Resistance transferance of Amorimia septentrionalis poisoning in goats by ruminal transferance fluid from goats with induced resistance by the inoculation of sodium monofluoroacetate-degrading bacteria

Abstract

Amorimia septentrionalis is a sodium monofluoroacetate (MFA) - containing plant that causes sudden death in ruminants. The aim of this study was to determine whether the resistance to A. septentrionalis poisoning in goats conferred by the intra-ruminal inoculation with the MFA-degrading bacteria Ancylobacter dichloromethanicus and Pigmentiphaga kullae can be transferred to susceptible goats by the transfaunation of rumen content. Two groups of 8 goats and 2 goats resistant to A. septentrionalis poisoning were used. Goats in Group 1 received four daily doses of 160ml of rumen content from resistant goats and subsequently ingested 8 daily doses of 5g kg-1 of A. septentrionalis. Goats from Group 2 (control) received only the plant. In Group 1, only 2 goats showed mild tachycardia and mild jugular vein engorgement on the 4th and 5th day, but they subsequently returned to normal, even with the continuation of plant administration. All control goats showed severe signs of intoxication and the plant administration was suspended between the 3rd and 7th day. So, the transfer of ruminal fluid from goats previously inoculated with MFA-degrading bacteria induces resistance to poisoning by A. septentrionalis in susceptible goats.