1. Pneumotoxicosis in sheep caused by ingestion of trema micrantha.
- Author
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Wouters F, Wouters AT, Watanabe TT, Soares MP, Cruz CE, and Driemeier D
- Subjects
- Animals, Brazil, Diagnosis, Differential, Dyspnea chemically induced, Dyspnea pathology, Fatal Outcome, Lung pathology, Mediastinal Emphysema chemically induced, Mediastinal Emphysema pathology, Plants, Toxic adverse effects, Poisoning diagnosis, Poisoning pathology, Sheep, Dyspnea veterinary, Mediastinal Emphysema veterinary, Poisoning veterinary, Sheep Diseases chemically induced, Sheep Diseases diagnosis, Sheep Diseases pathology, Trema toxicity
- Abstract
Trema micrantha, a fast-growing tree distributed throughout the Americas, produces palatable leaves that have been associated with hepatic necrosis and acute death when consumed by livestock. This report describes fatal pulmonary disease of sheep triggered by consumption of Trema micrantha. Affected sheep had severe progressive dyspnea for a few days before death. Subcutaneous and mediastinal emphysema, reddened lungs, interalveolar septal thickening, and diffuse type II pneumocyte proliferation were the main pathological findings. After ingesting 77.5 and 102.5 g/kg (divided in 3 doses, at 30-day intervals) of T. micrantha leaves, 2 additional sheep developed the same condition. These findings indicate that T. micrantha toxicosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ovine respiratory disease.
- Published
- 2013
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