EXPERIMENTAL INTOXICATION BY Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus (FAVELEIRA) IN GOATS

OLIVEIRA D. M. (1), GALIZA G. J. N. (1), ARAÚJO J. A. S.(2), MEDEIROS R. M. T. (3), RIET-CORREA F.(3), DANTAS A. F. M.(3).

(1) Aluno do curso de Med. Vet., UFCG/CSTR, Patos-PB, (2) Hospital Veterinário, UFCG/CSTR, Patos-PB, (3) Hospital Veterinário, UFCG/CSTR, Patos-PB, Email: diegomedeiroscaj@yahoo.com.br

Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus (Euforbiaceae) (faveleira) is a common plant in the caatinga. Ocassionaly the dry plant is used as forage, and during the dry season, animals normally consume the fallen dry leaves. Spontaneous intoxication by this plant is reported by farmers in the semiarid. To determine the toxicity of the plant, it was administered to Moxotó goats, 7-24 months old. Initially the green plant was given to one goat orally by putting small amounts in the mouth. After the consumption of 4.7g/kg bw the goat had severe clinical signs characterized by tachycardia, dyspnoea with severe respiratory distress, nystagmus, opisthotonus and sternal decubitus, and died in 30 minutes. The plant was dried in the shade for 8, 9 and 10 days and given to 3 goats. The goat that ingested the plant dried for 8 days died after the ingestion 3g/kg bw of dry plant. The goat that ingested the plant dried for 9 days had clinical signs and recovered after the ingestion of 1.13 g/kg bw.. The goat that ingested the  plant dried for 10 days showed mild clinical signs and recovered after the ingestion of 30g/kg bw. The fresh plant was administered to 8 goats at doses from 0.5 to 3g/kg bw.  Doses of 0.5 to 2.5g g/kg bw caused no clinical signs. Three goats had clinical signs after the ingestion of 3g/kg bw. Because clinical signs were similar to those observed in the intoxication by HCN, 2 goats were treated with 20% aqueous solution of sodium tiosulfate at 0.5ml/kg bw, and recovered rapidly after treatment. The plant was strongly positive to the picrated paper test for HCN.  These results demonstrated that C.phyllacanthus is a cyanogenic plant that causes intoxication after the ingestion of the green plant. Like other cyanogenic plants it loss its toxicity after been dried.

KEY WORDS: toxic plants, cyanogenic plants

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Instituto do Milênio, Processo 420012/2005-2, CNPq

CORRESPONDENCE TO: Rosane M. T. Medeiros. Hospital Veterinário, CSTR, UFCG, Patos PB, 58700-000. Email: rmtmed@uol.com.br