Eugenia pyriformis ('uvaia') intoxication of sheep / Intoxicação por Eugenia pyriformis ('uvaia') em ovinos

Abstract

This study describes the clinical and pathological picture of a disease followed by death in sheep raised for subsistence, characterized by difficulty in locomotion, sternal decubitus, severe dyspnea, opisthotonos, and pedaling movements, followed by death. The disease occurred in February 2020 in the northern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, due to the consumption of the fruits of Eugenia pyriformis ('uvaia'). All sheep that became ill later died, resulting in morbidity of 68.75% and mortality of 100%. An autopsy revealed the presence of E. pyriformis fruits with or without seeds in the rumen, in addition to the diet provided to the animals. The main histological findings consisted of edema and perivascular cuffs in the frontal telencephalon, nephrosis and glomerular necrosis, in addition to glomerulosclerosis. One sheep had heightened urea and creatinine and lower levels of non-protein thiols. Deaths ceased once animals were prevented from accessing E. pyriformis. These findings confirm that this plant was responsible for the deaths of the animals and point to the possibility of E. pyriformis having neurotoxic and nephrotoxic action on sheep.