TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE PLANT Xanthium strumarium IN PIGS IN ZIMBABWE

C. MASVINGWE(1), M. MAVENYENGWA(2)

(1)Preclinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe, (2)Central Veterinary Research & Diagnostic Laboratory, Box CY 551, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe.

ABSTRACT: Six healthy porkers of the Mukota breed were fed ad libitum either crushed burs (fruits) or the two-leaf seedling stage of Xanthium strumarium at 2% of body weight.

Major clinical signs were depression, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, recumbency, paddling convulsions terminating in death from 6 to 96 hours after ingestion. Gross pathological findings included ascites with fibrin strands, enlarged, congested and friable livers with accentuation of lobulation on the capsule. Microscopically, acute hepatic congestion and hemorrhage, centrilobular hepatocyte necrosis, with occasional binucleation together with discoid lysis of skeletal and cardiac muscle fibers were remarkable changes. Binucleation of hepatocytes and degenerative changes in active muscles have not been reported before in relation to cocklebur plant toxicosis.

These findings suggest that X. strumarium is a potential cause of sudden death in pigs extensively reared in Zimbabwe.

KEY WORDS: Xanthium strumarium toxicosis, hepatocyte necrosis, striated muscle fiber and renal tubular degeneration, Zimbabwe.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

C. MASVINGWE - Department of Preclinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.