The pathology of acute Nolletia gariepina poisoning of cattle

E C Du Plessis,C J Botha,L Prozesky

doi:10.4102/jsava.v82i3.52

Abstract

Toxicity in cattle by the shrub Nolletia gariepina was induced experimentally by intraruminal administration of 3 g/kg dried, milled plant material as a single dose. The animals had to be starved for 24 hours before dosing, as dosing on a full rumen did not induce any signs of toxicity during 5 days of observation and clinical pathology monitoring. Clinical signs were not specific and varied according to the duration (acute versus subacute) of the toxicological process. Clinical pathological parameters indicated renal and to a lesser extent hepatic damage, with raised serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). Increased urinary sodium and potassium concentration and GGT activity, as well as proteinuria, were evident. Histological and electron microscopic examinations revealed acute renal tubular epithelial cell degeneration and necrosis, especially of the proximal convoluted tubules. Mild hepatocellular degeneration was also noticeable.

Highlights

An outbreak of a nephrotoxic syndrome occurred in cattle on 2 farms in the Kalahari sandveld in the VanzylsrusKuruman area of South Africa during the year 2000
This paper describes the pathology and clinical pathology of experimental N. gariepina poisoning in cattle
Experimental dosing of cattle with N. gariepina reproduced the nephrotoxic syndrome that was observed in the field cases

Summary

Introduction

An outbreak of a nephrotoxic syndrome occurred in cattle on 2 farms in the Kalahari sandveld in the VanzylsrusKuruman area of South Africa during the year 2000. Extensive on-site examination and laboratory investigation of the grazing, feed supplements and water on the farms could not incriminate any known nephrotoxin as the cause of the syndrome. A shrub, identified as Nolletia gariepina, which grew extensively on the farms and was heavily grazed during the period in question, was shown to be responsible[1,6]. This paper describes the pathology and clinical pathology of experimental N. gariepina poisoning in cattle

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Conclusion