Abortion and Neonatal Mortality in Sheep Poisoned with Tetrapterys multiglandulosa

• Published in: Veterinary pathology Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 960 - 965
• Main Authors: Riet-Correa, G, Riet-Correa, F, Schild, A.L, Barros, S.S, Soares, M.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA American College of Veterinary Pathologists 01.09.2009; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: abortion (animals); Abortion, Veterinary - chemically induced; Animals; Animals, Newborn; application timing; cardiac fibrosis; dose response; Female; fetotoxicity; fibrosis; gestational age; heart; histopathology; Malpighiaceae; Malpighiaceae - metabolism; Malpighiaceae - toxicity; neonatal mortality; poisoning; poisonous plants; Pregnancy; Random Allocation; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - metabolism; status spongiosus; toxic plants; status spongiosus; cardiac fibrosis; Abortion; sheep; neonatal mortality
• DOI: 10.1354/vp.08-VP-0194-R-FL
• ISSN: 0300-9858

Tetrapterys spp. have been reported as a cause of cardiac fibrosis, status spongiosus of the nervous system, and abortion. To study the intoxication by Tetrapterys multiglandulosa, 24 sheep were divided into 4 experimental groups of 4 sheep each and 1 control group. Groups 1 to 3, respectively, received 1, 1.5, and 3 g/kg body weight of the dry plant daily, starting on the 90th day of pregnancy. Group 4 received 1.5 g/kg from the 120th day of pregnancy to the end of gestation. All sheep from groups 2 and 3, except 1 that was submitted to cesarean delivery, aborted between 110 and 134 days of pregnancy. Seven fetuses had anasarca. Seven lambs from groups 1 and 4 were weak and died or were euthanatized. The other 2 were born weak with mild nervous signs but recovered. Cardiac fibrosis and status spongiosus of the nervous system were observed in newborn lambs and fetuses.