1
|
Knapp C, Van Dyke T, Foster D. Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) toxicity in 5 sheep. J Vet Intern Med 2023; 37:2478-2481. [PMID: 37855228 PMCID: PMC10658575 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Two sheep presented with acute tonic-clonic seizures, opisthotonos, absent pupillary light reflexes and abnormal vital signs within 18 hours after observed consumption of leaves from an ornamental shrub later identified as wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox). Despite symptomatic treatment, both sheep died. Three other sheep that consumed the plant died after displaying similar clinical signs, resulting in 2 deaths the prior evening and 1 recovery the next morning. Gross necropsy and histologic findings were diagnostically inconclusive. Rumen contents tested positive for the alkaloid calycanthine, a centrally-acting convulsant known to be present in wintersweet. Case reports of calycanthine toxicity in ruminants are limited, with no detailed reports published in the United States. Calycanthine has been isolated from the seeds, flowers, and leaves of the plant. Wintersweet is part of the family Calycanthaceae that including 3 species native to North America, all of which pose a neurologic risk to ruminants if consumed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cambrey Knapp
- Department of Population Health and PathobiologyNorth Carolina State University College of Veterinary MedicineRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Thomas Van Dyke
- Department of Population Health and PathobiologyNorth Carolina State University College of Veterinary MedicineRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Derek Foster
- Department of Population Health and PathobiologyNorth Carolina State University College of Veterinary MedicineRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zacometti C, Tata A, Stella R, Leone S, Pallante I, Merenda M, Catania S, Pozzato N, Piro R. DART-HRMS allows the detection of toxic alkaloids in animal autopsy specimens and guides the selection of confirmatory methods in accidental plant poisoning. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1264:341309. [PMID: 37230724 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In cases of suspected animal poisonings or intoxications, there is the need for high-throughput, rapid and accurate analytical tools capable of giving rapid answers and, thus, speeding up the early stages of investigations. Conventional analyses are very precise, but do not meet the need for rapid answers capable of orienting the decisions and the choice of appropriate countermeasures. In this context, the use of ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) screening methods in toxicology laboratories could satisfy the requests of forensic toxicology veterinarians in a timely manner. RESULTS As a proof of principle, direct analysis in real time high resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS) was applied to a veterinary forensic case in which 12 of a group of 27 sheep and goats died with an acute neurological onset. Because of evidence in the rumen contents, the veterinarians hypothesized an accidental intoxication after ingestion of vegetable materials. The DART-HRMS results showed abundant signals of the alkaloids calycanthine, folicanthidine and calycanthidine, both in the rumen content and at the liver level. The DART-HRMS phytochemical fingerprinting of detached Chimonanthus praecox seeds was also compared with those acquired from the autopsy specimens. Liver, rumen content and seed extracts were then subjected to LC-HRMS/MS analysis to gather additional insights and confirm the putative assignment of calycanthine anticipated by DART-HRMS. HPLC-HRMS/MS confirmed the presence of calycanthine in both rumen contents and liver specimens and allowed its quantification, ranging from 21.3 to 46.9 mg kg-1 in the latter. This is the first report detailing the quantification of calycanthine in liver after a deadly intoxication event. SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY Our study illustrates the potential of DART-HRMS to offer a rapid and complementary alternative to guide the selection of confirmatory chromatography-MSn strategies in the analysis of autopsy specimens from animals with suspected alkaloid intoxication. This method offers the consequent saving of time and resources over those needed for other methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Zacometti
- Laboratorio di Chimica Sperimentale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale Fiume, 78, 36100, Vicenza, VI, Italy
| | - Alessandra Tata
- Laboratorio di Chimica Sperimentale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale Fiume, 78, 36100, Vicenza, VI, Italy.
| | - Roberto Stella
- Laboratorio Farmaci Veterinari e Ricerca, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Stefania Leone
- Laboratorio di Diagnostica Clinica e Sierologia di Piano, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, via Bovolino, 1/C, 37060, Buttapietra, VR, Italy; Laboratorio di Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale Fiume, 78, 36100, Vicenza, VI, Italy
| | - Ivana Pallante
- Laboratorio di Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale Fiume, 78, 36100, Vicenza, VI, Italy
| | - Marianna Merenda
- Laboratorio di Diagnostica Clinica e Sierologia di Piano, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, via Bovolino, 1/C, 37060, Buttapietra, VR, Italy
| | - Salvatore Catania
- Laboratorio di Diagnostica Clinica e Sierologia di Piano, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, via Bovolino, 1/C, 37060, Buttapietra, VR, Italy
| | - Nicola Pozzato
- Laboratorio di Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale Fiume, 78, 36100, Vicenza, VI, Italy
| | - Roberto Piro
- Laboratorio di Chimica Sperimentale, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale Fiume, 78, 36100, Vicenza, VI, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shu RG, Wan YL, Wang XM. Non-volatile constituents and pharmacology of Chimonanthus: A review. Chin J Nat Med 2019; 17:161-186. [PMID: 30910054 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(19)30020-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chimonanthus plants widely distributed in southern area of China, which have a long history of edibles and medicine. Phytochemical investigations have shown that Chimonanthus produced 143 non-volatile constituents, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins and others, which exhibit significant anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic and other biological activities. On the basis of systematic reviewing of literatures, this article overviews the non-volatile constituents and pharmacology of Chimonanthus from domestic and foreign over the last 30 years (until June 2018), and may provide a useful reference for the further development of Chimonanthus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ren-Geng Shu
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China.
| | - Yi-Li Wan
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China; School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Min Wang
- School of Life Science, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China
| |
Collapse
|