DISTRIBUTION:
To be found in Namibia and the Northern Cape province. Growing on sand among rocks and in rock crevices on hills and mountain slopes. Almost always in association with granite.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
General: A small shrub with many branches and brown to reddish brown bark. Young branches are yellow. Up to 600 mm tall, usually covered with dense hairs and small glands.
Leaves: Alternate stalkless hairy leaves with entire margins.
Flowers: Yellow composite flower heads. Mainly from March to May and from August to October but could be found throughout the year.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE:
Water-soluble nephrotoxin.
SYNDROMES:
Nephrotoxicity in cattle.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED:
Urogenital system.
CLINICAL SIGNS:
Weakness, malaise, perineal oedema and brisket oedema were observed clinically.
Necropsy: Macroscopical findings:
Ascites, severe perirenal oedema and renal cortical pallor.
HISTOPATHOLOGY:
• Microscopic pathology of the kidney included severe multifocal to extensive
degeneration and necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in the cortex with large numbers of protein and sometimes cellular casts present in the tubular lumens.
• In more longstanding cases tubular degeneration was evident multifocally.
TREATMENT:
Symptomatic and supportive. Control: Prevent cattle, especially when deprived of food for more than 24 hours, from grazing in heavily infested camps.
