Abstract:
Investigation of outbreaks of gousiekte in cattle in the northern Transvaal revealed that Fadogia monticola Robyns is an additional cause of this disease, which is characterized by sudden heart failure without prodromal signs. It results from a chronic lymphocytic myocarditis and death occurs after a latent period of 4 to 8 weeks. The condition was reproduced in cattle, sheep and goats in feeding and dosing trials. This is the first report of gousiekte being caused by a plant of the genus Fadogia and brings the total number of plant species incriminated in this syndrome to five, all members of the family Rubiaceae.
