DISTRIBUTION:
Widely distributed in southern Africa and grows in a variety of soils.
Invasive in overgrazed areas.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:
Urginia sanguinea
General: A perennial bulbous plant with annual aerial parts. The bulb is pear-shaped, reddish-brown and enclosed in black or purple papery scales.
Leaves: The leaves are grey-green, up to 30 cm long and sometimes have revolute margins.
Flowers: The inflorescence is ±30 cm high and bears numerous white flowers with green or brownish stripes on the backs of the petals. September - October.
Fruit: The fruit is clearly 3-chambered, splitting open to release the black, flat, winged seeds.
Urginia altissima
General: The bulb grows half exposed above the ground. It is large with tough overlapping fleshy scales.
Leaves: The leaves are grey-green, tough and erect, up to 30 cm long. Produced after the flowers.
Flowers: The inflorescence is up to 60cm high and bears numerous white flowers with a central green stripe, born on horizontal stalks. They usually open early and close by 13h00. September - October.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE:
The active principle of U. sanguinea is a cardiac glycoside, named transvaalin.
SYNDROME:
Non-cumulative bufadienolides.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED:
Cardiovascular system.
CLINICAL SIGNS:
• Diarrhoea.
• Colic.
• Tremors.
• Staggering.
• The animal hangs its head and shows signs of muscular weakness.
• Paralysis and death from heart failure may follow.
NECROPSY:
Macroscopical findings:
• Not specific - rather negative.
• Subepi- and endocardial haemorrhages.
• Lung oedema, congestion, emphysema.
• Ruminal atony and enteritis - even haemorrhagic.
• Leaves present in rumen.
HISTOPATHOLOGY:
In more chronic cases small foci of degeneration of cardiac musculature are seen occasionally.
TREATMENT:
• Activated charcoal is very effective.
• Dose 2g/kg.
• Large dose is essential.
• Adsorption and fixation of excess in rumen.
• Even retro-diffusion back from plasma.
• Minimize stress to prevent catecholamine release.
Additional treatment for valuable animals:
• Lignocaine.
• ß-blocking agents.
• ACP: Tranquillizer (multipotent blocker).
• Atropine (if AV-block is present).