Acacia nilotica
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Date
Authors
Botha, C.J. (Christoffel Jacobus)
Venter, Elna
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Abstract
DISTRIBUTION:
Can grow under a variety of ecological conditions, though generally absent from shallow gravelly soils as well as wet watercourses.
Botanical description: General: It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree of up to 6m with dark grey bark and a compact rounded to flattened crown.
Leaves: The leaves are bipinnately compound with small leaflets. The paired spines are straight to slightly recurved and usually pointing slightly backwards.
Fruit: Flat pods with marked constrictions between seeds like a string of beads.Smells sweetly when crushed.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE: • Unknown. • Induces a methaemoglobinaemia, but do not contain NO3¯/NO2¯ or other oxidants. • Not cyanogenic glycosides either - problem associated with other Acacia spp.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED: Haemopoietic system.
CLINICAL SIGNS: Goats are often affected. Blood: • Methaemoglobinaemia and abortions • Tachycardia • Haemolysis – anaemia and icterus Respiratory system: • Hyperpnoea and dyspnoea Git: • Ruminal stasis. • Sweet scented odour (“putrid smell”) of the carcase. • Soft faeces or diarrhoea.
NECROPSY: Macroscopical findings:• Liver necrosis • Nephrosis DD’s:NO3¯/NO2¯ - poisoning.
TREATMENT: Possibly methylene blue. Control: prevent excessive consumption.
TOXIC PRINCIPLE: • Unknown. • Induces a methaemoglobinaemia, but do not contain NO3¯/NO2¯ or other oxidants. • Not cyanogenic glycosides either - problem associated with other Acacia spp.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED: Haemopoietic system.
CLINICAL SIGNS: Goats are often affected. Blood: • Methaemoglobinaemia and abortions • Tachycardia • Haemolysis – anaemia and icterus Respiratory system: • Hyperpnoea and dyspnoea Git: • Ruminal stasis. • Sweet scented odour (“putrid smell”) of the carcase. • Soft faeces or diarrhoea.
NECROPSY: Macroscopical findings:• Liver necrosis • Nephrosis DD’s:NO3¯/NO2¯ - poisoning.
TREATMENT: Possibly methylene blue. Control: prevent excessive consumption.
Description
Colour photos. Final web-ready size: JPEG. Photo 1: 7.72 kb, 72 ppi; Photo 2: 67.3 kb, 72 ppi; Photo 3: 35.6 kb, 96 ppi; Photo 4: 13.0 kb, 72 ppi. Original TIFF file housed at the Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Pretoria.
Keywords
Plant poisoning, Toxicology, Plant poisoning in animals, Poisonous plants, Methaemoglobinaemia
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Botha, CJ & Venter, E 2002, 'Plants poisonous to livestock Southern Africa (CD-ROM)' University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pretoria, South Africa.