Lysosomal storage disease in Sida carpinifolia toxicosis: an induced mannosidosis in horses

Biochemical characteristics of point mutated Capra hircus lysosome α-mannosidase

Locoweeds, a type of poisonous weedare, are widely distributed throughout the world and have a significant impact on the development of herbivore animal husbandry. Swainsonine (SW), the main toxin in locoweeds, can competitively inhibit lysosomes α-mannosidase (LAM) in animal cells, resulting in α-mannosidosis. However, the specifics of the interaction between SW and LAM are still unclear. Here, we used molecular docking to predicte the interaction points between SW and LAM, built mutated lysosomes α-mannosidase (LAM^M), and analyzed its biochemical properties changes in presumption points. The Trp at the 28th position and the Tyr at the 599th position of the LAM were interaction point candidates, and the above two amino acids in Capra hircus LAM (chLAM), were successfully mutated to glycine by constructing recombinant yeast GS115/PIC9K- LAM^M. The results showed that the sensitivity of Capra hircus LAM^M (chLAM^M), to SW decreased significantly compared with wild-type LAM, the enzyme activity of LAM decreased approximately threefold, the optimum temperature of LAM^M decreased from 55°C to 50°C, the optimum pH value increased from 4.5 to 5.0, and the effects of Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on LAM enzyme activity before and after point mutation changed significantly. These findings help us better understanding the molecular mechanism of the interaction mechanism between SW and chLAM, and provide new reference for solving locoweeds poisoning.

Alpha-mannosidosis caused by toxic plants in ruminants of Argentina

It is well known that several of the swainsonine-containing plant species found widespread around the world have a negative economic impact in each country. In Argentina, most of the information on the poisonous plant species that produce α-mannosidosis is published in Spanish and thus not available to most English-speaking researchers interested in toxic plants. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize the information about swainsonine-containing plants in Argentina, which are extensively distributed throughout different ecoregions of the country. To date, five species from three genera have been shown to induce α-mannosidosis in livestock in Argentina: Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa, Ipomoea hieronymi subsp. calchaquina (Convolvulaceae), Astragalus garbancillo, Astragalus pehuenches (Fabaceae), and Sida rodrigoi (Malvaceae). These species contain the indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine, which inhibits the lysosomal enzyme α-mannosidase and consequently affects glycoprotein metabolism, resulting in partially metabolized sugars. The prolonged consumption of these poisonous plants produces progressive weight loss and clinical signs related to a nervous disorder, characterized by tremors of head and neck, abnormalities of gait, difficulty in standing, ataxia and wide-based stance. Histological lesions are mainly characterized by vacuolation of different cells, especially neurons of the central nervous system. The main animal model used to study α-mannosidosis is the guinea pig because, when experimentally poisoned, it exhibits many of the characteristics of naturally intoxicated livestock.

Diagnostic and Clinical Course of Small Colon Recurrent Impaction Associated with Severe Myenteric Ganglionopathy in A Mare

A 10-year-old Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland (KWPN, Netherlands-based organization for registration of the Dutch Warmblood horses) mare was evaluated three times over four months because of recurrent colic. At every referral, a physical examination revealed a small colon impaction, which partially responded to food deprivation and oral administration of water and magnesium sulphate. Due to the recurrent nature of the small colon impaction, several differential diagnoses were considered: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic salmonellosis and myenteric ganglionopathies. At first admission, an exploratory laparotomy was proposed, but the owner declined. On the second hospitalisation, the mare underwent a standing exploratory laparoscopy, but no abnormality related to the small colon was detected and resolved with a soap-based enema. At the third hospitalisation, the owner agreed to the exploratory laparotomy, which allowed surgical biopsies of the caecum and the large and small colon. Lymphomonocytic enteritis and mild myenteric ganglionitis were diagnosed. After laparotomy, the mare regularly fed and defecated, but a few days later, tachycardia, fever and abundant gastric reflux occurred. As the clinical condition rapidly deteriorated, the owner elected for euthanasia. A post-mortem histological examination showed severe chronic lymphocytic enterocolitis and typhlitis associated with the marked depletion of myenteric ganglion bodies. Small colon impaction is a very common disorder of the small colon in horses. In the presence of myenteric ganglionopathies, this case proposes the controversial matter of primary or secondary disorders of enteric neuromuscular function as the base of repeated small colon impactions of the horse. In this mare, recurrent small colon impaction was considered secondary to severe myenteric ganglionopathy associated with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.

Hydrallantois in cows naturally poisoned by Sida carpinifolia in Brazil

Sida carpinifolia is a small subshrub that is distributed throughout Brazil and is responsible for lysosomal storage disease and occasional reproductive problems in cattle, goats, equids, sheep, and deer. We describe herein the clinical, epidemiologic, and pathologic features of hydrallantois in 3 cows naturally poisoned by S. carpinifolia in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Clinically, all cows had marked abdominal distension and mild ataxia. After natural death or euthanasia, autopsies revealed that the abdominal distension in all 3 cases was caused by severe enlargement of the uterus, which contained 100-120 L of translucent fluid within the allantois, in addition to adventitial placentation. Microscopic evaluation of the placenta revealed marked diffuse edema, sometimes with a myxomatous appearance. Neurons in the cerebellum and obex were swollen, with mild-to-moderate cytoplasmic granular vacuolation. Histochemical examination with lectins ConA, WGA, and sWGA revealed mild-to-marked staining in the cytoplasm of neurons of the cerebellum and medulla at the level of the obex, indicating the occurrence of α-mannosidosis.

Toxic plants affecting the nervous system of ruminants and horses in Brazil

ABSTRACT: This review updates information about neurotoxic plants affecting ruminants and equidae in Brazil. Currently in the country, there are at least 131 toxic plants belonging to 79 genera. Thirty one of these poisonous plants affect the nervous system. Swainsonine-containing plants (Ipomoea spp., Turbina cordata and Sida carpinifolia) cause numerous outbreaks of poisoning, mainly in goats, but cattle and horses are occasionally affected. The poisoning by Ipomoea asarifolia, a tremorgenic plant, is very common in sheep, goats and cattle in the Northeastern region and in the Marajo island. Poisoning by the pods of Prosopis juliflora are frequent in cattle in Northeastern Brazil; occasionally this poisoning affects goats and more rarely sheep. Some poisonings by plants, such as Hybanthus calceolaria, Ipomoea marcellia and Talisia esculenta in ruminants and Indigofera lespedezioides in horses were recently described and needs to be accurately investigated about its occurrence and importance. Other plants poisonings causing nervous signs in ruminants and equidae are less important, but should be considered for the differential diagnosis of neurologic diseases.

Spontaneous poisoning by Sida carpinifolia (Malvaceae) in horses

ABSTRACT: Sida carpinifolia poisoning causes a chronic neurodegenerative disorder associated with lysosomal storage by indolizidine alkaloids (swainsonine). The epidemiological, clinical, pathological and lectin histochemistry findings of an outbreak of natural poisoning by S. carpinifolia in horses in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, are described. Five horses from a total of 15 that were kept on native pasture with large amounts of S. carpinifolia presented during 90 days clinical signs of progressive weight loss, incoordination, stiff gait and ramble, in addition to exacerbated reactions and locomotion difficulty after induced movement. Four horses died, and one of them was submitted for necropsy. At necropsy, no significant gross lesions were observed. Histological findings observed in the central nervous system were characterized by swollen neurons with cytoplasm containing multiple microvacuoles; these abnormalities were more severe in the thalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum and pons. Using lectin histochemistry, the pons and hippocampus sections stained positive for commercial lectin Con-A, sWGA and WGA. This study aimed to detail S. carpinifolia poisoning in horses to be included in the differential diagnoses of neurological diseases of horses.

Swainsonine-induced lysosomal storage disease in goats caused by the ingestion of Sida rodrigoi Monteiro in North-western Argentina

There are numerous poisonous plants that can induce intralysosomal accumulation of glycoproteins and neurologic syndromes. Here we describe for the first time, a disease caused by ingesting Sida rodrigoi Monteiro in goats in North-western Argentina. The animals showed weight loss, indifference to the environment, unsteady gait and ataxia. Histopathologic studies showed vacuolization in cells of various organs, mainly in the CNS. The material deposited in the cells was positive for LCA (Lens culinaris agglutinin), WGA (Triticum vulgaris agglutinin), sWGA (succinyl-Triticum vulgaris agglutinin) and Con-A (Concanavalia ensiformis agglutinin) lectins. Finally, toxic levels of swansonine were identified in the plant. The present investigation allowed to recognize S. rodrigoi Monteiro poisoning as a plant induced α-mannosidosis.

Biópsia hepática como método diagnóstico para intoxicação por plantas que contém swainsonina

Resumo: Neste trabalho objetivou-se avaliar a técnica de biópsia hepática como um teste de valor diagnóstico para intoxicações por plantas que contém swainsonina. Para isso, reproduziu-se experimentalmente a doença com as folhas secas de Ipomoea marcellia contendo 0,02% de swainsonina em caprinos. O Grupo I foi constituído por 6 caprinos que receberam a planta misturada a ração na dose de 4g/kg (0,8mg de swainsonina/kg) até a observação dos primeiros sinais clínicos neurológicos. Outros dois caprinos que não receberam a planta na dieta constituíram o grupo controle (Grupo II). Foram realizadas biópsias hepáticas pela técnica percutânea cega com agulha de Menghini, no dia zero e com intervalos semanais nos caprinos do experimento. As biópsias hepáticas foram fixadas em formol tamponado 10%, processadas rotineiramente, coradas pela hematoxilina-eosina e histoquímica de lectinas. Vacuolização hepatocelular similar àquelas descritas em caso de doença de depósito lisossomal foram identificadas em todos os caprinos do Grupo I no 7º dia de experimento nas amostras coradas pela hematoxilina-eosina. Em relação à histoquímica de lectinas, marcações consistentes foram obtidas com as lectinas Concanavalia ensiformis (Con-A) e Triticum vulgaris (WGA). Concluiu-se que a avaliação histológica rotineira de biópsias hepáticas pode ser usada no diagnóstico de intoxicações por plantas que contem swainsonina, mesmo em caprinos que não apresentam sinais clínicos, e que a histoquímica de lectinas pode ser usada como método diagnóstico complementar.

Simple Indolizidine and Quinolizidine Alkaloids

This review of simple indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloids (i.e., those in which the parent bicyclic systems are in general not embedded in polycyclic arrays) is an update of the previous coverage in Volume 55 of this series (2001). The present survey covers the literature from mid-1999 to the end of 2013; and in addition to aspects of the isolation, characterization, and biological activity of the alkaloids, much emphasis is placed on their total synthesis. A brief introduction to the topic is followed by an overview of relevant alkaloids from fungal and microbial sources, among them slaframine, cyclizidine, Steptomyces metabolites, and the pantocins. The important iminosugar alkaloids lentiginosine, steviamine, swainsonine, castanospermine, and related hydroxyindolizidines are dealt with in the subsequent section. The fourth and fifth sections cover metabolites from terrestrial plants. Pertinent plant alkaloids bearing alkyl, functionalized alkyl or alkenyl substituents include dendroprimine, anibamine, simple alkaloids belonging to the genera Prosopis, Elaeocarpus, Lycopodium, and Poranthera, and bicyclic alkaloids of the lupin family. Plant alkaloids bearing aryl or heteroaryl substituents include ipalbidine and analogs, secophenanthroindolizidine and secophenanthroquinolizidine alkaloids (among them septicine, julandine, and analogs), ficuseptine, lasubines, and other simple quinolizidines of the Lythraceae, the simple furyl-substituted Nuphar alkaloids, and a mixed quinolizidine-quinazoline alkaloid. The penultimate section of the review deals with the sizable group of simple indolizidine and quinolizidine alkaloids isolated from, or detected in, ants, mites, and terrestrial amphibians, and includes an overview of the "dietary hypothesis" for the origin of the amphibian metabolites. The final section surveys relevant alkaloids from marine sources, and includes clathryimines and analogs, stellettamides, the clavepictines and pictamine, and bis(quinolizidine) alkaloids.

Aversão alimentar condicionada para o controle da intoxicação por Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa em caprinos

A aversão alimentar condicionada é uma técnica que pode ser utilizada em animais para evitar a ingestão de plantas tóxicas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo testar a eficiência e durabilidade da aversão alimentar condicionada em caprinos para evitar o consumo de Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa. Foram utilizados 14 caprinos jovens da raça Moxotó, que foram adaptados ao consumo da planta. Inicialmente foi administrada I. carnea subsp. fistulosa dessecada e triturada misturada à ração concentrada por 30 dias e, posteriormente, foi fornecida a planta verde por mais 10 dias. Para constatação da adaptação ao consumo da planta os caprinos foram colocados a pastar em um piquete de 510 m² onde tinha sido plantada I. carnea subsp. fistulosa em uma área de 30m² (10 plantas/m²). No 42º dia de experimento, após a constatação do consumo espontâneo os animais receberam a planta verde individualmente na baia por alguns minutos, e todos os animais que consumiam qualquer quantidade da planta foram tratados com uma solução de LiCl na dose 175mg por kg de peso vivo. Este procedimento repetiu-se por mais dois dias. Posteriormente, os caprinos foram divididos em dois grupos: Grupo 1 com seis animais, quatro deles avertidos e dois não avertidos (facilitadores); e o Grupo 2, com oito caprinos, todos avertidos. Para constatar a eficiência e duração da aversão e a influência de animais facilitadores na durabilidade da aversão, os caprinos foram colocados a pastar, em dias alternados, três dias por semana, durante duas horas, no piquete plantado com I. carnea subsp. fistulosa. Por 12 meses os animais foram monitorados durante o pastejo, identificando-se o consumo e a preferência dos animais pelas plantas presentes no piquete. No Grupo 1 tanto os caprinos avertidos quanto os não avertidos iniciaram a ingerir a planta em 1-6 semanas e gradualmente foram aumentando a planta consumida, mas nunca a ingeriram exclusivamente. Nenhum caprino do Grupo 2 iniciou a ingestão da planta durante os 12 meses de experimento. Após esse período a área do piquete destinada ao plantio de I. carnea subsp. fistulosa foi ampliada para 80m² e os animais foram novamente introduzidos, com tempo de pastejo na área aumentado para quatro horas durante cinco dias na semana. Nesta fase todos os caprinos do Grupo 1 ingeriram a planta em grande quantidade. Os caprinos do Grupo 2 iniciaram gradualmente a ingerir a planta e a aversão se extinguiu, em todos os animais, após dois meses. A concentração de swainsonina em I. carnea subsp. fistulosa foi de 0,052±0,05% (média±SD). Conclui-se que a aversão alimentar condicionada é eficiente para evitar a ingestão de I. carnea subsp. fistulosa. No entanto, a duração da mesma depende, entre outras coisas, da quantidade de planta presente na área de pastoreio e do tempo de exposição e se extingue rapidamente por facilitação social.

Alterações no SNC e morfometria cerebelar de bovinos intoxicados experimentalmente por Solanum paniculatum

Algumas espécies de Solanum causam intoxicações em ruminantes caracterizadas clinicamente por desordens cerebelares e microscopicamente como doença do depósito lisossomal. Não há lesões de necropsia específicas e microscopicamente ocorrem vacuolização e perda de neurônios de Purkinje. Por ser Solanum paniculatum a espécie de ocorrência na região Nordeste, sendo responsável pelos surtos de intoxicação espontânea descrito no Estado de Pernambuco foi realizado um delineamento experimental para caracterizar o quadro clínico-patológico da intoxicação. Foram usados cinco bovinos, sendo quatro no grupo experimental (GE) e um animal no controle (GC), de seis meses de idade, sem raça definida, com peso de 120 Kg, mantidos em baias durante cinco meses na Clínica de Bovinos de Garanhuns/UFRPE. Os animais receberam a planta, colhida nas propriedades em que ocorreram os surtos naturais, na dosagem de 5g/kg/PV/dia da planta dessecada misturada na ração por ingestão natural. Semanalmente realizou-se o Head Raising Test para determinar os sinais cerebelares e quando positivo os animais foram submetidos à colheita de sangue e do líquido céfalo-raquidiano e em seguida foi feito à eutanásia. O SNC e a rete mirabile foram fixados em formol a 10% tamponado, processados rotineiramente e corados pela hematoxilina e eosina para avaliação histopatológica. Foi realizada análise morfométrica das lesões cerebelares. Para avaliação dos resultados laboratoriais utilizou-se análise descritiva e em relação à morfometria, empregou-se o teste T de Student (p<0.05) na contagem de células de Purkinje e para a espessura da camada molecular do cerebelo o teste de Mann Whitney, com nível de 5% de significância. Três animais apresentaram sinais de intoxicação com tempo em média de 90 dias e um com 155 dias. Os sinais clínicos observados foram ataques convulsivos transitórios, e distúrbios do equilíbrio. Na necropsia não foram encontradas lesões específicas da intoxicação. Não houve alterações no hemograma e no líquido céfalo-raquidiano causado pela planta. No histopatológico havia principalmente vacuolização fina do pericário e perda de células de Purkinje, com degeneração Walleriana e esferóides axonais na camada granular e na substância branca medular, com proliferação dos astrócitos de Bergman. Vacuolização e necrose neuronal também foram observadas no óbex, pedúnculos cerebelares e colículos rostral e caudal e raramente no tálamo, núcleos da base, hipocampo e medula oblonga. Na análise morfométrica não houve diferença significativa (p<0,05) entre o número de células de Purkinje e a espessura da camada molecular entre o GE e GC, demonstrando que apesar dos bovinos desenvolverem quadro clínico da intoxicação e alterações histopatológicas acentuadas, mas nestas condições experimentais não ocorreram alteração morfométricas significativas em relação ao GC. Sugerindo que há necessidade de um tempo de administração maior da planta para o aparecimento de lesões mais acentuadas como as que ocorrem em casos naturais. Os resultados laboratoriais de sangue e do líquido céfalo-raquidiano não refletem alterações relacionadas à intoxicação pela planta.

Experimental poisoning of goats by Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa in Argentina: a clinic and pathological correlation with special consideration on the central nervous system

Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa, aguapei or mandiyura, is responsible for lysosomal storage in goats. The shrub contains several alkaloids, mainly swansonine which inhibits lysosomal α-mannosidase and Golgi mannosidase II. Poisoning occurs by inhibition of these hydrolases. There is neuronal vacuolation, endocrine dysfunction, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal injury, and immune disorders. Clinical signs and pathology of the experimental poisoning of goats by Ipomoea carnea in Argentina are here described. Five goats received fresh leaves and stems of Ipomoea. At the beginning, the goats did not consume the plant, but later, it was preferred over any other forage. High dose induced rapid intoxication, whereas with low doses, the course of the toxicosis was more protracted. The goats were euthanized when they were recumbent. Cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla oblongata, pons and colliculi, were routinely processed for histology. In nine days, the following clinical signs developed: abnormal fascies, dilated nostrils and abnormal postures of the head, cephalic tremors and nystagmus, difficulty in standing. Subsequently, the goats had a tendency to fall, always to the left, with spastic convulsions. There was lack in coordination of voluntary movements due to Purkinje and deep nuclei neurons damage. The cochlear reflex originated hyperreflexia, abnormal posture, head movements and tremors. The withdrawal reflex produced flexor muscles hypersensitivity at the four legs, later depression and stupor. Abnormal responses to sounds were related to collicular lesions. Thalamic damage altered the withdrawal reflex, showing incomplete reaction. The observed cervical hair bristling was attributed to a thalamic regulated nociceptive response. Depression may be associated with agonists of lysergic acid contained in Ipomoea. These clinical signs were correlated with lesions in different parts of the CNS.

Spontaneous poisoning of goats by the plant Ipomoea sericophylla (Convolvulaceae) in Brazil – a case report

The aim of this study was to report a neurological disease in goats caused by the plant I. sericophylla. The epidemiology, clinical signs, histological findings and the results of the lectin histochemistry analysis of a nervous cells and epithelial cells are also reported. Five goats that remained with neurological signs were examined in more detail. Two goats were necropsied. Histological lesions consisted of neurons with thin cytoplasm vacuolation, presence of axonal spheroids and vacuolation in pancreatic acinar cells, thyroid folliculars cells, hepatocytes and renal tubular cells. On lectin-histochemical analysis, cerebellar cells, pancreatic acinar cells and follicular thyroid cells showed positive staining for Concanavalia ensiformis, Triticum vulgaris, succinylated Triticum vulgaris and Lens culinares, which indicate the storage of α-D-mannose, α-D-glucose, β-D-N-acetyl-glucosamine, and acetyl-neuraminic acid. It is concluded that I. sericophylla is an important toxic plant that causes lysosomal storage disease in goats at semi-arid region of Pernambuco, Brazil.

Doença do armazenamento lisossomal induzida pelo consumo de Sida carpinifolia em bovinos do Rio Grande do Sul

Relata-se a intoxicação natural por Sida carpinifolia (guanxuma, chá-da-índia) em bovinos no Rio Grande do Sul. Foram afetados cinco bovinos no período 2001-2008. O quadro clínico foi caracterizado por emagrecimento, incoordenação, dificuldade de locomoção, tremores generalizados, quedas frequentes e morte. Microscopicamente, as principais alterações foram vacuolização dos neurônios de Purkinje do cerebelo, das células acinares do pâncreas e das células foliculares da tireoide. A microscopia eletrônica evidenciou vacúolos com conteúdo finamente granulado e delimitado por membrana. Na lectina-histoquímica, observou-se marcação em neurônios com as lectinas Concanavalia ensiformis (Con-A), Triticum vulgaris (WGA) e Succinyl Triticum vulgaris (sWGA).

Spontaneous Lysosomal Storage Disease Caused by Sida carpinifolia (Malvaceae) Poisoning in Cattle

Clinical and pathologic findings for the spontaneous poisoning by Sida carpinifolia in cattle are described in this study. A survey on field cases of S. carpinifolia in cattle was carried out on farms of Alto Vale do Itajai, State of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Sixteen affected animals were clinically evaluated and 9 were subjected to postmortem examination. The main clinical signs consisted of marching gait, alert gaze, head tremors, and poor growth. Histologic and ultrastructural lesions consisted of vacuolization and distension of neuronal perikarya, mainly from Purkinje cells, and of the cytoplasm of acinar pancreatic and thyroid follicular cells. Clinical signs and lesions varied from mild to severe. Improvement of the clinical signs was observed in cattle after a period of up to 90 days without consuming the plant; however, residual lesions, mainly characterized by axonal spheroids and absence of Purkinje neurons in some areas of the cerebellum, were observed in these cases. It is concluded that the natural chronic consumption of S. carpinifolia was the etiologic cause of storage disease in cattle in this study.

Intoxicação experimental por Sida carpinifolia (Malvaceae) em bovinos

Descrevem-se os achados clínicos e patológicos da intoxicação experimental por Sida carpinifolia em bovinos. Para a reprodução experimental da doença, folhas verdes da planta foram coletadas semanalmente na região do Alto Vale do Itajaí e fornecidas in natura diariamente para cinco bovinos nas doses de 10 e 20g/kg por 120 dias, 40g/kg por 30 dias, e 30 e 40g/kg de peso animal por 150 dias. Um bovino morreu e os outros foram eutanasiados ao final do período de consumo da planta. Os principais sinais clínicos consistiam de andar em marcha, olhar atento e tremores de cabeça e foram de intensidade leve a acentuado conforme a dose de planta e tempo de consumo. A lesão histológica predominante caracterizava-se por vacuolização e tumefação de neurônios (principalmente os de Purkinje), das células acinares pancreáticas e células foliculares da tireóide. Ultra-estruturalmente verificou-se vacúolos, por vezes, contendo material finamente granular em neurônios, células acinares pancreáticas e células foliculares da tireóide. S. carpinifolia causa doença de depósito lisossomal em bovinos quando consumida por período prolongado, mesmo em pequenas doses.

Experimental swainsonine poisoning in goats ingesting Ipomoea sericophylla and Ipomoea riedelii (Convolvulaceae)

Ipomoea sericophylla and Ipomoea riedelii cause a glycoprotein storage disease in goats. This paper reports the experimental poisoning in goats by dried I. sericophylla and I. riedelii containing 0.05% and 0.01% swainsonine, respectively. Three groups with four animals each were used. Group 1 received daily doses of 2g/kg body weight (bw) of dried I. sericophylla (150mg of swainsonine/kg). Goats from this group had clinical signs 36-38 days after the start of ingestion. Group 2 received dried I. riedelii daily doses of 2g/kg of I. riedelii (30mg of swainsonine/kg) for 70 days. No clinical signs were observed, therefore the swainsonine dose was increased to 60mg/kg for another 70 days. Goats from Group 2 had clinical signs 26-65 days after increase in swainsonine dose to 60mg/kg. Group 3 was used as control. In these experiments the minimum toxic dose was 60mg/kg which represents 0.0004% of the dry matter in goats ingesting 1.5% bw of the dry matter. For goats ingesting 2%-2.5% bw of dry matter this dose would be 0.00024%-0.0003% of the dry matter. After the end of the experiment two goats were euthanized and another six were observed for recovery of clinical signs. Four goats that continued to consume swainsonine containing plant for 39-89 days after the first clinical signs had non reversible signs, while two goats that ingested the plant for only 15 and 20 days after the first clinical signs recovered completely. These and previous results indicate that irreversible lesions due to neuronal loss occur in goats that continue to ingest the plants for about 30 days after the first clinical signs. Clinical signs and histological lesions were similar to those reported previously for goats poisoned by swainsonine containing plants. No significant alterations were found in packed cell volume, red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations, mean corpuscular volume, and serum levels of glucose, total protein, and albumin, and the serum activities of gamma glutamyl transferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Swainsonine concentration of 0.05% in I. sericophylla and 0.01% in I. riedelii are different from samples of these plants used in previous experiments, which contained 0.14% and 0.5% swainsonine, respectively, demonstrating a wide variation in the toxicity of different samples.

Swainsonine-induced lysosomal storage disease in goats caused by the ingestion of Turbina cordata in Northeastern Brazil

A disease of the central nervous system in goats was observed in the municipalities of Juazeiro, Casa Nova and Curaça, state of Bahia, and Petrolina, state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. The disease was produced experimentally in two goats by the administration of dry Turbina cordata mixed with grain. Clinical signs were observed after the ingestion of 62 and 106 g/kg body weight in 28 and 54 days, respectively. The concentration of swainsonine in the plant varied from less than 0.001% to 0.14% (dry weight). Clinical signs of natural and experimental cases included difficulties in standing, ataxia, hypermetria, wide-based stance, intention tremors, spastic paresis mainly in the hind legs, nystagmus, abnormal postural reactions, head tilting, and falling. Diffuse vacuolation of neurons, epithelial cells of pancreas, thyroids, and renal tubules were observed on the histology. From the electron microscopy of Purkinje cells the vacuoles represented dilated lysosomes. These findings demonstrated that T. cordata causes an acquired glycoprotein lysosomal storage disease. The intoxication occurs at least in an area of 27,000 km2 causing severe losses in goats, and some farmers report the disease also in cattle.

Intoxicação por Solanum fastigiatum (Solanaceae) em bovinos: epidemiologia, sinais clínicos e morfometria das lesões cerebelares

Dezenove casos de intoxicação por Solanum fastigiatum são descritos em bovinos de três municípios do Rio Grande do Sul no período de 2003-2005. Os coeficientes de morbidade e mortalidade foram respectivamente de 6,7% e 3,4%. Os bovinos afetados tinham idade média de 5 anos (2-8 anos) e a evolução clínica variou de 3-18 meses. Os sinais clínicos observados em todos os bovinos foram de disfunções cerebelares caracterizadas por hipermetria, incoordenação, quedas, tremores musculares, convulsões esporádicas e permanência em estação com os membros em base ampla. Em um bovino foi observada hemorragia traumática subdural no encéfalo e em outro, atrofia macroscópica do cerebelo. As lesões histológicas eram confinadas ao cerebelo e consistiram de vacuolização parcial ou total do pericário dos neurônios de Purkinje com ocasionais esferóides axonais na camada de células granulares e na substância branca cerebelar. Nos casos avançados, havia acentuada perda dos neurônios de Pukinje e proliferação dos astrócitos de Bergmann. O estudo morfométrico do número de neurônios de Purkinje e da espessura da camada molecular revelou um decréscimo no número de células de Purkinje que se correlacionou com conseqüente diminuição da espessura da camada molecular.

Intoxication by Ipomoea sericophylla and Ipomoea riedelii in goats in the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil

A disease of the nervous system was observed in goats from two farms of the semiarid of the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Ipomoea sericophylla was found in one farm and I. riedelii in the other. Both plants were administered experimentally to five goats each. Both plants induced clinical signs similar to those observed in spontaneous cases. Two goats died spontaneously and five were euthanatized. Three goats recovered after the withdrawal of the plants. Histological examination showed that all goats that died spontaneously or were euthanized had diffuse vacuolation of neurons, macrophages of lymphatic tissues, and epithelial cells of pancreas, thyroid, renal tubules and liver. On electron microscopy of Purkinje cells, numerous dilated membrane bordered vacuoles were identified as lysosomes. On lectin-histochemical analysis, cerebellar cells gave positive reactions to Concanavalia ensiformis, Triticum vulgaris, and succinylated-T. vulgaris, which indicate the storage of alpha-D-mannose, alpha-D-glucose, beta-D-N-acetyl-glucosamine, and acetyl-neuraminic acid. The chemical analysis of I. sericophylla and I. riedelii showed 0.11 and 0.14% of swainsonine, respectively. The latter also contained calystegines B1, B2 and C1. It is concluded that I. sericophylla and I. riedelli cause a lysosomal storage disease.

Intoxicação experimental por Sida carpinifolia (Malvaceae) em ovinos

Administrou-se Sida carpinifolia L.f. secada à sombra e moída, em doses diárias de 11 a 30g/kg/dia, para sete ovinos. Um animal foi encontrado morto aos 18 e outro morreu apresentando sinais clínicos aos 53 dias do início do experimento. Outros quatro animais adoeceram e foram eutanasiados aos 30, 45, 75 e 100 dias do experimento. O fornecimento de S. carpinifolia foi interrompido em um ovino ao 80º dia do experimento, e o animal foi eutanasiado 70 dias após. Todos os animais foram necropsiados. O consumo variou entre 11 e 30 g/kg/dia da planta seca. As principais alterações clínicas iniciaram a partir do 20º dia com emaciação progressiva e leve diarréia. Os sinais neurológicos iniciaram no 25º dia e eram caracterizados por ataxia com dismetria, tremores da cabeça, posturas atípicas, quedas freqüentes, lentidão dos movimentos, dificuldade em apreender e deglutir os alimentos. Esses sinais clínicos se acentuavam quando os animais eram forçados a se movimentar. O ovino que parou de consumir Sida carpinifolia, recuperou-se clinicamente e 11 dias após a interrupção não apresentava mais alterações clínicas. Na necropsia havia aumento de volume dos linfonodos mesentéricos em cinco dos sete ovinos. Ao exame histológico as alterações mais significativas estavam presentes no sistema nervoso central e constavam de distensão e vacuolização citoplasmáticas afetando principalmente as células de Purkinje do cerebelo, os neurônios do córtex cerebral, do tálamo, do mesencéfalo e dos cornos ventrais da medula espinhal. Também foram observados esferóides axonais mais freqüentes na camada granular do cerebelo. A vacuolização citoplasmática foi observada também no epitélio dos ácinos pancreáticos e dos túbulos renais, nas células foliculares da tireóide, nos hepatócitos e macrófagos de órgãos linfóides. As lesões ultra-estruturais observadas foram vacuolizações citoplasmáticas, algumas envoltas por membranas, em neurônios de Purkinje do cerebelo e nas células foliculares da tireóide. O ovino que permaneceu 70 dias sem consumir S. carpinifolia não apresentou alterações histológicas.