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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Diagn Invest / Enzootic calcinosis in horses grazing Solanum glaucophyllum ...
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc2017; 30(2); 286-289; doi: 10.1177/1040638717746447

Enzootic calcinosis in horses grazing Solanum glaucophyllum in Argentina.

Abstract: Solanum glaucophyllum, a toxic plant known for its calcinogenic effects, causes enzootic calcinosis in ruminant and monogastric animals. We describe an outbreak of enzootic calcinosis that occurred in a herd of 110 horses grazing pastureland heavily contaminated with S. glaucophyllum in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Ten horses developed clinical signs, and 6 horses died. Clinical signs included abnormal gait (stiff-legged action, short strides), stiffness, thoracolumbar kyphosis, reluctance to move, wide stance, chronic weight loss, weakness, recumbency, and difficulty standing. Autopsy of 2 horses revealed severe mineralization of the aorta, pulmonary arteries, heart, and lungs, consistent with enzootic calcinosis. Although horses usually have very selective grazing behavior, under food restriction conditions, they can ingest the toxic plants and can develop the disease. Enzootic calcinosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses grazing S. glaucophyllum-invaded pasturelands with compatible clinical signs and lesions.
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Publication Date: 2017-12-04 PubMed ID: 29202673PubMed Central: PMC6505867DOI: 10.1177/1040638717746447Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates an outbreak of enzootic calcinosis, a condition caused by the toxic plant Solanum glaucophyllum, in a herd of horses in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This plant has a calcinogenic effect that can lead to severe mineralization of internal organs in animals, including horses, and in this instance, it led to the death of six horses.

The Calcinogenic Effect of Solanum Glaucophyllum

  • Solanum Glaucophyllum is a toxic plant known for its calcinogenic effects. This means that it stimulates the formation or deposition of calcium salts in tissues, resulting in tissue hardening and possibly leading to other health issues.
  • The plant can induce a disease known as enzootic calcinosis in both ruminant and monogastric animals, such as cows, sheep, and pigs.

Observation of Enzootic Calcinosis Outbreak in Horses

  • During the research, there was an outbreak of enzootic calcinosis specifically amongst a group of 110 horses within a certain area in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • The observed pastureland was heavily contaminated with S. glaucophyllum, showing a direct link between the disease outbreak and the plant presence.
  • Out of the 110 horses, ten of them developed noticeable clinical symptoms of enzootic calcinosis, and six horses ultimately died from the condition.

Clinical Signs of Enzootic Calcinosis in Horses

  • There are several clinical signs associated with enzootic calcinosis in horses. These include an abnormal gait, stiffness, thoracolumbar kyphosis, reluctance to move, wide stance, chronic weight loss, weakness, recumbency, and difficulty standing.
  • In this case, autopsy of two horses was done and it revealed severe mineralization of several internal organs, specifically the aorta, pulmonary arteries, heart, and lungs, which are consistent with enzootic calcinosis.

Concluding Thoughts and Suggestions

  • Generally, horses are known to have very selective grazing behavior. However, in situations where food is scarce, horses may resort to feeding on toxic plants such as S. glaucophyllum and therefore expose themselves to possible diseases such as enzootic calcinosis.
  • Given these findings, the research suggests that enzootic calcinosis should be considered as a possible diagnosis for horses grazing on S. glaucophyllum-invaded pasturelands if they exhibit the above-mentioned clinical signs and lesions.

Cite This Article

APA
Odriozola ER, Rodríguez AM, Micheloud JF, Cantón GJ, Caffarena RD, Gimeno EJ, Bodega JJ, Gardey P, Iseas FB, Giannitti F. (2017). Enzootic calcinosis in horses grazing Solanum glaucophyllum in Argentina. J Vet Diagn Invest, 30(2), 286-289. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638717746447

Publication

Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
ISSN: 1943-4936
NlmUniqueID: 9011490
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 30
Issue: 2
Pages: 286-289

Researcher Affiliations

Odriozola, Ernesto R
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).
Rodríguez, Alejandro M
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).
Micheloud, Juan F
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).
Cantón, Germán J
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).
Caffarena, Rubén D
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).
Gimeno, Eduardo J
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).
Bodega, José J
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).
Gardey, Pedro
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).
Iseas, Fortunato B
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).
Giannitti, Federico
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Balcarce (Odriozola, Cantón), Argentina.
  • Rauch (Rodríguez), Argentina.
  • Salta (Micheloud), Argentina.
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, La Estanzuela, Colonia, Uruguay (Caffarena, Giannitti).
  • Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Gimeno).
  • Veterinarian, Private Practice, Buenos Aires, Argentina (Bodega, Gardey, Iseas).
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN (Giannitti).

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Argentina
  • Calcinosis / pathology
  • Calcinosis / veterinary
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Plant Poisoning / diagnosis
  • Plant Poisoning / veterinary
  • Plants, Toxic / poisoning
  • Solanum glaucophyllum / poisoning

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to theresearch, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Kimura T, Inaka K. Arterial medial calcification (Mönckeberg's sclerosis) with chronic renal disease in a zoo-kept Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla). Int J Vet Sci Med 2021 Mar 24;9(1):1-6.
    doi: 10.1080/23144599.2021.1899408pubmed: 33869623google scholar: lookup
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