree of hypocalcemia. In 2 pregnant sheep administered halogeton, the plasma concentration of calcium in the fetus did not decrease despite the appearance of severe maternal hypocalcemia. Increases in plasma total inorganic phosphate and magnesium concentrations occurred as the hypocalcemia progressed. Hyperglycemia was often marked as hypocalcemia became severe; however, as hyperglycemia increased, plasma immunoreactive insulin concentrations remained inappropriately low in relation to the plasma concentration of glucose. Intravenous infusion of a calcium solution at this time was associated with marked increase in immunoreactive insulin concentration and a decrease in glucose concentration. Ruminal activity, as measured by frequency and amplitude of contractions of the rumen, was greatly reduced as hypocalcemia progressed. Seemingly, body temperature became lowered as severity of the hypocalcemia progressed. Seemingly, body temperature became lowered as severity of the hypocalcemia increased, as determined by intramuscularly or intraperitoneally implanted temperature telemetry devices. However, the occurrence of tetany and the fleece covering could either modify or reverse this decrease in body temperature.

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Body Temperature; Calcium; Coma; Female; Gastrointestinal Motility; Heart Rate; Insulin; Magnesium; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Rumen; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Tetany; Wool

Horses grazing manily Cenchrus ciliaris and/or Panicum maximum var. trichoglume pastures on over 30 properties in southern central Queensland developed lesions of osteodystrophia fibrosa. Horses on individual properties in coastal Queensland grazing Setaria anceps, Brachiaria mutica or Pennisetum clandestinum also developed the disease. Ill-thrift, lameness, and fibrous swellings of nasal bones, maxillae and mandibles were observed. Calcium and phosphorus levels of pasture were normal but all the above pasture species contained oxalates which were suspected of causing the disease.

Topics: Animals; Australia; Bone and Bones; Calcium; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone; Horse Diseases; Horses; Oxalates; Phosphorus; Plant Poisoning; Plants

The thiamin status (thiamin concentration in whole blood, plasma, and erythrocytes; erythrocyte transketolase activity) of normal cattle consuming varying diets did not differ from that of cattle with polioencephalomalacia or lead poisoning. Dairy cattle had higher ruminal content of thiamin and lower thiamin destroying activity than did beef cattle. Renal oxalosis was no more frequent in cattle which had polioencephalomalacia than in postnatal calves. In normal beef cattle, approximately 75% of total blood thiamin is in erythrocytes and the remainder in plasma.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Encephalomalacia; Erythrocytes; Ethanol; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kidney; Lead Poisoning; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Rumen; Thiamine; Transketolase

Topics: Animals; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Plants

Topics: Animals; Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone; Horse Diseases; Horses; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; Animal Feed; Animals; Blood Urea Nitrogen; Calcium; Carbon Dioxide; Diet; Feces; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Magnesium; Male; Oxalates; Oxygen; Phosphorus; Plant Poisoning; Rumen; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Urine

Topics: Animals; Kidney; Male; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Sheep; Sheep Diseases

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Calcium; Calcium Chloride; Calcium Phosphates; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Water

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Magnoliopsida; Movement Disorders; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Chlorides; Kidney; Magnesium; Oxalates; Phosphates; Plant Poisoning; Poaceae; Potassium; Sodium

Topics: Animals; Cortisone; Diphenhydramine; Edema; Eye Diseases; Female; Histamine; Male; Oxalates; Plant Extracts; Plant Poisoning; Plants; Rabbits; Rats; Tongue Diseases; Trypsin

Topics: Animals; Female; Kidney; Male; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Rumen; Sheep; Sheep Diseases

Fourteen sheep were used on an acute halogeton toxicity feeding experiment. Seven sheep were fed a lethal dose of Halogeton glomeratus, an oxalate-producing plant, 7 served as controls. Various serum and tissue electrolytes and enzymes were measured. Sesum calcium decreased while magnesium and phosphorus increased. Although a severe hypocalcemia resulted from the feeding of halogeton tetany was not observed. Blood pH, pCO(2) and pO(2) measurements demonstrated that alkalosis did not develop. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, and lactic dehydrogenase all increased. Succinic dehydrogenase was inhibited in the rumen wall but not in other tissues according to the methods used. This finding, as well as other work cited, indicates a possible interference with carbohydrate metabolism.

Topics: Acid-Base Equilibrium; Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Blood Urea Nitrogen; Calcium; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Magnesium; Oxalates; Phosphorus; Plant Poisoning; Potassium; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Sodium

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Male; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Sheep; Sheep Diseases

Topics: Animals; Iowa; Nitrates; Oxalates; Plant Poisoning; Spectrophotometry; Swine; Swine Diseases

Topics: Oxalates; Peptide Hydrolases; Plant Poisoning; Plants