Alkaloid-Containing Plants Poisonous to Cattle and Horses in Europe.
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
This research article discusses the problems faced by cattle and horses in Europe due to their consumption of specific plants containing harmful alkaloids. It includes an overview of the toxic plants, the circumstances leading to poisoning, the active toxic agents involved, and the clinical signs indicating poisoning.
Alkaloids and Their Toxicity to Animals
The main focus of the article is on alkaloids. These are nitrogen-containing secondary plant metabolites, known to have a significant impact on veterinary toxicology due to their presence in plants often associated with animal poisoning. As the paper suggests, exposure and intake of alkaloids can lead to toxicosis and consequent animal diseases or even death.
- Alkaloids are naturally produced by a broad variety of organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals.
- In toxicology, specifically within the scope of veterinary medicine, alkaloids often contribute to severe health issues in animals, essentially cattle and horses, when consumed in large amounts.
- In many cases, poisoning occurs when animals inadvertently ingest these alkaloids through contaminated hay or silage, on farmland or when other alternative feed sources are unavailable.
Plants Containing Poisonous Alkaloids
This section of the article identifies specific plants deemed toxic for cattle and horses due to their alkaloid content. These include Colchicum autumnale (meadow saffron), Conium maculatum (poison hemlock), Datura stramonium (jimson weed), Equisetum palustre (marsh horsetail), Senecio spp. (ragwort and groundsel), and Taxus baccata (European yew).
- These plants are not only prevalent in various parts of Europe, but their toxicity is often high enough to pose a significant risk to livestock, primarily cattle, and horses, leading to frequent poisoning incidents.
- The authors provide an overview of these plants, the conditions or circumstances leading to poisoning, the exact toxic elements within these plants, as well as the clinical signs and symptoms that indicate such poisoning.
Clinical Symptoms and Signs of Poisoning
A significant part of this paper is dedicated to the explanation of clinical symptoms associated with the consumption of such plants.
- Understanding these signs is vital for effective detection and mitigation of the poisoning.
- Early detection based on these symptoms can lead to prompt treatment and increase the chances of recovery for the affected animals.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. cristina.cortinovis@unimi.it.
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety (VESPA), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. francesca.caloni@unimi.it.
MeSH Terms
- Alkaloids / toxicity
- Animals
- Cattle
- Europe
- Horses
- Piperidines / toxicity
- Plants, Toxic / toxicity
References
- Berny P, Caloni F, Croubels S, Sachana M, Vandenbroucke V, Davanzo F, Guitart R. Animal poisoning in Europe. Part 2: Companion animals.. Vet J 2010 Mar;183(3):255-9.
- Guitart R, Croubels S, Caloni F, Sachana M, Davanzo F, Vandenbroucke V, Berny P. Animal poisoning in Europe. Part 1: Farm livestock and poultry.. Vet J 2010 Mar;183(3):249-54.
- Anadón A., Martínez-Larrañaga M.R., Castellano V.. Poisonous plants of Europe. In: Gupta R.C., editor. Veterinary Toxicology: Basic and Clinical Principles. 2nd ed. Elsevier Inc.; San Diego, CA, USA: 2012. pp. 1080–1094.
- Cortinovis C, Caloni F. Epidemiology of intoxication of domestic animals by plants in Europe.. Vet J 2013 Aug;197(2):163-8.
- Caloni F., Cortinovis C.. Plants poisonous to horses in Europe. Equine Vet. Educ. 2015;27:269–274.
- Ziegler J, Facchini PJ. Alkaloid biosynthesis: metabolism and trafficking.. Annu Rev Plant Biol 2008;59:735-69.
- Panter K.E., Gardner D.R., Lee S.T., Pfister J.A., Ralphs M.H., Stegelmeier B.L., James L.F.. Important poisonous plants of the United States. In: Gupta R.C., editor. Veterinary Toxicology: Basic and Clinical Principles. 2nd ed. Elsevier Inc.; San Diego, CA, USA: 2012. pp. 1031–1079.
- Stegelmeier BL. Pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing toxic plants (Senecio, Crotalaria, Cynoglossum, Amsinckia, Heliotropium, and Echium spp.).. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2011 Jul;27(2):419-28, ix.
- Panter KE, Welch KD, Gardner DR, Green BT. Poisonous plants: effects on embryo and fetal development.. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today 2013 Dec;99(4):223-34.
- Vetter J. Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum L.).. Food Chem Toxicol 2004 Sep;42(9):1373-82.
- Panter KE, James LF, Gardner DR. Lupines, poison-hemlock and Nicotiana spp: toxicity and teratogenicity in livestock.. J Nat Toxins 1999 Feb;8(1):117-34.
- Binev R.. Cases of chronic intoxication with Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) in calves. Int. J. Adv. Res. 2014;2:1–4.
- Binev R., Mitev J., Miteva T.. Intoxication with Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum L.) in calves. Trakia J. Sci. 2007;5:40–50.
- Cramer L, Ernst L, Lubienski M, Papke U, Schiebel HM, Jerz G, Beuerle T. Structural and quantitative analysis of Equisetum alkaloids.. Phytochemistry 2015 Aug;116:269-282.
- van Raamsdonk LW, Ozinga WA, Hoogenboom LA, Mulder PP, Mol JG, Groot MJ, van der Fels-Klerx HJ, de Nijs M. Exposure assessment of cattle via roughages to plants producing compounds of concern.. Food Chem 2015 Dec 15;189:27-37.
- Aboling S., Rottmann S., Wolf P., Jahn-Falk D., Kamphues J.. Case Report: Complex Plant Poisoning in Heavily Pregnant Heifers in Germany. J. Vet. Sci. Technol. 2014;5:178.
- Stegelmeier BL, Gardner DR, James LF, Molyneux RJ. Pyrrole detection and the pathologic progression of Cynoglossum officinale (houndstongue) poisoning in horses.. J Vet Diagn Invest 1996 Jan;8(1):81-90.
- Pfister J.A., Molyneux R.J., Baker D.C.. Pyrrolizidine alkaloid content of houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale L.). J. Range Manag. 1992;45:254–256.
- Zentek J, Aboling S, Kamphues J. [Accident report: animal nutrition in veterinary medicine--actual cases: houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) in pasture--a health hazard for horses].. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr 1999 Nov;106(11):475-7.
- Crews C, Anderson WA. Detection of ragwort alkaloids in toxic hay by liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry.. Vet Rec 2009 Nov 7;165(19):568-9.
- West HJ. Clinical and pathological studies in horses with hepatic disease.. Equine Vet J 1996 Mar;28(2):146-56.
- Vandenbroucke V., van Pelt H., de Backer P., Croubels S.. Animal poisonings in Belgium: A review of the past decade. Vlaams Diergeneeskund. Tijdschr. 2010;79:259–268.
- Passemard B., Priymenko N.. L’intoxication des chevaux par les séneçons, une réalité en France. Rev. Med. Vet. 2007;158:425–430.
- Vos JH, Geerts AA, Borgers JW, Mars MH, Muskens JA, van Wuijckhuise-Sjouke LA. [Senecio jacobaea: deceiving beauty. Senecio jacobaea poisoning].. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd 2002 Dec 15;127(24):753-6.
- Braun U, Linggi T, Pospischil A. Ultrasonographic findings in three cows with chronic ragwort (Senecio alpinus) poisoning.. Vet Rec 1999 Jan 30;144(5):122-6.
- Moyano MR, García A, Rueda A, Molina AM, Mendez A, Infante F. Echium vulgare and Senecio vulgaris poisoning in fighting bulls.. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2006 Feb;53(1):24-5.
- . Suspected Ragwort Poisoning among Suckler Cows in Aberdeen.. Vet Rec 2015 Jun 6;176(23):590-3.
- Chenchen W, Wenlong W, Xiaoxue L, Feng M, Dandan C, Xiaowen Y, Shanshan W, Pengshuai G, Hao L, Baoyu Z. Pathogenesis and preventive treatment for animal disease due to locoweed poisoning.. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2014 Jan;37(1):336-47.
- Pfister JA, Stegelmeier BL, Cheney CD, Gardner DR. Effect of previous locoweed (Astragalus and Oxytropis species) intoxication on conditioned taste aversions in horses and sheep.. J Anim Sci 2007 Jul;85(7):1836-41.
- Nollet H., Panter K., Vanschandevijl K., Lefere L., Stegelmeier B., Deprez P.. Suspected swainsonine poisoning in a Belgian horse. Equine Vet. Educ. 2008;20:62–65.
- Zhang JW, Gao JM, Xu T, Zhang XC, Ma YT, Jarussophon S, Konishi Y. Antifungal activity of alkaloids from the seeds of Chimonanthus praecox.. Chem Biodivers 2009 Jun;6(6):838-45.
- Wang W.X., Cao L., Xiong J., Xia G., Hu J.F.. Constituents from Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet). Phytochem. Lett. 2011;4:271–274.
- Chebib M, Duke RK, Duke CC, Connor M, Mewett KN, Johnston GA. Convulsant actions of calycanthine.. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2003 Jul 1;190(1):58-64.
- Caloni F, Cortinovis C, Rivolta M, Alonge S, Davanzo F. Plant poisoning in domestic animals: epidemiological data from an Italian survey (2000-2011).. Vet Rec 2013 Jun 1;172(22):580.
- Kupper J, Rentsch K, Mittelholzer A, Artho R, Meyer S, Kupferschmidt H, Naegeli H. A fatal case of autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) poisoning in a heifer: confirmation by mass-spectrometric colchicine detection.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2010 Jan;22(1):119-22.
- Jung L.S., Eckstein R.L., Otte A., Donath T.W.. Above- and below-ground nutrient and alkaloid dynamics in Colchicum autumnale: Optimal mowing dates for population control or low hay toxicity. Weed Res. 2012;52:348–357.
- Winter S., Jung L.S., Eckstein R.L., Otte A., Donath T.W., Kriechbaum M., Hooftman D.. Control of the toxic plant Colchicum autumnale in semi-natural grasslands: Effects of cutting treatments on demography and diversity. J. Appl. Ecol. 2014;51:524–533.
- Kamphues J, Meyer H. [Meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale) in hay and colic in horses].. Tierarztl Prax 1990 Jun;18(3):273-5.
- Schrader A, Schulz O, Völker H, Puls H. [Recent plant poisoning in ruminants of northern and eastern Germany. Communication from the practice for the practice].. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2001 May-Jun;114(5-6):218-21.
- Wolf P., Wichert B., Aboling S., Kienzle E., Bartels T., Kamphues J.. Herbstzeitlose (Colchicum autumnale)—Vorkommen und mögliche Effekte bei Pferden. Tierärztliche Prax. 2009;37:330–336.
- Soler-Rodríguez F, Martín A, García-Cambero JP, Oropesa AL, Pérez-López M. Datura stramonium poisoning in horses: a risk factor for colic.. Vet Rec 2006 Jan 28;158(4):132-3.
- Binev R.. Intoxication by Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium) in animals. Ecol. Future Bulg. J. Ecol. Sci. 2010;9:9–16.
- Binev R, Valchev I, Nikolov J. Clinical and pathological studies on intoxication in horses from freshly cut Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)-contaminated maize intended for ensiling.. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2006 Dec;77(4):215-9.
- Bofill F.X., Bofill J., Such G., Piqué E., Guitart R.. Dos casos de intoxicación por contaminación de maíz con Datura stramonium en ganado vacuno. Rev. Toxicol. 2007;24:56–58.
- Botha CJ, Naudé TW. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of importance in horses in southern Africa.. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2002 Sep;73(3):91-7.
- Naidoo V.. Datura species and related plants. In: Gupta R.C., editor. Veterinary Toxicology: Basic and Clinical Principles. 2nd ed. Elsevier Inc.; San Diego, CA, USA: 2012. pp. 1152–1160.
- Tiwary AK, Puschner B, Kinde H, Tor ER. Diagnosis of Taxus (yew) poisoning in a horse.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2005 May;17(3):252-5.
- Wilson CR, Sauer J, Hooser SB. Taxines: a review of the mechanism and toxicity of yew (Taxus spp.) alkaloids.. Toxicon 2001 Feb-Mar;39(2-3):175-85.
- Wilson C.R., Hooser S.B.. Toxicity of yew (Taxus spp.) alkaloids. In: Gupta R.C., editor. Veterinary Toxicology: Basic and Clinical Principles. 2nd ed. Elsevier Inc.; San Diego, CA, USA: 2012. pp. 1121–1127.
- . Northern Ireland disease surveillance report, October to December 2013.. Vet Rec 2014 Feb 8;174(6):139-41.
- Curti R, Kupper J, Kupferschmidt H, Naegeli H. [A retrospective study of animal poisoning reports to the Swiss Toxicological Information Centre (1997 - 2006)].. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 2009 Jun;151(6):265-73.
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Kisiel A, Krzemińska A, Cembrowska-Lech D, Miller T. Data Science and Plant Metabolomics.. Metabolites 2023 Mar 20;13(3).
- Sadgrove NJ. Comment on Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Terpenes from Senecio (Asteraceae): Chemistry and Research Gaps in Africa.. Molecules 2022 Dec 13;27(24).
- Odilia MR, Putri DTZA, Rosetyadewi AW, Wijayanti AD, Budiyanto A, Jadi AR, Pratama AM. Identification of antinutritional, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of plants that cause livestock poisoning in Bojonegoro Regency, Indonesia.. Vet World 2022 Sep;15(9):2131-2140.
- Muchtaridi M, Amirah SR, Harmonis JA, Ikram EHK. Role of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2 (Nrf2) in the Recovery of Long COVID-19 Using Natural Antioxidants: A Systematic Review.. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022 Aug 10;11(8).
- Chamorro-Cevallos G, Mojica-Villegas MA, García-Martínez Y, Pérez-Gutiérrez S, Madrigal-Santillán E, Vargas-Mendoza N, Morales-González JA, Cristóbal-Luna JM. A Complete Review of Mexican Plants with Teratogenic Effects.. Plants (Basel) 2022 Jun 24;11(13).
- Ohlsen S, Ganter M, Wohlsein P, Reckels B, Huckauf A, Lenzewski N, Aboling S. Grazing Ecology of Sheep and Its Impact on Vegetation and Animal Health on Pastures Dominated by Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.)-Part 2: Animal Health.. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 18;12(10).
- Ohlsen S, Ganter M, Wohlsein P, Reckels B, Huckauf A, Lenzewski N, Aboling S. Grazing Ecology of Sheep and Its Impact on Vegetation and Animal Health in Pastures Dominated by Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.)-Part 1: Vegetation.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 12;12(8).
- Moshobane MC, Bertero A, Marks C, Stephen C, Mothapo NP, Middleton L, Caloni F. Plants and mushrooms associated with animal poisoning incidents in South Africa.. Vet Rec Open 2020;7(1):e000402.
- Veeren B, Ghaddar B, Bringart M, Khazaal S, Gonthier MP, Meilhac O, Diotel N, Bascands JL. Phenolic Profile of Herbal Infusion and Polyphenol-Rich Extract from Leaves of the Medicinal Plant Antirhea borbonica: Toxicity Assay Determination in Zebrafish Embryos and Larvae.. Molecules 2020 Sep 29;25(19).
- Grosu E, Ichim MC. Turning Meadow Weeds Into Valuable Species for the Romanian Ethnomedicine While Complying With the Environmentally Friendly Farming Requirements of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy.. Front Pharmacol 2020;11:529.
- Mravčáková D, Váradyová Z, Kopčáková A, Čobanová K, Grešáková Ľ, Kišidayová S, Babják M, Dolinská MU, Dvorožňáková E, Königová A, Vadlejch J, Cieslak A, Ślusarczyk S, Várady M. Natural chemotherapeutic alternatives for controlling of haemonchosis in sheep.. BMC Vet Res 2019 Aug 20;15(1):302.
- Russo R, Restucci B, Vassallo A, Cortese L, D'Ambola M, Montagnaro S, Ciarcia R, Florio S, De Tommasi N, Severino L. Toxicity of Crepis lacera in grazing ruminants.. BMC Vet Res 2018 Mar 7;14(1):74.
- Soulaidopoulos S, Sinakos E, Dimopoulou D, Vettas C, Cholongitas E, Garyfallos A. Anticholinergic syndrome induced by toxic plants.. World J Emerg Med 2017;8(4):297-301.
- Brtalik D, Stopyra J, Hannum J. Intravenous Poison Hemlock Injection Resulting in Prolonged Respiratory Failure and Encephalopathy.. J Med Toxicol 2017 Jun;13(2):180-182.
- Mezzasalma V, Ganopoulos I, Galimberti A, Cornara L, Ferri E, Labra M. Poisonous or non-poisonous plants? DNA-based tools and applications for accurate identification.. Int J Legal Med 2017 Jan;131(1):1-19.