A nervous disorder in cattle, caused by the plants Ficus ingens var. ingens and Ficus cordata subsp. salicifolia

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Authors

Fourie, Niel
Kellerman, T. Stephanus
Cornelius, S.T.
Ward, Caroline
Van der Lugt, Jaco J.

Journal Title

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Volume Title

Publisher

Published by the Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute

Abstract

Two outbreaks of neurotoxicoses are reported in cattle browsing on the leaves of Ficus spp. In the first outbreak, three animals died and one became ill. A sheep developed severe nervous signs, including tetanic spasms, when dosed with the leaves of Ficus ingens var. ingens from the toxic camp where the cattle had died. The second outbreak resulted in the death of 12 heifers within 48 h of ingestion of the leaves of F. cordata subsp. salicifolia. Clinical signs included hyperaesthesia, ataxia, muscle tremors and paddling motions while in lateral recumbency. Similar signs were reproduced by drenching the incriminated leaves to a steer. The sheep dosed with F. ingens var. ingens and two cattle, one of which had died during the second outbreak and the steer drenched with F. cordata subsp. salicifolia, were necropsied. Light microscopical examination consistently revealed oedema of the central nervous system. In the steer, focal demyelination was evident in localized areas of the brain and spinal cord. Liver lesions ranged from mild degeneration to focal disseminated necrosis of hepatocytes.

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Keywords

Veterinary medicine, Plant poisoning

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Myburgh, JG, Fourie, N, Van der Lugt, JJ, Kellerman, TS, Cornelius, ST & Ward, C 1994, 'A nervous disorder in cattle, caused by the plants Ficus ingens var. ingens and Ficus cordata subsp. salicifolia', Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 171-176